The Onion to launch Infowars parody, directing revenue to Sandy Hook families

The Onion announced that it will launch a parody version of the Infowars website on Thursday, with part of the proceeds intended for families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. The plan follows a pending legal effort by The Onion to acquire Infowars assets.

CEO Ben Collins said the parody will feature merchandise that combines Infowars branding with The Onion’s logo, and the first payment to the families will be $100,000 from those sales. Collins added that the new site will include satirical shows and content that mimic the style of Infowars, including mock products and exaggerated commentary.

Alex Jones was ordered by courts in Connecticut and Texas to pay more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for claiming the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax. The judgments have led to the bankruptcy of Infowars and the seizure of its assets. Attorney Chris Mattei, representing nine of the families, said any future earnings from the parody will be directed to the victims’ families.

The families have expressed cautious optimism about the project, noting that the parody could prevent further profit from the original Infowars brand. Mattei said the families are "pleased and amused" by the initiative and see it as a way to turn a negative platform into a positive outcome.

The Onion continues to pursue control of Infowars’ former studio in Austin, Texas, and plans to expand the parody content after the initial launch.