The Journal. The Onion Is Buying Infowars. No Joke.
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Nov 15, 2024 
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, dives into the unexpected acquisition of Infowars, highlighting a mission to blend humor with advocacy. He discusses the absurdity of merging satire with a controversial platform, focusing on how this initiative could reshape narratives around gun safety. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, emphasizes its significance for Sandy Hook families. They also explore using humor to combat misinformation and speculate on the future of satirical content in a fragmented media landscape.
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The Sandy Hook Defamation Case
- Alex Jones spread lies about the Sandy Hook shooting on Infowars, claiming it was a hoax.
- Families of the victims sued him for defamation and won a $1.4 billion settlement.
The Onion's Idea
- The Onion saw an opportunity to buy Infowars after Jones filed for bankruptcy.
- Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, contacted the Sandy Hook families' lawyers to explore the possibility.
Everytown Partnership
- Everytown for Gun Safety partnered with The Onion for the acquisition, becoming the exclusive advertiser.
- They were motivated by a desire for karmic justice and to combat misinformation.