Satirical takeover: The Onion turns Infowars into parody, pays Sandy Hook families $100,000

The Onion has launched a satirical version of Alex Jones' Infowars, donating the proceeds to the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. According to the Associated Press, the parody debuted under The Onion's own website, combining Infowars branding with the satirical outlet's signature style. The move follows a billion-dollar defamation verdict against Jones for falsely calling the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre a hoax.

Comedian Tim Heidecker hosted the relaunch broadcast, doing his signature Alex Jones impression. Rolling Stone reported that Heidecker declared "a new dawn" for the outlet before cutting to other segments. The A.V. Club described the event as "a unique media event where a satirical publication takes over and repurposes a notorious disinformation outlet."

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The A.V. ClubThe Onion relaunches InfoWars with $100,000 payment to Sandy Hook familiesRolling StoneThe Onion Relaunches InfoWars with Tim Heidecker as Host in Satirical Takeover

The Onion is sending the families a $100,000 check from merchandise sales. The Associated Press noted that the merchandise "merge the conspiracy empire's brand with The Onion's logo." The A.V. Club added that the payment directly compensates those harmed by Infowars' previous content.

The Onion had previously tried to acquire Infowars in a bankruptcy auction, according to the Associated Press. Rolling Stone reported that the relaunch follows a legal battle by The Onion to secure the rights to Jones' flagship property. The satirical takeover marks a rare instance of a humor publication repurposing a disinformation platform to benefit its victims.