View source for The Onion

{{Short description|American satire news organization}}
{{about|||Onion (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name = ''The Onion''
| motto = America's Finest News Source
| logo = The Onion logo.svg
| logo_border = yes
| logo_caption = The Onion's logo
| image = The Onion, January 18-24, 2001.jpg
| caption = Cover of the January 18–24, 2001, issue
| type = Satirical newspaper
| format = Website
| owners = Global Tetrahedron
| founder = {{ubl|[[Tim Keck]]|Christopher Johnson}}
| editor = Chad Nackers
| staff_writers = 
| founded = {{start date and age|1988|8|29}}<br/>[[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.<ref name="paste_20090722"/>
| ceased_publication = December 13, 2013 <small>(print)</small><ref name="chicagobusiness_20131108">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131108/NEWS06/131109801/area-men-agree-print-is-dead|title=Area men agree print is dead|website=Crain's Chicago Business|date=November 8, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Lynne|last=Marek|archive-date=July 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702154006/http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131108/NEWS06/131109801/area-men-agree-print-is-dead/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| relaunched = August 16, 2024 <small>(print)</small>
| headquarters = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| website = {{URL|https://www.theonion.com/}}
}}

'''''The Onion''''' is an American digital media company and newspaper organization that publishes [[satire|satirical]] articles on international, national, and local news. The company is currently based in [[Chicago]], but originated as a weekly print publication on August 29, 1988, in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].<ref name="paste_20090722">{{cite magazine| url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/07/six-insights-from-an-editor-at-the-onion.html| archive-date=August 16, 2016| url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816171600/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/07/six-insights-from-an-editor-at-the-onion.html |title=Six Insights From an Editor at The Onion| magazine=Paste Magazine| date=July 22, 2009| access-date=July 24, 2016| first=Nick| last=Marino}}</ref><ref name="UWAlumni2025">{{cite web| url= https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/fake-news/ |title=Fake News! |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] Alumni and Friends |author=Christine Wenc |date=Fall 2025 |access-date=7 December 2025}}</ref> ''The Onion'' began publishing online in early 1996. In 2007, they began publishing satirical news audio and video online as the ''[[Onion News Network]]''. In 2013, ''The Onion'' stopped publishing its print edition and launched Onion Labs, an advertising agency.<ref name="onionlabs">{{cite web|title=Onion Labs|url=http://labs.theonion.com|access-date=December 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331012245/http://labs.theonion.com/|archive-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref><ref name="slate_20130905">{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/09/changes_at_the_onion_america_s_finest_news_source_adjusts_to_internet_speed.html|title=A Disturbance in the Force|website=Slate|date=September 5, 2013|access-date=December 13, 2013|first=Farhad|last=Manjoo|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927141350/http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/09/changes_at_the_onion_america_s_finest_news_source_adjusts_to_internet_speed.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Onion'' was then acquired three times, first by [[Univision]] in 2016, which later merged ''The Onion'' and its several other publications into those of [[Gizmodo Media Group]].<ref name=":0"/> This unit was sold in 2019 to Great Hill Partners, forming a new company named [[G/O Media]].<ref name=":1"/> Then, in April 2024, G/O Media sold ''The Onion'' to Global Tetrahedron, a firm newly created by former [[Twilio]] CEO Jeff Lawson, which revived the print edition in August that year.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="NYT 2024"/>

''The Onion''{{'}}s articles cover real and fictional current events, parodying the tone and format of traditional news organizations with stories, editorials, and street interviews using a traditional news website layout and an [[editorial voice]] modeled after that of the [[Associated Press]]. The publication's humor often depends on presenting mundane, everyday events as newsworthy, surreal, or alarming, such as "Rotation Of Earth Plunges Entire North American Continent Into Darkness".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theonion.com/rotation-of-earth-plunges-entire-north-american-contine-1819568317|title=Rotation Of Earth Plunges Entire North American Continent Into Darkness |date=27 February 2006 |work=The Onion|access-date=August 1, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=August 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801034448/https://www.theonion.com/rotation-of-earth-plunges-entire-north-american-contine-1819568317|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999, comedian [[Bob Odenkirk]] praised the publication as "the best comedy writing in the country".<ref name="ew_19990108">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1999/01/08/onion-moves-internet|title=''The Onion'' moves to the Internet|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 8, 1999|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Alexandria|last=Dionne|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626123516/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/01/08/onion-moves-internet|url-status=live}}</ref>

''The Onion'' previously ran ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', a non-satirical entertainment and pop culture publication founded in 1993 that contains interviews and reviews of newly released media and other weekly features, and ''[[ClickHole]]'', a satirical website founded in 2014 which parodies [[clickbait]] websites. ''ClickHole'' was acquired by ''[[Cards Against Humanity]]'' in February 2020 while ''The A.V. Club'' was acquired by [[Paste (magazine)|''Paste'' magazine]] in March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Katie |last=Notopoulos |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/cards-against-humanity-buys-clickhole|title=Cards Against Humanity Bought Clickhole|website=BuzzFeed News|date=February 3, 2020 |language=en|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218103110/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/cards-against-humanity-buys-clickhole|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/clickhole-writers-explain-their-craft-how-the-onions-internet-parody-spinoff-became-the-best-thing-online.html|title=Wow. Clickhole.|magazine=Slate|date=June 9, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114722/https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/clickhole-writers-explain-their-craft-how-the-onions-internet-parody-spinoff-became-the-best-thing-online.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
{{redirect|History of The Onion|the food's history|History of onions}}

=== Madison (1988–2001) ===
In 1988, ''The Onion'' was founded as a weekly print newspaper for satirical news by [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] students [[Tim Keck]] and Christopher Johnson.<ref name="washingtonpost_20081116">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110701942_pf.html | title=Onion Nation: A Look Inside the Offices of ''The Onion'' | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=November 16, 2008 | access-date=November 26, 2013 | first=Wells | last=Tower | archive-date=November 11, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111044218/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110701942_pf.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="independent_20141116">{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Nick|title='The Onion' is for sale – insert satirical headline here|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/the-onion-is-for-sale-insert-satirical-headline-here-9864201.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/the-onion-is-for-sale-insert-satirical-headline-here-9864201.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=July 9, 2017|work=The Independent|date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> Keck's parents had both worked on [[Hammond Times|''The Hammond Times'']] newspaper, and he had previously partnered with cartoonist [[James Sturm]] to sell monthly calendars featuring characters from Sturm's comics in ''[[The Daily Cardinal]]'' student newspaper.<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=x-xiii, 14-16}}</ref> The idea for a newspaper of fake stories came from ''The Daily Cardinal''{{'s}} annual [[April Fools' Day]] parody issue.<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=21}}</ref> Keck claims that Johnson's uncle suggested naming the newspaper ''The Onion'' because of their frequent consumption of onion sandwiches, early comic contributor [[Scott Dikkers]] maintains that it referred to "newspaper slang in the 1930s for a juicy, multi-layered story," and editor Cole Bolton insists that it mocked the campus bulletin ''The Union'', alongside which early issues appeared.<ref name="youtube_20131107">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfRlUI3ZCsY?si=erFOznXZ1aD5kScV&t=1075|title=Onion Turns 25: Founder Who 'Hasn't Done Shit There in 24 Years' Takes Credit - Tim Keck|website=[[YouTube]]|date=November 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="spectatornews_20070208">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spectatornews.com/showcase/2007/02/08/layers-of-the-onion/
|title=Layers of the Onion|date=February 8, 2007|magazine=The Spectator|access-date=June 20, 2015|archive-date=June 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620234644/http://www.spectatornews.com/showcase/2007/02/08/layers-of-the-onion/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="universityofchicago_instituteofpolitics_20150420">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PaI5dC3IM8&t=48m33s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/0PaI5dC3IM8| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|title=IOP-Mocking the Man: How Satire Helps Deepen Our Understanding of the World Featuring Cole Bolton |date=April 20, 2015 |access-date=June 20, 2015 |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[University of Chicago Institute of Politics]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1989, Keck and Johnson sold the paper to Dikkers; Peter Haise, their advertising manager; and Jonnie Wilder, their [[Typesetting|typesetter]], for $16,000<ref name="washingtonpost_20081116"/><ref name="independent_20141116"/><ref name="forbes_20050131"/> ($19,000 according to some sources).<ref name="cnn_20030829">{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/08/28/bus2.feat.onion.site/index.html | title=The Onion: Funny site is no joke | department=Business 2.0 | publisher=CNN | date=August 29, 2003 | access-date=November 21, 2008 | first=Geoff | last=Keighley | archive-date=March 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320061039/http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/08/28/bus2.feat.onion.site/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dionne|first=Alexandria|title='The Onion' moves to the Internet|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/01/08/onion-moves-internet/|access-date=July 9, 2017|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 8, 1999|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705234920/https://ew.com/article/1999/01/08/onion-moves-internet/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the sale, Keck and Johnson separately became publishers of similar [[alternative weekly|alternative weeklies]]: Keck of ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], and Johnson of the ''[[Weekly Alibi]]'' in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]].<ref name="yaledailynews_20011207">{{cite news | url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2001/12/07/onion-co-founder-extols-the-virtues-of-humor/ | title=Onion co-founder extols the virtues of humor | date=December 7, 2001 | newspaper=Yale Daily News | first=Taryn | last=Williams | access-date=June 24, 2015 | archive-date=March 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320061057/https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2001/12/07/onion-co-founder-extols-the-virtues-of-humor/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="baltimoresun_19990606">{{cite news | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1999/06/06/all-the-news-thats-fit-to-parody-from-underground-lampon-to-best-selling-book-the-onion-has-found-wide-appeal-catching-up-with-the-onion/ | title=All the news that's fit to parody | newspaper=The Baltimore Sun | date=June 6, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Rob | last=Hiaasen | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626140601/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-06-06/entertainment/9906090387_1_onion-female-orgasm-dikkers | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="latimes_20000123">{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-21-ca-39363-story.html | title=Not Necessarily the News | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=January 23, 2000 | access-date=June 30, 2015 | first=Paul | last=Brownfield | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111133/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/may/21/entertainment/ca-39363 | url-status=live }}</ref> In late 1990, Wilder sold her shares for $15,000 to work at the board game publisher [[Iron Crown Enterprises]].<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=55-56}}</ref> Haise left ''The Onion'' after 15 years and eventually opened a custom framing shop in [[Wauwatosa, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Stephen|first=Jessica|title=Wauwatosa Business Spotlight: Bridgetown Framing Gallery|url=http://archive.wauwatosanow.com/news/wauwatosa-business-spotlight-bridgetown-framing-gallery-b99409430z1-285996691.html/|access-date=July 9, 2017|work=Wauwatosa Now|publisher=USA Today Network|date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200443/http://archive.wauwatosanow.com/news/wauwatosa-business-spotlight-bridgetown-framing-gallery-b99409430z1-285996691.html/|url-status=live}}</ref> Dikkers claimed he was de facto editor by the third issue and became ''The Onion''{{'}}s longest-serving [[editor-in-chief]] (1988–1999, 2005–2008).<ref name="time_1999101421">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/digital/cyberelite/43.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530000012/http://www.time.com/time/digital/cyberelite/43.html | title=Cyber Elite – 43 – Scott Dikkers | magazine=Time | date=May 30, 2009 | access-date=June 24, 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 30, 2009}}</ref>

