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Alex Jones, the very conservative radio host and renowned purveyor of conspiracy theories, received an order to provide over $1 billion to the families of eight victims from the 2012 Sandy Hook shootings for the harm he inflicted by spreading a fabrication claiming the tragedy was staged. The ruling by the Connecticut court, issued on October 12, 2022, comes after a Texas court instructed Jones to give $45 million in compensatory penalties to another victim’s relatives two months earlier. Although Jones’ legal representative indicated that they intended to challenge the rulings, he ultimately forfeited control of his enterprise, “Infowars,” to The Onion during a bankruptcy sale.
Continue scrolling to uncover additional details about Jones, featured below.
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Alex is the originator of the extreme-right conspiracy website “Infowars”
He started the online portal in 1999. It is dedicated to Alex’s tirades, his radio broadcast, and frequently, his radical conspiracy-based news. That incorporates his emphatic and persistent allegations that the 2012 Sandy Hook school tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 20 children, was contrived. He also contended that the devastating 1995 Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing constituted government-orchestrated terrorism, and that the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. were initiated by the George W. Bush Administration. “Let me get right to the crux of the matter,” he declared at the time, “there’s a 98 percent likelihood that this was a controlled demolition planned by the government.”
Alex faces bans across nearly all social media platforms
Alex’s caustic expressions have led to his prohibition from platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and others. On Sept. 6, 2018, Twitter stated, “Today, we have permanently suspended @realalexjones and @infowars from both Twitter and Periscope. This action was taken due to the emergence of recent reports concerning Tweets and videos posted yesterday that contravene our policy against abusive conduct, in addition to prior violations by these accounts.” When Facebook revealed in 2019 that Alex was barred, along with other vehemently conservative personalities like Milo Yiannopoulos and Laura Loomer, the company released a statement asserting: “We have consistently prohibited individuals or entities that advocate for or partake in violence and animosity, irrespective of their ideologies. The methodology for assessing potential offenders is rigorous, and it ultimately informed our decision to remove these accounts today.”
Alex has shown evidence of being anti-LGBTQ
Back in 2010, he made the assertion that the Pentagon had engineered a “gay bomb.” “The present abundance of gay individuals is due to chemical warfare operations, supported by government documents indicating intentions to stimulate homosexuality through chemical means to reduce procreation,” he stated in a 2010 broadcast cited by NBC News. In 2017, he proclaimed that “The majority of frogs across many regions of the United States are now gay,” although without furnishing any corroborating evidence. He additionally asserted that the 2016 Pulse nightclub incident in Orlando, FL, was a consequence of the LGBTQ community. In 2018, he insisted that the Pentagon had devised “weaponized perfumes” intended to “make men attracted to other men, driven by the desire to diminish procreation.” Additional instances of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric contributed to his banishment from various social media platforms.
Alex has asserted that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a “man”
In 2014, he uploaded a video onto Infowars, posing the query, “Is Michelle Obama a man?” Subsequently, he labeled Michelle with the transgender slur “tranny.” His actions persisted even after her departure from the White House. In 2017, he vociferously argued that, “Since the early stages of the Obama administration, numerous citizens have analyzed videos and images of Michelle Obama and inferred her to be a man. Nevertheless, fresh and shocking footage has surfaced, which is being removed from the internet as swiftly as it is being uploaded.” He then showcased photos and videos featuring folds in her pants and skirts, and made the outrageous allegation that he observed a prominent “penis” outline.
Alex garnered public endorsement from several right-leaning celebrities
Alex has been a dedicated proponent of Donald Trump, informing his audience that the real estate magnate was virtually a godsend dispatched to rescue the White House. During a 2015 dialogue on his program, Trump reciprocated the sentiment, conveying to Jones, “Your reputation is incredible. I will not disappoint you,” as stated by The Washington Post. However, the current state of their alliance remains nebulous following Jones’ legal proceedings concerning the Sandy Hook families.
In December 2021, Tucker Carlson described Jones as “one of the most well-known journalists” on his Fox News broadcast. “[He is] a more capable journalist than, for instance, NBC News’s security correspondent Ken Dilanian or Margaret Brennan of CBS,” Tucker appended.
Joe Rogan previously defended Jones, expressing, “What exactly is he doing that warrants such disapproval? It’s entertaining!” according to The Washington Post. Rogan also featured Jones on his highly-rated podcast in 2020, where Jones propagated misinformation regarding the coronavirus vaccine.