The Onion turns Infowars into a joke— literally

Infowars, meet The Onion: a redemption arc nobody saw coming.

Who could have predicted The Onion would buy Infowars in the biggest cultural clapback of potentially all time? Even Alex Jones called it a crazy conspiracy.

Yet here we are, living in a timeline where the kings of satire have taken over one of the internet’s most notorious conspiracy platforms.

And it’s a move that’s equal parts surreal, symbolic, and strategic.

For years, Infowars and its founder, Alex Jones, thrived on misinformation.

From pushing anti-vaccine hysteria to the devastating lie that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax, Jones built an empire on distrust and divisiveness.

But after a string of defamation lawsuits (including a staggering $1.5 billion judgement for said Sandy Hook claims) and bankruptcy filings, the wheels came off his operation.

Enter The Onion, which swept in to buy Infowars at what must be a bargain-bin price.

Their stated goal? To 'de-weaponise the Infowars platform' and turn it into a vessel for humour, accountability, and even advocacy, teaming up with Everytown for Gun Safety.

If irony were a currency, this acquisition would make The Onion richer than Musk.

Why this move is brilliant:

Firstly, Infowars is so much more than a failed business. It’s a cultural symbol.

By purchasing it, The Onion is staging one of the most high-profile clapbacks in media history. They’re taking a stand against disinformation by reclaiming the narrative entirely.

For The Onion, this is a natural evolution of their role as cultural watchdogs.

For Infowars? Well, turns out, what’s funny in theory might not be as funny in court.

Humour has always been one of the most potent tools for cutting through noise. It disarms, diffuses, and delivers truths in a way that’s approachable. By turning Infowars into a satire hub, The Onion can dismantle its toxic legacy while highlighting the absurdities of its former existence.

Imagine the headlines: 'The Globalists Want to Take Your Tinfoil Hats! We Recommend Fedora Alternatives.'

I’m so here for it.

Is this a potential media model for the future?

While this acquisition is funny as hell, it could also be the blueprint.

The internet is rife with discredited platforms and brands, from conspiracy blogs to failed social media networks. What if their legacies could be flipped?

Instead of festering as digital graveyards of trauma and hatred, they could become instruments of cultural critique or even progress.

But there are challenges.

For one, rehabilitating a brand as toxic as Infowars is no small feat. Loyal followers may resist the shift or migrate elsewhere. And this could perpetuate the cycle of misinformation. Meanwhile, critics may question whether turning something so harmful into a joke trivialises its impact – a fair point.

However, I believe the benefits outweigh the risks.

This move could inspire media professionals to think creatively about brand redemption. Could other platforms follow suit? Could satire become a mechanism for holding power accountable in the most unexpected of places?

The whole situation is emblematic of a broader cultural shift: a growing appetite for accountability in a world saturated with bad faith.

Satire is no longer merely a form of entertainment. It’s now a form of resistance.

It forces us to confront the uncomfortable truths, even when those truths wear a clown nose.

And for audiences, it’s a reminder that change is possible. Even in the darkest corners of the internet, there’s room for light—and maybe even a little laughter. Which is nice, considering the corners have gotten considerably darker as of late.

This goes to show that when worlds collide, it’s a lesson in how media can evolve.

The Onion has shown us that reclaiming narratives isn’t just a possibility, it’s essential.

-Sophie, Writer