In ''The Onion''{{'s}} earlier years, it was successful in a number of university locations (e.g., University of Wisconsin–Madison and [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]]). The publication primarily consisted of a mix of Dikkers's cartoons, [[Spy (magazine)|''Spy'']] magazine-like satire, and short fiction. The bottom three inches were reserved as ad space for coupons that were typically purchased by local, student-centered or inexpensive establishments, such as eateries and [[Video rental shop|video rental store]]s.<ref name="latimes_20000123"/><ref name="cmj_199701">{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 | first=Douglas | last=Wolk | title=Multi-Media: The Onion | magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly | date=January 1997 | page=52 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | archive-date=January 18, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114722/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In the summer of 1993, [[Stephen Thompson (journalist)|Stephen Thompson]] founded and became editor of the paper's genuine entertainment section, which was dubbed ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' in 1995.<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=83}}</ref> In a 1994 interview with ''U. Magazine'', Dikkers discussed Onion, Inc.'s plans to create a new sketch comedy show called ''The Comedy Castaways'', which they were in the process of pitching to [[NBC]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], and [[HBO]]. With a [[television pilot|pilot]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GzBw9SeyE|title=Long Lost Onion Sketch TV Pilot "THE COMEDY CASTAWAYS" - First Episode|date=October 7, 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref> and the first two episodes in post-production, Dikkers said, "I think what sets us apart is we've intentionally formed a tightly knit group of funny performers. A lot of these other shows are created by 50-year-olds, written by 40-year-olds and performed by 35-year-olds".<ref name="uthenationalcollegemagazine_199411-12">{{cite magazine|url=http://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/bitstream/handle/mtsu/2761/37644.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=Waka! Waka! Waka! The Business of Comedy is No Laughing Matter|magazine=U. The National College Magazine|page=12|date=December 1, 1994|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Glenn|last=McDonald|archive-date=July 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713153021/http://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/bitstream/handle/mtsu/2761/37644.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1995, Dave and Jeff Haupt sold their shares of [[Cisco]] to purchase a $25,000 license to franchise ''The'' ''Onion'' in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]. The publication also licensed ''The Onion''{{'s}} content for between $200 and $500 a week. According to the Haupts, the staff in the paper's Chicago office were known to smoke marijuana while watching [[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]] games on television. But the Haupts and their partner, Dave Rogers, assembled a more business-focused staff. While other editions of The Onion ran pages of stories there were not enough ads to support, the Haupts cut content to avoid losses. It was a deal many at ''The Onion'' eventually regretted. There were blowups when the Haupts refused to run especially biting headlines or when they made changes to the paper's layout. "We might have been selling humor, but the business behind it was always very serious to us. The rest of ''The Onion'' was a complete disaster."<ref name="thedenverpost_20051104">{{cite news | title=Successful satire | newspaper=The Denver Post | date=October 4, 2005 | access-date=December 31, 2023 | archive-date=December 31, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231021408/https://www.denverpost.com/2005/10/04/successful-satire/ | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/10/04/successful-satire/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the spring of 1996, [[Ben Karlin]] and Dikkers collaborated with [[Robert Smigel]] and [[Dana Carvey]] to create four short ''Onion'' news segments for ''[[The Dana Carvey Show]]''. Smigel said that after being introduced to ''The Onion'' by [[Bob Odenkirk]] a year earlier, "it jumped out at me as something completely original and great, and I really wanted to use it on the show". Although four fake news segments anchored by [[Stephen Colbert]] were recorded, only one of the segments actually aired.<ref name="avclub_20090615">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/dana-carvey-and-robert-smigel-29184|title=Dana Carvey and Robert Smigel|website=The A.V. Club|date=June 15, 2009|access-date=July 3, 2015|first=Steve|last=Heisler|archive-date=July 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702134837/http://www.avclub.com/article/dana-carvey-and-robert-smigel-29184|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="onionsfinestnewsreporting_volume1">{{cite book|author=The Onion|date=April 4, 2000|title=The Onion's Finest News Reporting, Volume 1|location=New York|publisher=Three Rivers Press|isbn=978-0609804636}}</ref>

In response to other websites copying ''Onion'' print articles without attribution, graphic designer Jack Szwergold launched an online version of ''The Onion'' in May 1996. Amid the [[dot-com boom]], high revenue from [[online advertising]] allowed the newspaper to professionalize with formal positions and salaries.<ref name="Wenc 6">{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=104-109,113-114}}</ref> In a 2002 interview, then-editor in chief [[Robert D. Siegel|Rob Siegel]] said, "If you look at the breakdown of people who read ''The Onion'' online, it's like [[Microsoft]], [[Dell|Dell Computers]], the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] and then, like, [[University of Wisconsin System|University of Wisconsin]]. So it's a combination of students and pretty impressive people. I get the feeling that the print version is read by people hanging out in bars".<ref name="dailynorthwestern_20020513"/>

The website also increased ''The Onion''{{'s}} global recognition.<ref name="wired_199903">{{cite magazine |last=Schillinger |first=Liesl |date=March 1999 |title=Award-Winning Local Journalists Reflect Own Self-Hatred Back on Nightmarish World |url=http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/onion.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418031503/http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/onion.html |archive-date=April 18, 2014 |access-date=March 23, 2011 |magazine=Wired}}</ref><ref name="citypages_19970317">{{cite news |last=Tortorello |first=Michael |date=March 19, 1997 |title=Peeling the Onion |url=http://www.citypages.com/news/peeling-the-onion-6715697 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625060042/http://www.citypages.com/news/peeling-the-onion-6715697 |archive-date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |work=City Pages}}</ref><ref name="wired_19971113">{{cite magazine |last=Tanner |first=Mike |date=November 13, 1997 |title=A Funny Thing Didn't Happen on the Way to the Web |url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1997/11/8518 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625064053/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1997/11/8518 |archive-date=June 25, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> Soon after its launch, the article "Dying Boy Gets Wish: To Pork [[Janet Jackson]]" prompted a lawsuit from the singer's legal team, which was settled by issuing a letter of apology in the following issue and providing a complimentary subscription.<ref name="Wenc 6"/><ref name="thecapitaltimes_20050412">{{cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/news/local/janet-jackson-almost-killed-the-onion-editor-reveals/article_0d683a9a-50c1-11e3-b9e4-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Janet Jackson almost killed 'The Onion', editor reveals|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=April 12, 2005|access-date=June 29, 2015|first=Samara|last=Kalk Derby|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612215116/http://host.madison.com/news/local/janet-jackson-almost-killed-the-onion-editor-reveals/article_0d683a9a-50c1-11e3-b9e4-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="reasonmagazine_19981106">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.alternet.org/story/67039/is_the_onion_america%27s_most_intelligent_newspaper|title=Is The Onion America's Most Intelligent Newspaper?|magazine=Reason Magazine|date=November 6, 1998|access-date=June 29, 2015|first=Greg|last=Beato|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920152450/http://www.alternet.org/story/67039/is_the_onion_america%27s_most_intelligent_newspaper|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1999, ''The Onion''{{'}}s website won its first [[Webby Award]] in the category of "Humor".<ref name="wired_19990319">{{cite magazine |last=Slaton |first=Joyce |date=March 19, 1999 |title=Digital Darlings Bask at Webbys |url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1999/03/18591 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627031026/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1999/03/18591 |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2015 |magazine=Wired}}</ref><ref name="webbyawards_1999">{{cite news |date=March 18, 1999 |title=The Onion – 1999 People's Voice / Webby Award Winner |url=http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/1999/web/general-website/humor/the-onion/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627031137/http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/1999/web/general-website/humor/the-onion/ |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 26, 2015 |website=The Webby Awards}}</ref>

In the fall of 1996, Ben Karlin, who had been a writer and editor for the publication since graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1993, moved to [[Los Angeles]] and joined other former ''Onion'' staff members to create a pilot for a news parody titled ''Deadline: Now'' for the Fox Network.<ref name="nytimes_20060303">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/nyregion/03lives.html|newspaper=The New York Times|title=From the Onion to Comedy Central to the Oscars|date=March 3, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Robin|last=Finn|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628043240/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/nyregion/03lives.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20050928">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/movies/9-short-films-take-aim-at-the-yucks.html|newspaper=The New York Times|title=9 Short Films Take Aim at the Yucks|date=September 28, 2005|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Dana|last=Stevens|archive-date=May 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529194408/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/movies/9-short-films-take-aim-at-the-yucks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The 15-minute pilot was completed in 1997, but it was never picked up for production.<ref name="broadcastingcable_20060324">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/wisconsin-wise-guys-plot-tv-takeover/69216|website=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Wisconsin Wise Guys Plot TV Takeover|date=March 24, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Michael|last=Malone|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165054/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/wisconsin-wise-guys-plot-tv-takeover/69216|url-status=live}}</ref> However, its creation led to steady writing work for Karlin and other former ''Onion'' staffers, such as writing some episodes of ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'' on the [[Cartoon Network]].<ref name="broadcastingcable_20050930">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/onion-guy-makes-good/108152|website=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Onion Guy Makes Good|date=September 30, 2005|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Michael|last=Malone|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628042753/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/onion-guy-makes-good/108152|url-status=live}}</ref> In the wake of Karlin's departure, Siegel took over as editor of the publication, for which he was paid $400 per week.<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=119-121}}</ref> In January 1999, when [[Jon Stewart]] became the host of ''[[The Daily Show]]'', he chose Karlin to be [[head writer]] of the newly restructured show.<ref name="nytimes_20060303"/><ref name="broadcastingcable_20060324"/><ref name="wisconsinstatejournal_20080308">{{cite news |last=Alesia |first=Tom |date=March 8, 2008 |title=Q&A Ben Karlin: Ex-Onion Editor Reflects On 'Daily Show', His Book |url=http://host.madison.com/news/q-a-ben-karlin-ex-onion-editor-reflects-on-daily/article_abbd5680-8a6c-5690-a6a5-10611923a48b.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161037/https://host.madison.com/news/q-a-ben-karlin-ex-onion-editor-reflects-on-daily/article_abbd5680-8a6c-5690-a6a5-10611923a48b.html |archive-date=June 25, 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2015 |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal}}</ref>

