The Onion plans to launch Infowars to support Sandy Hook families

The families of victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting are expected to receive their first payment from Alex Jones' Infowars next month, following legal battles over defamation judgments totaling over $1.4 billion against Jones. However, the funds will come from The Onion, which intends to take over the Infowars brand to support these families. The Onion has not yet received legal permission to operate under the Infowars name, and Jones is contesting the takeover in court. Despite this, The Onion plans to launch its version of Infowars on July 2, according to CEO Ben Collins. The new platform will feature original content, including a parody of Jones' previous show, and aims to direct over $100,000 to the Sandy Hook families through merchandise sales. The Infowars brand and assets have been in legal uncertainty since 2022, following significant defamation verdicts against Jones for his claims regarding the Sandy Hook shooting. Although The Onion previously won a bid for Infowars, a federal judge vacated the sale due to transparency concerns. The Onion is now pursuing a licensing agreement with the court-appointed manager of Jones' assets, which has also faced legal challenges. Collins expressed frustration over the delays, stating that the families are entitled to the funds and that action is necessary to prevent Jones from undermining the assets. The Onion's new programming will include various livestreams and aims to attract subscribers and advertisers to support the Sandy Hook families. Chris Mattei, an attorney for some families, expressed gratitude for The Onion's commitment to taking over Infowars.