The Onion Launches New InfoWars Website

The Onion has launched a new website under the InfoWars brand, operating as a "pirated brand" while the official InfoWars.com assets remain in legal limbo. This initiative is led by Onion CEO Ben Collins and creative director Tim Heidecker. The website's initial phase focuses on directly satirizing Alex Jones and his controversial platform, a strategy Heidecker described as "phase one." The design of the new site mimics the visual urgency of a 24-hour news cycle combined with low-fidelity graphics reminiscent of desktop-era websites and infomercials.

The acquisition of InfoWars' brand assets by The Onion was an attempt to redirect proceeds to the families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Alex Jones, the founder of InfoWars, was sued for defamation by these families and subsequently declared bankruptcy in 2022. The Onion's bid to officially take over the brand assets and production equipment faced court appeals from Jones, delaying the process.

Beyond its immediate satirical purpose, the new InfoWars website has a long-term ambition to become a competitor to social media platforms. Heidecker stated that "phase two" of their plan involves establishing the site as a significant player in the social media landscape, potentially evolving into a "Netflix of comedy." This suggests a strategic move to leverage satire and content creation to build a new digital media entity.