On January 27, 1998, [[MTV]] premiered ''Virtual Bill'', a collaboration between writers of ''The Onion'' and 3-D character studio Protozoa. The titular "Virtual Bill" character was a quasi-realistic [[Computer animation|CGI]] version of [[Bill Clinton]] created by studio Protozoa who introduced [[music videos]] and told jokes written by the staff of ''The Onion''. The voice of ''Virtual Bill'' was provided by then-editor Dikkers. After the initial premiere, ''Virtual Bill'' returned to MTV on December 17, 1998, with another TV special and an interactive web special produced by Pulse that ported the 3D data into a web compatible format using Pulse's proprietary plug-in.<ref name="wired_19980122">{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/01/9803|title=More Headroom: MTV Debuts a Digital Bill|magazine=Wired|date=January 22, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Janelle|last=Brown|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030434/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/01/9803|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sfgate_19980126">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Move-Over-Beavis-Here-s-Virtual-Bill-3015291.php|title=Move Over Beavis, Here's Virtual Bill|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 26, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Laura|last=Evenson|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030500/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Move-Over-Beavis-Here-s-Virtual-Bill-3015291.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="captialtimes_19980127">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-69472316.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162738/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-69472316.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=Onion to Air 'Bill' Spoof Tonight|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=January 27, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Tom|last=Alesia}}</ref><ref name="hurriyetdailynews_19980125">{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=mtv-to-lampoon-clinton-with-quotvirtual-billquot-1998-01-25|title=MTV to lampoon Clinton with 'Virtual Bill'|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News|date=January 25, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|agency=Reuters|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030622/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=mtv-to-lampoon-clinton-with-quotvirtual-billquot-1998-01-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="salon_19981217">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.salon.com/1998/12/15/log_25|title=Clinton satire in 3-D|magazine=Salon|date=December 17, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Janelle|last=Brown|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030758/http://www.salon.com/1998/12/15/log_25/|url-status=live}}</ref>

From March 3 to 7, 1999, ''Onion'' staff attended [[The Comedy Festival]] in [[Aspen, Colorado]] to promote their ''[[Our Dumb Century]]'' book. The newspaper was met with effusive praise from notable comedians like [[Conan O'Brien]], [[Dave Foley]] and [[Dave Thomas (actor)|Dave Thomas]], as well as cartoonist [[Peter Bagge]] and musician [[Andy Prieboy]].<ref name="wired_199903"/><ref name="timharrod_19991029">{{cite web | url=http://www.timharrod.com/aspen.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305093739/http://www.timharrod.com/aspen.html | title=Tim's Aspen Diary | first=Tim | last=Harrod | date=October 29, 1999 | archive-date=March 5, 2008| access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref> The book released on March 23, 1999, featuring mocked-up newspaper front pages from across the 20th century, presented as if the publication had been continuously in print since before 1900.<ref name="entertainmentweekly_19990430"/><ref name="cnn_19990401"/><ref name="harvardcrimson_19990507"/> In the wake of the book's success, networks such as [[HBO]] and [[NBC]] were in talks to bring ''The Onion'' to TV with a special based on ''Our Dumb Century''.<ref name="latimes_20000123"/> Despite nearly two years of work spent on conceiving and producing ''Our Dumb Century'', the writers received only $1,300 in bonuses,<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=147-157}}</ref> despite the fact that the two-book publishing deal netted ''The Onion'' $450,000.<ref name="latimes_20000123"/><ref name="entertainmentweekly_19990430">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.ew.com/article/1999/04/30/our-dumb-century-onion-presents-100-years-headlines-americas-finest-news-source | title=Our Dumb Century | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=April 30, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Clarissa | last=Cruz | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626171020/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/04/30/our-dumb-century-onion-presents-100-years-headlines-americas-finest-news-source | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cnn_19990401">{{cite web | url=http://edition.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9904/Dumb.Century/index.html | title=First Chapters: Dumb and Dumber: Our Dumb Century by the editors of ''The Onion'' | website=CNN | date=April 1, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=T. Herman | last=Zweibel | archive-date=March 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095706/http://edition.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9904/Dumb.Century/index.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="harvardcrimson_19990507">{{cite news | url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/5/7/our-surprisingly-spammy-century-pharvey-mansfield/ | title=Our Surprisingly Spammy Century | newspaper=The Harvard Crimson | date=May 7, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Erik | last=Beach | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626162452/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/5/7/our-surprisingly-spammy-century-pharvey-mansfield/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2000, [[DreamWorks Studios]] optioned two stories from the satirical newspaper, "Canadian Girlfriend Unsubstantiated"—which was to be written by former ''Onion'' editor and writer Rich Dahm—and "Tenth Circle Added to Rapidly Growing Hell" with an eye toward producing the latter as a family comedy. "The story is so dark and hate filled—I was shocked", said head writer Todd Hanson. "It's like an Onion joke. I mean, what are they going to do? Add a sickly-but-adorable moppet?" added editor Robert Siegel. DreamWorks planned for the finished "Tenth Circle Added to Rapidly Growing Hell" to involve animation as well as musical singalongs.<ref name="entertainmentweekly_20001013">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/13/funny-farm-onion | title=Funny Farm: 'The Onion' | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=October 13, 2000 | access-date=June 24, 2015 | first=Daniel | last=Fierman | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626163710/http://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/13/funny-farm-onion | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="theguardian_20001123">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/nov/23/tvandradio.television | title=Read 'em and weep | newspaper=The Guardian | date=November 22, 2000 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Danny | last=Leigh | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626133539/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/nov/23/tvandradio.television | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="irishtimes_20011001">{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/know-your-onions-1.329847 | newspaper=The Irish Times | title=Know your Onions | date=October 1, 2001 | access-date=June 27, 2015 | first=Mike | last=Goodridge | archive-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034117/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/know-your-onions-1.329847 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20081126">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/movies/30itzk.html | newspaper=The New York Times | title=From Fake Newspaper to Real Serious | date=November 26, 2008 | access-date=June 27, 2015 | first=Dave | last=Itzkoff | archive-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034613/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/movies/30itzk.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, [[Miramax]] signed a first-look deal with ''The Onion'', but it never agreed to any films.<ref name="prnewswire_20010215">{{cite press release |title=Miramax Has Tears of Joy, Cutting First-Look Deal With The Onion |date=February 15, 2001 |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miramax-has-tears-of-joy-cutting-first-look-deal-with-the-onion-71369982.html |last=Goodridge |first=Mike |access-date=June 27, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034805/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miramax-has-tears-of-joy-cutting-first-look-deal-with-the-onion-71369982.html |archive-date=June 28, 2015 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref><ref name="variety_20010215">{{cite news |last=Bing |first=Jonathan |date=February 15, 2001 |title=Miramax, Onion ink first-look deal |url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/miramax-onion-ink-first-look-deal-1117793826 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114737/https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/miramax-onion-ink-first-look-deal-1117793826/ |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2015 |newspaper=Variety}}</ref><ref name="screendaily_20010215">{{cite news|url=http://www.screendaily.com/miramax-signs-development-deal-with-the-onion/405040.article|newspaper=Screen Daily|title=Miramax signs development deal with The Onion|date=February 15, 2001|access-date=June 27, 2015|author=Miramax Films|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701034910/http://www.screendaily.com/miramax-signs-development-deal-with-the-onion/405040.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2000, writers and editors of ''The Onion'' participated in a [[Comedy Central]] panel discussion moderated by [[Jeff Greenfield]] titled "The State of ''The Onion''" during the "Toyota Comedy Festival 2000".<ref name="comcentral_200006">{{cite web | url=http://www.comcentral.com/festivals/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815075850/http://www.comcentral.com/festivals/ | title=ComedyCentral.com Presents: The State of ''The Onion'' Webcast Archive | website=Comedy Central | date=June 2000 | archive-date=August 15, 2000| access-date=June 26, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="toyotacomedyfestival_200006">{{cite web | url=http://toyotacomedyfestival.net/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815232607/http://toyotacomedyfestival.net/ | title=8th Annual – June 1-10, 2000 | website=Toyota Comedy Festival | date=June 2000 | archive-date=August 15, 2000| access-date=June 26, 2015 }}</ref> The following month, editor Robert Siegel was named one of [[People (magazine)|''People'']] magazine's most eligible bachelors.<ref name="dailynorthwestern_20020513">{{cite news | url=http://dailynorthwestern.com/2002/05/13/archive-manual/onion-q-a/ | work=The Daily Northwestern | title=Onion Q & A: Robert Siegel | date=May 13, 2002 | access-date=June 30, 2015 | first=Jodi | last=Genshaft | archive-date=July 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064648/http://dailynorthwestern.com/2002/05/13/archive-manual/onion-q-a/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="people_20000710">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131741,00.html | magazine=People Magazine | title=America's Most Wanted: Robert Siegel | date=July 10, 2000 | access-date=June 30, 2015 | archive-date=July 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064718/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131741,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== New York City (2001–2012) ===

