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- The Onion’s acquisition bid for Infowars was facilitated by Sandy Hook families.
- The transaction is currently paused following a bankruptcy judge’s apprehensions about the auction process.
- Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, aims to transform Infowars into a hub for “alt-media” parody content.
Unpacking The Onion’s Bid for Infowars: A Unique Collaboration
Initially, The Onion’s announcement regarding its acquisition of Alex Jones’ Infowars at an auction might have seemed like an absurd joke. However, this bid was orchestrated through careful planning and collaboration with Sandy Hook families and a nonprofit organization supported by Michael Bloomberg.
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, revealed to Yahoo that he had connections with some attorneys representing the Sandy Hook families from his previous role as a disinformation reporter at NBC. He emphasized their crucial role in facilitating this deal. “The families decided they would effectively join our bid,” Collins stated. “It was either us or Alex Jones.”
The Auction Process Under Scrutiny
Despite the excitement surrounding the potential purchase, it appears that there are significant hurdles ahead. Jones had anticipated that one of his associates would acquire the site instead.
The backup bidder designated for this auction is First United American Companies—operating Jones’ online supplement business—which has requested a hearing in Texas bankruptcy court to address alleged flaws in the sale process. These include concerns over procedural changes, transparency issues, and misleading disclosures made to interested bidders as outlined in their court filing.
During Thursday’s hearing presided over by Judge Christopher Lopez from the Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court, he expressed unease about whether offers were adequately communicated among competing bidders. Another session is scheduled for next week where these matters will be further examined. “Nobody should feel comfortable with how this auction has unfolded,” Lopez remarked.
A Collaborative Effort Against Gun Violence
The Onion’s initiative also enjoys backing from Everytown for Gun Safety—a nonprofit established after the Sandy Hook tragedy aimed at combating gun violence—through a multi-year advertising partnership supporting their reimagined version of Infowars.
“They’ve always appreciated what we do at The Onion,” Collins noted while referencing one particular headline they publish consistently after mass shootings—a satirical take on gun violence issues that resonates deeply within societal discussions today.
This unusual alliance between The Onion and Everytown may seem surprising; however, John Feinblatt—the president of Everytown—asserted there exists “perfect synergy” given how humor can effectively counter misinformation surrounding gun violence advocacy efforts over time.
A New Direction for Content Creation
If successful in acquiring Infowars assets—including broadcasting equipment and merchandise operations—Collins indicated plans to establish an independent website dedicated solely to parodying “alt-media” figures who have largely evaded critique thus far: “We’ll start building an entirely new world there,” he explained during an interview with ABC News.
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