Satirical news publication The Onion won the bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars in a bankruptcy auction, backed by the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims to whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax.

“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long waited for and fought for,” said Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting in Connecticut, in a statement provided by his lawyers.

The onion acquired conspiracy theory platform website; social media accounts; studio in Austin, Texas; registered trademarks; and video archives. The sale price was not immediately communicated. The Onion said its “exclusive launch announcer” would be the gun violence prevention organization Everytown for Gun Safety.

“Everytown will continue to raise awareness about gun violence prevention on InfoWars channels and showcase concrete solutions to our nation’s gun violence crisis, including common-sense, bipartisan measures and public safety initiatives supported by Everytown,” The Onion said in a statement Thursday.

Jones confirmed The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars in a social media video Thursday and said he plans to file a lawsuit to stop it.

“Last broadcast now live from Infowars studios. They are in the building. Order closure without court approval,” Jones said on social platform X.

Jones was broadcasting live from the Infowars studio Thursday morning and appeared distraught, putting his head in his hand at his desk.

Other Infowars bidders were not disclosed

Sealed bids for private auction were opened on Wednesday. Both supporters and detractors of Jones had expressed interest in purchasing Infowars. Other bidders were not disclosed.

The Onion, a satirical site that manages to persuade people to believe the absurd, bills itself as “the world’s leading news publication, providing highly acclaimed and universally revered coverage of the latest national, international and current events.” local” and claims to have 4.3 trillion dollars. daily readers.

Jones said on his show that if his critics bought Infowars, he would move his daily shows and product sales to a new studio, websites and social media accounts he already created. He also said that if his supporters won the auction, he could stay on Infowars platforms.

Relatives of many of the 20 children and six educators killed in the shooting Jones and his company for defamation and emotional distress for repeatedly saying on his show that the shooting in Newtown, Conn., was a staged hoax by crisis actors to push for more gun control. Parents and children of many victims testified that they were traumatized by Jones’ plots and threats from his followers.

The lawsuits were filed in Connecticut and Texas. Lawyers for the families involved in the Connecticut lawsuit said they worked with The Onion to try to acquire Infowars.

Follow @ktar923