In April 2000, a $12 million deal for [[Comedy Central]] to acquire ''The Onion'' fell through amid the [[Dot-com bubble|dot-com crash]].<ref name="Wenc 1"/> In frustration, Dikkers sold his shares to David Schafer, who managed investments for [[Strong Capital Management]].<ref name="fuckedcompany_2001"/><ref name="Wenc 1">{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=160-167}}</ref> Writers conditioned their acceptance of the deal on joining the owners in [[New York City]], while writers for ''The A.V. Club'' would remain in Madison, Wisconsin.<ref name="Wenc 1"/> Agreeing that the move would allow ''The Onion'' to expand into a full production company of books, television, and movies, Haise and Schafer chose a former furniture warehouse in the [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] neighborhood of [[Manhattan]].<ref name="americanjournalismreview_200209">{{cite magazine |url=http://ajrarchive.org/Article.asp?id=2618 |title=Peeling the Onion |magazine=American Journalism Review |date=September 2002 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |first=Kathryn S. |last=Wenner }}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20010122">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/business/media-the-onion-makes-its-new-home-in-an-old-target.html |title=The Onion Makes Its New Home in an Old Target |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 22, 2001 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |first=Corey |last=Kilgannon |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014621/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/business/media-the-onion-makes-its-new-home-in-an-old-target.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nyobserver_20010219">{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2001/02/tale-of-allergists-entenmanns-lavin-flips-for-allbutter-loaf/ |title=Onion Weeps For Shoshanna |work=The New York Observer |date=February 19, 2001 |access-date=June 25, 2015 |first=Amy |last=Berkowitz |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111643/http://observer.com/2001/02/tale-of-allergists-entenmanns-lavin-flips-for-allbutter-loaf/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="telegraph_20010906">{{cite news |last=Leith |first=Sam |date=September 6, 2001 |title=Shock discovery: American satire is funny |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1339638/Shock-discovery-American-satire-is-funny.html |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1339638/Shock-discovery-American-satire-is-funny.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=June 25, 2015 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The planned launch of the New York City print edition on September 16, 2001, was postponed due to the [[September 11 attacks]]. The rewritten issue debuted on September 27 and was widely praised for bringing humor to a recent tragedy, doubling the website's online traffic in the following weeks.<ref name="fuckedcompany_2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.fuckedcompany.com/extras/onion_email.cfm|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011111123530/http://www.fuckedcompany.com/extras/onion_email.cfm|title=Memo to TheOnion.com employees|website=FuckedCompany.com|date=2001|archive-date=November 11, 2001|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Peter|last=Haise}}</ref><ref name="newsweek_20011021">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/fast-chat-onion-154021|title=Fast Chat: The Onion|magazine=Newsweek|date=October 21, 2001|access-date=June 25, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923181814/http://www.newsweek.com/fast-chat-onion-154021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=170-184}}</ref>

In November 2002, a humorous op-ed piece in ''The Onion'' that was satirically bylined by filmmaker [[Michael Bay]] titled "Those Chechen Rebels Stole My Idea" was removed from the site without explanation.<ref name="theonion_onion3842_those_chechen_rebels_20021113"/> Entertainment industry trade magazine [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] theorized, "It's not clear if Bay—a frequent object of ''The Onion''{{'}}s satire—requested the move."<ref name="theonion_onion3842_those_chechen_rebels_20021113">{{cite web |url=http://www.theonion.com/onion3842/those_chechen_rebels.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021114151617/http://www.theonion.com/onion3842/those_chechen_rebels.html|title=Those Chechen Rebels Stole My Idea|website=The Onion|date=November 13, 2002|archive-date=November 14, 2002|access-date=June 28, 2015}}</ref><ref name="variety_20021119">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/columns/new-wave-of-humor-is-no-laughing-matter-1117876281|title=New wave of humor is no laughing matter|newspaper=Variety|date=November 19, 2002|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Jonathan|last=Bing|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628234549/http://variety.com/2002/film/columns/new-wave-of-humor-is-no-laughing-matter-1117876281/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="politechbot_20021121">{{cite web|url=http://www.politechbot.com/p-04180.html|title=More on The Onion deletes parody article about Chechen rebels|website=Declan McCullagh's Politech|date=November 21, 2002|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Declan|last=McCullagh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075248/http://www.politechbot.com/p-04180.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="armchairgeneral_20021114">{{cite web|url=http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showpost.php?s=fe5f61092a24d687fc005047d33baf6a&p=6551&postcount=24|title=The joke thread continued...|website=Armchair General and HistoryNet|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Don|last=Maddox|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630071549/http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showpost.php?s=fe5f61092a24d687fc005047d33baf6a&p=6551&postcount=24|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, editor Robert Siegel quit his day-to-day role at ''The Onion'' to focus on writing screenplays full-time.<ref name="thecapitaltimes_20050412"/><ref name="nytimes_20040620">{{cite news |last=Louie |first=Elaine |date=June 20, 2004 |title=Weddings/Celebrations: Vows – Jen Cohn and Robert Siegel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/style/weddings-celebrations-vows-jen-cohn-and-robert-siegel.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064855/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/style/weddings-celebrations-vows-jen-cohn-and-robert-siegel.html |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20100618">{{cite news |last=Louie |first=Elaine |date=June 18, 2010 |title=No Better Script for Marriage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/fashion/weddings/20UNIONS.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701095846/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/fashion/weddings/20UNIONS.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |work=The New York Times |page=ST15}}</ref> "After the 14,000th headline I felt the itch to use a different part of my brain", he said. "You can go mad thinking in headline form." In the wake of his departure, long-time staff writer [[Carol Kolb]] took over as editor of the publication.<ref name="forbes_20050131">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0131/071.html|title=A Funny Thing|magazine=Forbes|date=January 31, 2005|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Mark|last=Tatge|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626134624/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0131/071.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn_20030829"/><ref name="nytimes_20081126"/><ref name="saintpetersburgtimes_20050412">{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/12/Floridian/Peeling_the_Onion.shtml|title=Floridian: Peeling the Onion|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=April 12, 2005|access-date=October 2, 2010|first=Bill|last=Adair|archive-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023014759/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/12/Floridian/Peeling_the_Onion.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theparisreview_20150126">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/01/26/letter-from-new-york-2005|magazine=The Paris Review|title=Letter from New York, 2005: Adventures in tastelessness at ''The Onion''|date=January 26, 2015|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Amie|last=Barrodale|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701003126/http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/01/26/letter-from-new-york-2005/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Unable to support ''The Onion''{{'s}} rising costs, Haise sold his ownership shares to Schafer for $1.7 million in April 2003.<ref name="Wenc 2"/> Schafer appointed journalist Steve Hannah as ''The Onion''{{'s}} new CEO, who quickly faced criticism for being too old to understand its satire.<ref name="Wenc 2">{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=186-190, 197}}</ref> In 2005, ''The Onion'' moved its New York City offices from its initial Chelsea location to downtown on Broadway in the [[SoHo]] neighborhood of Manhattan.<ref name="nytimes_20060129">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/nyregion/thecity/29onio.html|title=An Onion Uprooted, Without Tears|work=The New York Times|date=January 29, 2006|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Jake|last=Mooney|archive-date=May 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503165759/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/nyregion/thecity/29onio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Kolb resigned to work in television writing, leading Hannah to rehire Dikkers as editor-in-chief.<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=202-203}}</ref>

In 2006, ''The Onion'' had reached a print circulation of 549,000; it was distributed for free in several cities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Misiroglu |first=Gina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iICsBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1625 |title=American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History |date=March 26, 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-47728-0 |language=en |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118143011/https://books.google.com/books?id=iICsBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1625&lpg=PT1625 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same year, it launched a [[YouTube]] channel, which was structured as a parody of modern American television news programs.<ref name="onion_youtube_channel">{{cite web |title=The Onion – YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOnion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323020213/http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOnion |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In June 2006, it was also announced that Siegel had been tapped by Miramax Films to write the screenplay for a comedy titled "Homeland Insecurity" which was slated to be about a pair of Arab-Americans who are mistaken for terrorists while traveling to Texas.<ref name="medialifemagazine_20060606">{{cite magazine |date=June 6, 2006 |title=Former Onion editor Siegel writing terrorism screenplay for Miramax |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/former-onion-editor-robert-siegel-writing-terrorism-screenplay-for-miramax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628041619/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/former-onion-editor-robert-siegel-writing-terrorism-screenplay-for-miramax/ |archive-date=June 28, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2015 |magazine=Media Life Magazine}}</ref>

In July 2006, business media began reporting that [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] intended to acquire ''The Onion''.<ref name="variety_20060717">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2006/digital/markets-festivals/viacom-sniffs-out-onion-1200339658|magazine=Variety|title=Viacom sniffs out Onion|date=July 17, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Jill|last=Goldsmith|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628035654/http://variety.com/2006/digital/markets-festivals/viacom-sniffs-out-onion-1200339658/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20060718">{{cite news|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/viacom-and-the-onion-parody-or-deal|work=The New York Times|title=Viacom and The Onion: Parody or Deal?|date=July 18, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709113614/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/viacom-and-the-onion-parody-or-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="businessweek_20060720">{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/FineOnMedia/archives/2006/07/insert_joke_abo.html|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|title=Viacom and The Onion: Parody or Deal?|date=July 18, 2006|access-date=June 28, 2015|first=Jon|last=Fine|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630170211/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/FineOnMedia/archives/2006/07/insert_joke_abo.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the sale price was rejected by ''Onion'' executives, the company began expanding with unpaid interns to appear larger to potential buyers.<ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=206-207}}</ref>

