The Onion’s Infowars Deal: Tim Heidecker as Creative Director The satirical news outlet The Onion has reached an agreement to seize over Alex Jones’ Infowars, with comedian Tim Heidecker appointed as creative director of the platform. The deal, which requires judicial approval, would allow The Onion to remake Infowars as a parody of itself under a licensing arrangement. According to reports, The Onion would pay $81,000 a month to cover rent, utilities and other operating costs tied to the Infowars studio. The licensing agreement would last six months, with an option to renew for another six months, while a court-appointed receiver continues working to sell the assets of Free Speech Systems, Infowars’ parent company. Heidecker, known for his work on “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!,” first expressed interest in the project over a year ago after initially hearing The Onion was looking to acquire Infowars. He reached out through his agent, having previously parodied Jones’ mannerisms, but did not hear back until The Onion closed the deal. The takeover attempt comes in the aftermath of a verdict in favor of Sandy Hook families who sued Jones for defamation over his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. The verdict pushed Jones and Infowars into bankruptcy and his assets have been placed under a court-appointed monitor through which the families will receive proceeds from the liquidation of his assets. Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, stated that the deal represents “the culmination of a two-year-long effort to get some justice for the Sandy Hook families.” The arrangement would allow The Onion to reshape Infowars as a comedic outlet under Heidecker’s creative leadership. The deal remains pending approval by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin, Texas. If approved, it could take effect around April 30, 2026. A spokesperson for Sandy Hook families’ attorney Chris Mattei has characterized Infowars’ “machinery of lies” as a potential “force for social good” under the proposed arrangement. The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars marks another development in the years-long legal fallout surrounding Jones’ conspiracy theories and the defamation judgments against him. Under the settlement with Sandy Hook families, The Onion will pay a monthly licensing fee to the court-appointed manager of Infowars.
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