The Onion said Thursday that it plans to sell merchandise spoofing Alex Jones’ defunct “InfoWars” brand, along with online content lampooning the infamous conspiracy theorist, to raise $100,000 for the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting victims he was found legally responsible for defaming.
Jones was ordered to pay $1.4 billion for accusing families of the 26 people killed in that 2012 massacre of fabricating the incident. The 52-year-old pundit, who appealed that ruling, hasn’t compensated his victims. But The Onion struck a deal with those owed money to reimburse them by acquiring the intellectual rights to “Infowars,” which it intends to run as a parody site.
While legal complications have slowed that acquisition, the satirical news outlet is selling “Infowars” branded gear that mocks the vitamin supplements and merchandise that generated $50 million annually for Jones’ empire, according to “Infowars.”
That includes tote bags and fanny packs spelling the hyper-masculine brand’s name in the colors of the rainbow. Also advertised are vitamin supplements claiming to ward off demons and turn urine into gold. Those items are sold out, according to the Onion.com, where the merchandise is being sold.
A video posted to The Onion‘s website includes a Jones’ impersonator declaring victory over the conspiracy peddler who founded “Infowars” in 1999 as a public-access cable television program in Texas.
Jones resurfaced in May with a new online network called Alex Jones Live.
“All he’s been left with is an iPhone and a fancy microphone,” according to Chris Mattei, who represented several plaintiffs that sued Jones.
“The Onion” CEO Ben Collins playfully told MSNBC on Thursday that his plans to reinvent “Infowars” will be “very stupid and very funny.”
He added that The Onion also hopes to continue generating revenue for the Sandy Hook victims beyond the $100,000 already planned.
With News Wire Services