In April 2007, ''The Onion'' launched ''[[Onion News Network]]'', a parody of "the visual style and breathless reporting of 24-hour cable news networks like [[CNN]]."<ref name="wsj_20070323">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117459985897745975|title=Press 'Play' for Satire|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 23, 2007|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Sam|last=Schechner|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626151446/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117459985897745975|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, Kolb returned as [[head writer]] of the Onion News Network, while Dikkers handed off editorial control of ''The Onion'' itself to [[Joe Randazzo]]. Randazzo first became a writer for ''The Onion'' in 2006 and became the first ''Onion'' editor with no connection to its initial era in Madison.<ref name="washingtonpost_20081116"/><ref name="nytimes_20081121">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/fashion/23irony.html|title=Irony Is Dead. Again. Yeah, Right.|work=The New York Times|date=November 21, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Andy|last=Newman|archive-date=April 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428050244/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/fashion/23irony.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thisamericanlife_348">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/348/transcript|title=Tough Room|publisher=This American Life|date=February 8, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Ira|last=Glass|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630183736/http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/348/transcript|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wnyc_20080213">{{cite news|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/55450-write-your-own-headline-for-emthe-onionem|title=Write Your Own Headline for ''The Onion''|publisher=TWNYC: The Leonard Lopate Show|date=February 13, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Leonard|last=Lopate|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701053441/http://www.wnyc.org/story/55450-write-your-own-headline-for-emthe-onionem/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2009, ''The Onion'' released ''Our Front Pages: 21 Years of Greatness, Virtue, and Moral Rectitude From America's Finest News Source'' which was notable in not only compiling dozens of front pages from the publication's history as a news parody but also showcasing front pages from the publication's early, more casual campus humor focused era during the 1980s when the publication featured headlines such as, "Depressed? Try Liposuction on that Pesky Head."<ref name="nytimes_20091102">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/books/03onion.html|work=The New York Times|title=Collecting Headlines Funnier Than This|date=November 2, 2009|access-date=June 28, 2015|first=Eric|last=Konigsberg|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701113604/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/books/03onion.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2009, ''The Onion'' satirized media consolidation by leaking false rumors that the newspaper would be sold, which was widely reported by other outlets.<ref name="cnet_20090715">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10287280-93.html|title=No Joke: Report says ''The Onion'' discussing sale|publisher=news.cnet.com|date=July 15, 2009|access-date=March 23, 2011|first=Greg|last=Sandoval|archive-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234545/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10287280-93.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gawker_20090717">{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5317240/onion-sale-announcement-monday|title=Onion Sale Announcement Monday?|website=Gawker.com|date=July 17, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2011|first=Ryan|last=Tate|archive-date=November 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123173147/https://gawker.com/5317240/onion-sale-announcement-monday|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wenc 3">{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=217-218}}</ref> Fictional Publisher Emeritus T. Herman Zweibel (portrayed by Dikkers) announced that he had sold the publication to a Chinese company—Yu Wan Mei Corporation—resulting in a week-long series of China-related articles throughout ''The Onion''{{'s}} website and print editions.<ref name="onion_20090720">{{cite web|url=http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/well_ive_sold_the_paper_to|title=''Well, I've Sold The Paper To The Chinese''|website=The Onion|date=July 20, 2009|access-date=March 23, 2011|first=T. Herman|last=Zweibel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218222333/http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/well_ive_sold_the_paper_to|archive-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref><ref name="gawker_20090720">{{cite web |last=Tate |first=Ryan |date=July 20, 2009 |title=Chopped ''Onion'' Makes Us Cry |url=http://gawker.com/5318527/chopped-onion-makes-us-cry |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123183200/https://gawker.com/5318527/chopped-onion-makes-us-cry |archive-date=November 23, 2011 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |website=Gawker.com}}</ref> On July 22, 2009, editor [[Joe Randazzo]] clarified on [[NPR]]'s ''[[All Things Considered]]'' that "we are, in fact, still a solvent independently owned American company."<ref name="npr_20090722">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106894674|title=A New Owner For 'The Onion'?|publisher=NPR: All Things Considered|date=July 22, 2009|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Robert|last=Siegel|archive-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505075300/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106894674|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2011, ''The Onion''{{'}}s website began testing a [[paywall]] model, requiring a $2.95 monthly/$29.95 annual charge from non-U.S. visitors who wish to read more than about five stories within 30 days. "We are testing a meter internationally as readers in those markets are already used to paying directly for some (other) content, particularly in the UK where we have many readers", said the company's CTO Michael Greer.<ref name="paidcontentuk_20110805">{{cite web|url=http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-the-onion-asks-overseas-readers-to-pay-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325124815/http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-the-onion-asks-overseas-readers-to-pay-|title=The Onion Testing A Metered Paid Model|publisher=paidcontent.co.uk|date=August 5, 2011|archive-date=March 25, 2012|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Robert|last=Andrews|work=paidContent:UK }}</ref><ref name="niemanjournalismlab_20110808">{{cite web|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/08/the-onions-cto-its-paywall-experiment-is-just-that|title=The Onion's CTO: Our paywall experiment is just that|publisher=Nieman Journalism Lab|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Andrew|last=Phelps|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195958/http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/08/the-onions-cto-its-paywall-experiment-is-just-that/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="avclub_20110808">{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/about-emthe-onionems-new-paid-content-system-60129|title=About The Onion's new paid content system ...|newspaper=The A.V. Club|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Sean|last=O'Neal|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623093943/http://www.avclub.com/article/about-emthe-onionems-new-paid-content-system-60129|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2011, ''The Onion'' announced that it would move its editorial operations to Chicago, joining its corporate headquarters.<ref name="chicago_suntimes_201109">{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/7800527-420/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-to-chicago.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210011418/http://www.suntimes.com/business/7800527-420/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-to-chicago.html|title=''The Onion'' to move editorial staff to Chicago|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 22, 2011|archive-date=February 10, 2013| access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Sandra|last=Guy}}</ref><ref name="fishbowlNY_201109">{{cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/the-onion-is-leaving-new-york/|title=''The Onion'' is Leaving New York|website=FishbowNY|date=September 22, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Chris|last=O'Shea|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014626/https://www.mediabistro.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="poynter_201109">{{cite web|url=http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/146882/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-from-new-york-to-chicago|title=''The Onion'' editorial staff to move from New York to Chicago|website=Poynter.org|date=September 22, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Jim|last=Romenesko|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025073727/http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/146882/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-from-new-york-to-chicago|archive-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref> That year, ''Onion News Network'' launched on television, and it was a major source of revenue amid diminished newspaper advertising in the aftermath of the [[2008 financial crisis]]. Chicago and Illinois offered tax breaks for [[Internet video]] production, while New York City unions had bargained high wages for ''Onion'' writers.<ref name="Wenc 4">{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=252-256}}</ref>

The move blindsided ''Onion'' writers, and they threatened to collectively resign. Writer [[Baratunde Thurston]] organized "Project Allium" (named after the ''[[Allium]]'' [[genus]] of onions) to have [[business incubator]] [[Betaworks]] acquire ''The Onion''. Hannah responded by rejecting Betaworks' offer and convincing Dikkers to return as General Manager and Vice President of Creative Development to maintain the appearance of continuity. Around 85% of the staff resigned, including Randazzo.<ref name="Wenc 4"/><ref name="huffingtonpost_20110929">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/the-onion-to-lose-editor-joe-randazzo_n_987534.html|title=''The Onion'' Editor Joe Randazzo To Leave Ahead Of Chicago Move|website=Huffington Post|date=September 29, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Carol|last=Hartsell|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014623/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-onion-to-lose-editor-joe-randazzo_n_987534|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Chicago (2012–present)===
With the publication's core editorial staff now based in Chicago, in March 2012 Cole Bolton—a [[Brown University]] graduate of business economics, former associate economist at the [[Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago]], and research associate at [[Harvard Business School]]—was named the new editor-in-chief of ''The Onion''.<ref name="wsj_20140505"/><ref name="splitsider_20140302"/> "I was never in an improv group, never in a sketch group, never wrote for an ''Onion'' parody in college", said Bolton in a 2014 interview with comedy publication ''[[SplitSider]]''.<ref name="splitsider_20140302"/> "It was just sort of a decision that I decided, two years out of college, that I didn't like where I was going in my life, and I wanted to do something that I cared about more, so I ended up just sending stuff in to ''The Onion''."<ref name="universityofchicago_instituteofpolitics_20150420"/><ref name="splitsider_20140302">{{cite web| url=http://splitsider.com/2014/03/talking-to-the-onions-new-editor-cole-bolton/| title=Talking to 'The Onion's New Editor, Cole Bolton| website=Splitsider| date=March 2, 2014| access-date=June 29, 2015| first=Jeremy| last=Popkin| archive-date=March 9, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309212623/http://splitsider.com/2014/03/talking-to-the-onions-new-editor-cole-bolton/}}</ref><ref name="wsj_20140505">{{cite news| url=https://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/05/05/funny-money-from-fed-economist-to-editor-of-the-onion/| title=Funny Money: From Fed Economist to Editor of The Onion| work=The Wall Street Journal| date=May 5, 2014| access-date=June 29, 2015| first=Pedro Nicolaci| last=da Costa| archive-date=June 29, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629132111/http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/05/05/funny-money-from-fed-economist-to-editor-of-the-onion/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fora_20141029">{{cite web| url=http://library.fora.tv/2014/10/29/interview_cole_bolton_editor_in_chief_the_onion| title=Washington Ideas Forum 2014: Interview: Cole Bolton, Editor-in-Chief, The Onion| website=FORA.tv| date=October 29, 2014| access-date=June 29, 2015| archive-date=March 3, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234619/http://library.fora.tv/2014/10/29/interview_cole_bolton_editor_in_chief_the_onion| url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Additionally, in March 2012 more insight into the internal issues surrounding the Chicago move—including an attempt made by the writers to find a new owner—are explored by articles in ''[[The Atlantic Wire]]''<ref name="atlantic_wire_201203">{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=John |date=March 22, 2012 |title=''The Onion''{{'}}s Bumpy Ride to Chicago |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2012/03/onions-bumpy-ride-chicago/50149/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915023940/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2012/03/onions-bumpy-ride-chicago/50149/ |archive-date=September 15, 2013 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |website=The Wire (The Atlantic)}}</ref> and [[New York (magazine)|''New York'']] magazine's ''Daily Intelligencer''.<ref name="new_york_magazine_201203">{{cite magazine |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=March 22, 2012 |title=Writers at ''The Onion'' Refusing to Leave New York for Chicago |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/onion-writers-refuse-to-leave-new-york.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501081503/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/onion-writers-refuse-to-leave-new-york.html |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |magazine=New York Magazine}}</ref> According to an article in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'',<ref name="chicago_tribune_20120331">{{cite magazine |last=Channick |first=Robert |date=March 31, 2012 |title=Nothing Fake About ''The Onion''{{'}}s Move |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0401-onion-20120324,0,6580975.story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114733/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |magazine=New York Magazine}}</ref> founding editor Scott Dikkers returned to the publication in light of the Chicago move stating that he hopes to find a "younger and hungrier" pool of talent in Chicago than what was available in New York City. "''The Onion'' is obviously always going to draw talent from wherever it is", Dikkers said. "In Madison, people used to just come in off the street [...] and we'd give them a shot. ''The Onion'' has always thrived on the youngest, greenest people."<ref name="wbez_chicago_201204">{{cite web| url=http://www.wbez.org/blogs/bez/2012-04/can-chicago-create-sustainable-professional-comedy-industry-rival-coasts-97970| title=Can Chicago create a sustainable professional comedy industry to rival the coasts?| website=WBEZ: The BEZ| date=April 5, 2012| access-date=June 24, 2015| first=Kate| last=Dries| archive-date=January 26, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126152207/http://www.wbez.org/blogs/bez/2012-04/can-chicago-create-sustainable-professional-comedy-industry-rival-coasts-97970| url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2012, it was announced that a group of former ''The Onion'' writers had teamed up with [[Adult Swim]] to create comedy content on a website called ''Thing X''. According to the comedy website ''SplitSider'', "''The Onion'' writers had nothing else going on, and AdultSwim.com wanted to take advantage of that. But only because they smelled a business opportunity. Adult Swim is just looking at it from a business standpoint."<ref name="splitsider_20120813">{{cite web| url=http://splitsider.com/2012/08/adult-swim-and-the-onion-are-teaming-up-to-produce-comedy-videos-maybe/| title=Adult Swim and Former 'Onion' Writers Are Teaming Up to Produce Comedy Videos, Maybe| website=Splitsider| date=August 13, 2012| access-date=June 24, 2015| first=Adam| last=Frucci| archive-date=January 26, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126225432/http://splitsider.com/2012/08/adult-swim-and-the-onion-are-teaming-up-to-produce-comedy-videos-maybe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="digitaltrends_201208">{{cite web| url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/adult-swim-launches-thingx-to-compete-for-internet-comedy-supremacy/| title=Adult Swim launches Thing X to compete for Internet comedy supremacy| website=Digital Trends| date=October 17, 2012| access-date=June 24, 2015| first=Graeme| last=McMillan| archive-date=April 8, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408061738/http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/adult-swim-launches-thingx-to-compete-for-internet-comedy-supremacy/| url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2013, it was announced that ''Thing X'' would be shutting down with some staff moving over to parent website [[adultswim.com]] on June 18, 2013.<ref name="splitsider_20130612">{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/06/thing-x-is-shutting-down-and-moving-to-adultswim-com|title=Thing X Is Shutting Down and Moving to AdultSwim.com|website=Splitsider|date=June 12, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Bradford|last=Evans|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627065336/http://splitsider.com/2013/06/thing-x-is-shutting-down-and-moving-to-adultswim-com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thingx_201306">{{cite web|url=http://www.thingx.tv/articles/thing-x-is-becoming-adultswim-com-2382|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617022210/http://www.thingx.tv/articles/thing-x-is-becoming-adultswim-com-2382|title=Thing X is Becoming Adultswim.com|website=Thing X| date=June 13, 2013| archive-date=June 17, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Joe|last=Randazzo}}</ref> In February 2013 ''The Onion'' was added to ''[[Advertising Age]]''{{'}}s "Digital A-List 2013" because the publication "...has not just survived, it's thrived..." since the publication's 2012 move to consolidate operations and staff in Chicago.<ref name="adage_20130225">{{cite magazine|url=http://adage.com/article/special-report-digital-alist-2013/ad-age-digital-a-list-onion/239944|title=Built for Newsprint, The Onion Finds New Life In Social, Video|magazine=Advertising Age|date=February 25, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Matthew|last=Creamer|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132835/http://adage.com/article/special-report-digital-alist-2013/ad-age-digital-a-list-onion/239944/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2013, the publication announced in ''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' that ''The Onion'' would move to an all-digital format by December 2013, citing a 30% year-over-year growth in page views to the publication's website. The final print edition was published on December 13, 2013.<ref name="chicagobusiness_20131108"/>

