On Thursday, a judge ordered an evidentiary hearing regarding The Onion’s successful bid to purchase Infowars. Despite claims from Alex Jones and Infowars that the sale had been blocked, Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron, reassured the public in an update on Bluesky and X that the process was still moving forward.
Collins stated that the next court date was set for the following Monday, and the sale was expected to be completed soon. He added that Infowars had requested permission to continue operating until then, highlighting the ongoing conflict with the site’s current management.
Collins emphasized that The Onion’s bid, supported by the families of Sandy Hook victims, had won the auction. He revealed that the auction’s overseer confirmed The Onion’s bid had outbid First United American Companies, which had bid $3.5 million, a company linked to Jones’ supplement sales.
While the exact amount of The Onion’s bid was undisclosed, it was noted that the Sandy Hook families, in backing the bid, had agreed to forgo any recovery to benefit other creditors owed by Jones. Despite this, Jones has publicly denounced the auction as “rigged,” and claimed that lawyers for X, Elon Musk’s social media platform, had attended the hearing.
The auction for Infowars was a highly contentious affair, with The Onion competing against only one other bidder. The involvement of the Sandy Hook families in The Onion’s bid adds a layer of complexity, as their backing was a key part of securing the purchase.
Judge Orders Hearing on The Onion’s Bid to Purchase Infowars, Sparking Legal and Cultural Showdown
The families, through their agreement, waived potential recovery from Jones in exchange for supporting other creditors. The outcome of the auction, therefore, represents both a financial and symbolic victory over Jones, who faces substantial legal and financial fallout from the defamation lawsuits filed by the families.
Ben Collins expressed that the auction process was always expected to be complicated, but he was optimistic about the outcome. He praised the judge for seeking transparency and clarification on the process and assets involved in the sale.
Collins noted that while the process was likely to be a challenge in the short term, the ultimate goal was to relaunch Infowars in a way that would further the mission of The Onion and its supporters. He indicated that the aim was not just to acquire the site but to do so in a way that would ensure its transparency and accountability.
Looking ahead, Collins revealed that The Onion’s plans for Infowars involve a complete overhaul of the website’s content and operations. His vision includes relaunching it as “the dumbest website on the internet,” reflecting The Onion’s satirical, irreverent style. Additionally, Collins noted that the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety would be the sole advertiser when the site relaunches.
This move ties in with the involvement of the Sandy Hook families, who have long been advocates for gun safety reform. The transition of Infowars into a new phase under The Onion’s management is expected to be both a business and cultural statement.