In 2013, ''The Onion'' received an email from [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]] claiming that an article published about [[Donald Trump]] was [[defamation]]. Cohen demanded that it be removed with an apology.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Politico]]|title=How Trump changed everything for The Onion|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/20/donald-trump-onion-stories-597809|first=Andrew|last=Restuccia|date=May 20, 2018|quote=Cohen was fuming over a satirical article published under Trump's name with the headline, "When You're Feeling Low, Just Remember I'll Be Dead In About 15 Or 20 Years". On Trump's behalf, Cohen demanded that The Onion immediately remove the article and apologize. "This commentary goes way beyond defamation and, if not immediately removed, I will take all actions necessary to ensure your actions do not go without consequence", Cohen wrote, according to a copy of the email provided to POLITICO. "Guide yourself accordingly."|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709163849/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/20/donald-trump-onion-stories-597809|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theonion.com/when-youre-feeling-low-just-remember-ill-be-dead-in-ab-1819584806|publisher=The Onion|title=When You're Feeling Low, Just Remember I'll Be Dead In About 15 Or 20 Years|date=January 23, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831220817/https://www.theonion.com/when-youre-feeling-low-just-remember-ill-be-dead-in-ab-1819584806|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2014, ''The Onion'' launched the spinoff website [[ClickHole]], which satirizes and parodies so-called "[[clickbait]]" websites such as [[BuzzFeed]] and [[Upworthy]] that capitalize on viral content to drive traffic.<ref name="slate_20140619">{{cite web| url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/06/clickhole_the_onion_s_new_site_is_more_than_a_buzzfeed_parody.html/| title=Area Humor Site Discovers Clickbait| website=Slate| date=June 19, 2014| access-date=June 24, 2015| first=Will| last=Oremus| archive-date=June 19, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619050559/http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/06/clickhole_the_onion_s_new_site_is_more_than_a_buzzfeed_parody.html| url-status=live}}</ref> On September 21, 2015, ''[[StarWipe]]'' launched as a satirical spinoff of ''The A.V. Club'' centered on celebrity culture.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 21, 2015 |title=Welcome The A.V. Club's new sister site, StarWipe |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/welcome-v-clubs-new-sister-site-starwipe-225599 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926091631/http://www.avclub.com/article/welcome-v-clubs-new-sister-site-starwipe-225599 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |access-date=September 26, 2015 |work=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> It was closed on June 17, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jezebel.com/goodbye-starwipe-we-hardly-knew-you-1782162189|title=Goodbye StarWipe, Se Hardly Knew You|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=September 26, 2015|archive-date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617192506/http://jezebel.com/goodbye-starwipe-we-hardly-knew-you-1782162189|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2014, ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' reported that ''The Onion'' had hired a financial adviser for a possible sale.<ref name="bloomberg_20141113">{{cite web |last1=Shaw |first1=Lucas |last2=Sherman |first2=Alex |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Satirist Onion Inc. Said to Hire Adviser for Sale |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/satirist-onion-inc-said-to-hire-adviser-for-sale.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112074507/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/satirist-onion-inc-said-to-hire-adviser-for-sale.html |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |website=BloombergBusiness}}</ref><ref name="recode_20141114">{{cite web |last=Kafka |first=Peter |date=November 14, 2014 |title=Onion CEO: Sure, We're for Sale. But Mostly We Just Want Money, So Make an Offer. (Memo) |url=http://recode.net/2014/11/14/onion-ceo-sure-were-for-sale-but-mostly-we-just-want-money-so-make-an-offer-memo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721132711/http://recode.net/2014/11/14/onion-ceo-sure-were-for-sale-but-mostly-we-just-want-money-so-make-an-offer-memo/ |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |website=Re/code}}</ref> In June 2015, Hannah was replaced as CEO by Mike McAvoy, who he had hired a decade earlier as a [[Comptroller|financial controller]].<ref name="Wenc 2" /><ref name="crainschicagobusiness_20150606">{{cite web |last=Marek |first=Lynne |date=June 6, 2015 |title=Area man to become CEO of the Onion |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150606/NEWS06/150609839/area-man-to-become-ceo-of-the-onion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702145923/http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150606/NEWS06/150609839/area-man-to-become-ceo-of-the-onion |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |website=Crain's Chicago Business}}</ref><ref name="chicagotribune_20150608">{{cite news |last=Channick |first=Robert |date=June 8, 2015 |title=Steve Hannah stepping down as CEO of The Onion |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-onion-ceo-0609-biz-20150608-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622143111/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-onion-ceo-0609-biz-20150608-story.html |archive-date=June 22, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> The following year, he oversaw restructuring to reduce non-media roles in response to declining demand.<ref name="Digiday_20151012">{{cite magazine |last=Moses |first=Lucia |date=October 12, 2015 |title=Branded-content growing pains: The Onion goes 'back to basics,' restructures Onion Labs |url=http://digiday.com/publishers/branded-content-growing-pains-onion-goes-back-basics-restructures-onion-labs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015002553/http://digiday.com/publishers/branded-content-growing-pains-onion-goes-back-basics-restructures-onion-labs/ |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=October 15, 2015 |magazine=[[Digiday]]}}</ref>

==== Univision Communications / G/O Media ownership (2016–2024) ====
In January 2016, [[Univision Communications]] purchased a 40% stake in Onion, Inc. for between $85–100 million.<ref name="nytimes_20160119">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/business/media/univision-buying-large-stake-in-the-onion.html|title=Univision Buying Large Stake in The Onion|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016|first=Emily|last=Steel|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120070614/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/business/media/univision-buying-large-stake-in-the-onion.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="npr_20160119">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/19/463535648/area-satiric-publication-the-onion-sold-to-univision-seriously|title=Area Satirical Publication The Onion Sold To Univision (Seriously)|newspaper=NPR|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016|first=David|last=Folkenflik|archive-date=June 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621052203/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/19/463535648/area-satiric-publication-the-onion-sold-to-univision-seriously|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Onion'' and [[Gizmodo Media Group]] was merged into Univision's [[Fusion Media Group]] with the former undergoing a visual overhaul to match Gizmodo's branding.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Garrahan |first1=Matthew |last2=Bond |first2=Shannon |date=2016-01-19 |title=Univision buys 40% stake in The Onion |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a255d698-beb1-11e5-846f-79b0e3d20eaf |access-date=2023-05-23 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523021819/https://www.ft.com/content/a255d698-beb1-11e5-846f-79b0e3d20eaf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Wenc 5">{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=292-296}}</ref>

In January 2017, ''The Onion'' partnered with [[Lionsgate Films]] and production company Serious Business to develop multiple film projects. "We've plotted our takeover of the film industry for some time", said Kyle Ryan, vice president of Onion Studios. "With the help of Serious Business and Lionsgate, we'll make room on our award shelf for some Oscars. To the basement you go, Pulitzers." Serious Business is a production company run by former [[United Talent Agency|UTA Online]] co-founder Jason U. Nadler, ''[[@midnight]]'' co-creator Jon Zimelis and writer/producer Alex Blagg.<ref name="hollywoodreporter_20170109">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/onion-inks-three-film-development-deal-lionsgate-961522|title=The Onion Inks Three-Film Development Deal With Lionsgate (Exclusive)|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2017|first=Erik|last=Hayden|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113121447/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/onion-inks-three-film-development-deal-lionsgate-961522|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2017, the site's editor-in-chief Cole Bolton and executive editor Ben Berkley stepped down to join Elon Musk's [[Thud (media company)|''Thud'']], which folded after Musk pulled funding the following year over fears that it would satirize his own companies.<ref name="Wenc 5"/> Chad Nackers was elevated from head writer to editor-in-chief and is now the only remaining member from ''The Onion''{{'s}} Madison era.<ref name="Wenc 5"/> The departures were partially due to disagreements about the direction the site was taking under the ownership of Univision.<ref name="mic_20170928">{{cite web| url=https://mic.com/articles/184848/the-onion-editor-in-chief-resigns-reportedly-over-differences-with-univision-ownership| title=The 'Onion' editor-in-chief resigns, reportedly over differences with Univision ownership| website=The Hollywood Reporter| date=September 28, 2017| access-date=December 24, 2017| first1=Anthony| last1=Smith| first2=Kelsey| last2=Sutton| archive-date=March 30, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330100556/https://mic.com/articles/184848/the-onion-editor-in-chief-resigns-reportedly-over-differences-with-univision-ownership| url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2018 the employees of the company unionized with The Writers Guild Of America, East.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 29, 2018|title=Staff of the satire website The Onion has unionized|url=https://apnews.com/474f4a636212453ead62a789ab6c4904|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024410/https://apnews.com/474f4a636212453ead62a789ab6c4904|url-status=live}}</ref> The union comprises "all of the creative staffs at Onion Inc.: ''The A.V. Club'', ''The Onion'', ''ClickHole'', ''The Takeout'', Onion Labs, and Onion Inc.'s video and art departments."<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2018 |title=Onion Inc. has unionized |url=https://www.avclub.com/onion-inc-has-unionized-1824163858 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809202621/https://news.avclub.com/onion-inc-has-unionized-1824163858 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |access-date=September 1, 2020 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/onionincunion/status/987440021392248832|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=May 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507213325/https://twitter.com/OnionIncUnion/status/987440021392248832|url-status=live}}</ref> and reached a contract agreement with management on December 20, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/onionincunion/status/1075831417509240838|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108162954/https://twitter.com/OnionIncUnion/status/1075831417509240838|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2018, Univision laid off 15% of ''Onion'' staff to support a sale of Onion Inc. and Gizmodo Media Group.<ref name="deadline_20180706">{{cite web| url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/layoffs-looming-the-onion-univision-gizmodo-media-1202422395/| title=Layoffs Looming Over The Onion As Univision Reviews Its Operations| website=Deadline: Hollywood| date=July 6, 2018| access-date=July 11, 2018| first1=Dawn C.| last1=Chmielewski| first2=Dade| last2=Hayes| archive-date=July 11, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711190217/https://deadline.com/2018/07/layoffs-looming-the-onion-univision-gizmodo-media-1202422395/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thehill_20180706">{{cite web| url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/395847-univision-to-cut-staff-at-the-onion/| title=Univision to cut staff at The Onion| website=The Hill| date=July 6, 2018| access-date=July 11, 2018| first=Joe| last=Concha| archive-date=January 18, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114734/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/395847-univision-to-cut-staff-at-the-onion/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thehill_20180710">{{cite web| url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/396363-univision-to-sell-the-onion-gizmodo-media-group/| title=Univision to sell The Onion, Gizmodo Media Group| website=The Hill| date=July 10, 2018| access-date=July 11, 2018| first=Emily| last=Birnbaum| archive-date=January 18, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114734/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/396363-univision-to-sell-the-onion-gizmodo-media-group/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="univision_20180710">{{cite web| url=https://corporate.univision.com/press/2018/07/10/univision-to-explore-potential-sale-of-gizmodo-media-group-and-the-onion/| title=Univision to Explore Potential Sale of Gizmodo Media Group and The Onion| website=Univision Communications, Inc.| date=July 10, 2018| access-date=July 10, 2018| author=UCI PR Team| archive-date=July 11, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711012329/https://corporate.univision.com/press/2018/07/10/univision-to-explore-potential-sale-of-gizmodo-media-group-and-the-onion/| url-status=live}}</ref> On April 8, 2019, [[private equity]] firm Great Hill Partners acquired Onion Inc. and Gizmodo Media Group from Univision for an undisclosed amount to form [[G/O Media]].<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Gerry |title=Area Man Takes Over the Onion and Gizmodo Group in Private Equity Deal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-08/area-man-takes-over-the-onion-as-part-of-private-equity-deal |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=May 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522021549/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-08/area-man-takes-over-the-onion-as-part-of-private-equity-deal |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/08/great-hill-partners-acquires-gizmodo/|title=Gizmodo Media Group acquired by private equity firm Great Hill Partners|website=TechCrunch|date=April 8, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114735/https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/08/great-hill-partners-acquires-gizmodo/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Claire |title=Univision sells Gizmodo Media Group, owner of The Onion, to private equity company |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/univision-sells-gizmodo-media-group-private-equity-firm-n992066 |website=NBC News |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619095652/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/univision-sells-gizmodo-media-group-private-equity-firm-n992066 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2024, G/O Media sold ''The A.V. Club'' to [[Paste Magazine|''Paste'' magazine]] and was reported to be seeking buyers for ''The Onion''.<ref>{{cite news |last4=Steigrad |first4=Alexandra |title=Former Deadspin owner G/O Media puts The Onion up for sale: source |url=https://nypost.com/2024/03/26/media/former-deadspin-owner-g-o-media-puts-the-onion-up-for-sale-source/ |access-date=26 March 2024 |date=26 March 2024}}</ref>

==== Global Tetrahedron ownership, attempted purchase of ''InfoWars'' (2024–present) ====
On April 25, 2024, G/O Media CEO [[Jim Spanfeller]] told employees that G/O Media had sold ''The Onion'' to Chicago firm Global Tetrahedron, which is owned by [[Twilio]] founder Jeff Lawson, with former [[NBC News]] reporter [[Ben Collins (reporter)|Ben Collins]] serving as CEO.<ref name="nyt-robertson-24">{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Katie |date=April 25, 2024 |title=The Onion Is Sold by G/O Media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/business/media/the-onion-sold.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> As a condition of the deal, the new owners said they would retain the website's staff and keep it based in Chicago.<ref name="tetrahedron sale">{{cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Benjamin |date=25 April 2024 |title=G/O Media Sells The Onion to Chicago-Based Global Tetrahedron |url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-onion-sells-to-global-tetrahedron-go-media/ |access-date=25 April 2024 |work=TheWrap}}</ref> "Global Tetrahedron" is taken from a "fictional evil megacorporation" that has been the subject of a running gag since ''[[Our Dumb Century]]''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Long |first1=Katherine |last2=Stewart |first2=Ashley |title=Twilio cofounder Jeff Lawson appears to have just bought The Onion |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/twilio-founder-jeff-lawson-bought-the-onion-2024-4 |date=25 April 2024 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Wenc 5" /> New leaders at the company also included Danielle Strle as chief product officer and Leila Brillson as chief marketing officer.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Primack |first=Dan |date=2024-04-26 |title=Inside the sale of The Onion, and what comes next |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/04/26/the-onion-sale-future-twilio-jeff-lawson |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref> Global Tetrahedron promised that the buyers would continue to honor ''Onion'' staffers' union contract, and that ''Onion'' employees would be part of a revenue sharing plan.<ref name=":4" /> Under Global Tetrahedron ownership, ''The Onion'' redesigned its website, dropping [[Kinja (website)|Kinja]] and carrying significantly less advertising, and launched a subscription that included a new monthly print edition in August 2024.<ref name=":6">{{Cite magazine |last=Drummond |first=Katie |title=Onion CEO Ben Collins Hasn't Given Up on Print—or Buying Infowars |url=https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-big-interview-ben-collins-onion/ |access-date=2025-09-03 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> ''Onion News Network'', which had not released new content since 2015, returned in September 2024, with former MSNBC host [[Joshua Johnson (journalist)|Joshua Johnson]] portraying anchor Dwight Richmond.

On November 14, 2024, through a bankruptcy auction, Global Tetrahedron [[Infowars#Bankruptcy and proposed acquisition|attempted to purchase]] ''[[InfoWars]]'', a [[conspiracy theory|conspiratorial]] far-right<!-- As described on the Infowars Wikipedia page. --> website founded by [[Alex Jones]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Dave |date=November 14, 2024 |title=Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with Sandy Hook families' backing |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/onion-buys-infowars-alex-jones-6496f198d141c991087dcd937b3588e9 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |archive-date=November 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241114180317/https://apnews.com/article/onion-buys-infowars-alex-jones-6496f198d141c991087dcd937b3588e9 |url-status=live }}</ref> Collins stated that Global Tetrahedron's intent was to turn ''InfoWars'' into a parody of Jones's conspiracy theories, adding genuine gun violence prevention information to the site as well. The purchase was supported by families of the victims of the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], who had successfully sued Jones for [[defamation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Benjamin |date=November 14, 2024 |title=The Onion Says It Has Bought Infowars, Alex Jones's Site, Out of Bankruptcy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/business/media/alex-jones-infowars-the-onion.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref> The purchase was initially halted the following day, and on December 10, the federal bankruptcy judge overseeing Jones's case, Christopher Lopez, rejected the sale, concluding that the bidding process was flawed. Lopez ordered an evidentiary hearing regarding the auction, saying "I'm going to figure out exactly what happened" and that "no one should feel comfortable with the results of this auction."<ref>{{cite web |last=Keys |first=Matthew |date=15 November 2024 |title=Judge freezes Infowars acquisition by the Onion, orders evidentiary hearing over auction concerns |url=https://thedesk.net/2024/11/judge-evidentiary-hearing-the-onion-infowars/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |publisher=The Desk}}</ref> No date was immediately set for a new auction,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-10 |title=Judge rejects sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion in dispute over bankruptcy auction |url=https://apnews.com/article/infowars-onion-6bbdfb7d8d87b2f114570fcde4e39930#https://apnews.com/article/infowars-onion-6bbdfb7d8d87b2f114570fcde4e39930 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> and in early 2025 the bankruptcy court rejected the purchase attempt, as ''InfoWars's'' parent company was no longer in bankruptcy and thus the website was no longer an asset eligible for auction through the court.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Tovia | title=Judge denies Sandy Hook families' deal for a new auction of Alex Jones' Infowars | website=NPR | date=2025-02-05 | url=https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/g-s1-46738/infowars-alex-jones-onion-bankruptcy-judge-sandy-hook | access-date=2025-04-23}}</ref>

== Print edition ==
During ''The Onion'' print edition's initial 25-year run—from the publication's creation in 1988 to the end of the print edition in 2013—it was distributed for free in various cities across the United States and Canada as well as via paid mail order subscription to subscribers around the world. By the time the print edition of ''The Onion'' ceased publication in December 2013, it was only available in Chicago, Milwaukee and Providence. At its peak, ''The Onion'' had a print circulation of about 500,000 while the publication's websites brought in more than 10 million unique monthly visitors. Below is a list of all of the cities in which ''The Onion'' was distributed freely at different points from 1988 to 2013.<ref name="chicago_tribune_20120331" /><ref name="avclub_20090527">{{cite news| url=https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-comes-to-omaha-and-santa-fe-1798225794| title=''The A.V. Club'' comes to Omaha and Santa Fe| publisher=The Onion A.V. Club| date=May 27, 2009| access-date=June 9, 2011| first=Marcus| last=Gilmer| archive-date=May 31, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531023515/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-av-club-comes-to-omaha-and-santa-fe%2C56691/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="columbusbusinessfirst_20110825">{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/08/25/onion-coming-to-columbus-under-deal.html| title='Onion' coming to Columbus under deal with Dispatch| newspaper=Columbus Business First| date=August 25, 2011| access-date=August 25, 2011| archive-date=March 20, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320061200/https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/08/25/onion-coming-to-columbus-under-deal.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pbsnewshour_20131108">{{cite news| url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/not-a-joke-the-onion-will-end-its-final-print-circulations| title=Not a joke: The Onion will end its final print circulations| publisher=PBS: Newshour| date=November 8, 2013| access-date=August 12, 2014| archive-date=April 17, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417044845/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/not-a-joke-the-onion-will-end-its-final-print-circulations/| url-status=live
}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]]
* [[Austin, Texas]]
* [[Boulder, Colorado]]
* [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign–Urbana, Illinois]]
* [[Chicago, Illinois]]
* [[Columbus, Ohio]]
* [[Denver, Colorado]]
* [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
* [[Iowa City, Iowa]]
* [[Los Angeles, California]]
* [[Madison, Wisconsin]]
* [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
* [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
* [[New York City, New York]]
* [[Omaha, Nebraska]]
* [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
* [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
* [[Providence, Rhode Island]]
* [[San Francisco, California]]
* [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
* [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada
* [[Washington, D.C.]]
{{div col end}}''The Onion'' revived its print edition in August 2024, as a paid subscription with monthly issues.<ref name="NYT 2024">{{Cite news |last1=Mullin |first1=Benjamin |last2=Davis |first2=Jamie Kelter |name-list-style=and |date=2024-08-16 |title=No Joke: The Onion Thinks Print Is the Future of Media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/16/business/media/the-onion-print-paper.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> To promote the relaunch, ''The Onion'' printed a special 40,000-copy run for the [[Democratic National Convention]] that month.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=Patel |first1=Nilay |last2=Collins |first2=Ben |last3=Strle |first3=Danielle |date=2024-08-22 |title=How The Onion is saving itself from the digital media death spiral |url=https://www.theverge.com/24225592/the-onion-new-owners-print-newspaper-digital-media-gawker-ben-collins-decoder-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508124431/https://www.theverge.com/24225592/the-onion-new-owners-print-newspaper-digital-media-gawker-ben-collins-decoder-interview |archive-date=2025-05-08 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=The Verge}}</ref> As of August 2025, ''The Onion'' has 53,000 subscribers.<ref name=":6" />

==Regular features==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2022}}
Regular features of ''The Onion'' include:
* "Statshot", an illustrated statistical snapshot which parodies "''[[USA Today]]'' Snapshots".
* "Infographics", with a bulleted lists of jokes on a theme.
* Opinion columns, including mock editorials, point-counterpoints, and pieces from regular columnists.
* Bizarre [[horoscope]]s.
* Slideshows that parody content aggregation sites like ''Huffington Post'' and Buzzfeed, usually accompanied by a "[[click-bait]]"-style headline.
* "News in Photos" that feature a photograph and caption with no accompanying story.
* "American Voices" (formerly called "What Do You Think?"), a mock [[vox populi]] survey on a topical current event. There are three respondents—down from the original six—for each topic, who appear to represent a diverse selection of demographics. Although their names and professions change each time they are used, the same six pictures have been reused weekly for over 20 years. The photos belong to people that happened to be near the publication's old office in Madison: one is a Madison community theater actor, one used to work with The Onion's CEO Chad Nackers at a restaurant, one delivered goods for UPS, and one is Mark Danielson's aunt.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ganz |first1=Megan |last2=Garden |first2=Joe |date=2008-11-17 |title=Washington Post Magazine: Onion Nation |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/11/12/DI2008111202030.html |access-date=2024-09-05 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbula/7540416788 | title=Random fact: My aunt is one of the "American Voices" people in the Onion. Really. | date=July 9, 2012 }}</ref>
* An [[editorial cartoon]] drawn by "Kelly" (also referred to as "Stan Kelly"), a fictional cartoonist. The cartoons are actually the work of artist [[Ward Sutton]] and they are a deadpan parody of conservative editorial cartoons, as well as editorial cartoons in general. Many of the cartoons feature the [[Statue of Liberty]], usually shedding a single tear—of joy or anguish—depending on the situation.<ref name="wikinews_20071124">[[wikinews:The Onion: An interview with 'America's Finest News Source'|An interview with ''The Onion'']], David Shankbone, ''[[Wikinews]]'', November 24, 2007.</ref><ref name="latimes_20150329">{{cite news|title=Hackwork hacked|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-cavanaugh29mar29-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 29, 2007|access-date=June 20, 2015|issn=0458-3035|first=Tim|last=Cavanaugh|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621034820/http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-cavanaugh29mar29-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A [[Person of the Year]] award. For example, in 1996 the [[Prell|Denorex]] Man was chosen.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theonion.com/the-onions-1996-man-of-the-year-1819564141 | title=The Onion's 1996 Man of the Year | website=The Onion | date=December 17, 1996 }}</ref> For 2014, the Onion honored [[Malala Yousafzai]] and [[John Cena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theonion.com/article/the-onions-person-of-the-year-2014-37661|title=The Onion's Person of the Year 2014|date=December 11, 2014|publisher=The Onion|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=October 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001074300/http://www.theonion.com/article/the-onions-person-of-the-year-2014-37661|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{"-}}[["No Way to Prevent This", Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens|'No Way to Prevent This', Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens]]", a story republished with minor edits after major [[mass shooting]]s in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/onion-article-shootings_us_566097abe4b072e9d1c53034|title=How Many Times Will The Onion Have To Repost This Article?|last=Varagur|first=Krithika|date=December 3, 2015|work=Huffington Post|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005012427/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/onion-article-shootings_us_566097abe4b072e9d1c53034|url-status=live}}</ref> The story was first published in response to the [[2014 Isla Vista killings]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2014 |title='No Way To Prevent This,' Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens |url=https://www.theonion.com/no-way-to-prevent-this-says-only-nation-where-this-r-1819576527 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119051901/https://www.theonion.com/no-way-to-prevent-this-says-only-nation-where-this-r-1819576527 |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |website=The Onion}}</ref>

==Editors and writers==
As of 2025, the current editor of ''The Onion'' is Chad Nackers.<ref name="reuters/nackers-2025">{{cite news |title=The Onion's Chad Nackers on the enduring power of satire |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/onions-chad-nackers-enduring-power-satire-2025-09-11/ |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=[[reuters]] |date=2025-09-11}}</ref><ref name="onion_contact_20160616">{{cite web|url=http://www.theonion.com/contact/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616051520/http://www.theonion.com/contact/|title=Contact The Onion|website=The Onion|date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=June 16, 2016| access-date=June 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="onion_about_20171224">{{cite web|url=https://www.theonion.com/the-onion-is-the-world-s-leading-news-publication-offe-1819653457|archive-date=December 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225031952/https://www.theonion.com/the-onion-is-the-world-s-leading-news-publication-offe-1819653457|title=Contact The Onion|website=The Onion|date=October 18, 1996|url-status=live|access-date=December 24, 2017}}</ref> Past editors and writers have included:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Max Cannon]]
* [[Rich Dahm]]
* [[Scott Dikkers]]
* [[Megan Ganz]]
* [[Joe Garden]]
* [[Todd Hanson]]
* [[Tim Harrod]]
* [[David Javerbaum]]
* [[Ben Karlin]]
* [[Ellie Kemper]]
* [[Peter Koechley]]
* [[Carol Kolb]]
* [[Joe Randazzo]]
* [[Maria Schneider (cartoonist)|Maria Schneider]]
* [[Robert D. Siegel]]
* [[Jack Szwergold]]
* [[Baratunde Thurston]]
* [[Dan Vebber]]
{{div col end}}

==Books, video, film and audio==
===Books===
Since the first publication of ''[[Our Dumb Century]]'' in 1999, ''The Onion'' has produced various books that often compile already produced material into collected volumes. Its other fully original book content includes ''[[Our Dumb World]]'' (2007) and ''[[The Onion Book of Known Knowledge]]'' (2012).
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=March 23, 1999
| title=Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-0609804612
| url=https://archive.org/details/ourdumbcenturyon00onio
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=April 4, 2000
| title=The Onion's Finest News Reporting, Volume 1
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-0609804636
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=September 4, 2001
| title=Dispatches from the Tenth Circle: The Best of The Onion
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-0609808344
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=September 24, 2002
| title=The Onion Ad Nauseam: Complete News Archives, Volume 13
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-1400047246
| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781400047246
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=September 23, 2003
| title=The Onion Ad Nauseam: Complete News Archives, Volume 14
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-1400049615
| url=https://archive.org/details/onionadnauseam00robe
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=September 28, 2004
| title=Fanfare for the Area Man: The Onion Ad Nauseam Complete News Archives, Vol. 15
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-1400054558
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=October 4, 2005
| title=Embedded in America: The Onion Complete News Archives Volume 16
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-1400054565
| url-access=registration
| url=https://archive.org/details/onionpresentscom0016unse
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=October 31, 2006
| title=Homeland Insecurity: The Onion Complete News Archives, Volume 17
| publisher=Three Rivers Press
| isbn=978-0307339843
| url=https://archive.org/details/onionpresentshom17dikk
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=October 30, 2007
| title=Our Dumb World: The Onion's Atlas of the Planet Earth, 73rd Edition
| publisher=Little, Brown And Company
| isbn=978-0316018425
| url=https://archive.org/details/ourdumbworld00onio
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=November 3, 2009
| title=Our Front Pages: 21 Years of Greatness, Virtue, and Moral Rectitude from America's Finest News Source
| publisher=Scribner
| isbn=978-1439156926
| url=https://archive.org/details/ourfrontpages21y00onio_0
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=October 11, 2011
| title=The Ecstasy of Defeat: Sports Reporting at Its Finest by the Editors of the Onion
| publisher=Hachette Books
| isbn=978-1401310721
| url=https://archive.org/details/ecstasyofdefeats0000unse
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=October 23, 2012
| title=The Onion Book of Known Knowledge: A Definitive Encyclopaedia Of Existing Information
| publisher=Little, Brown and Company
| isbn=978-0316133265
| url-access=registration
| url=https://archive.org/details/onionbookofknown0000unse
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=November 2014
| title=The Onion Magazine The Iconic Covers That Transformed An Undeserving World
| publisher=Little, Brown and Company
| isbn=978-0-316-25645-2
}}
* {{cite book
| author=The Onion
| date=October 2017
| title=The Trump Leaks: The Onion Exposes the Top Secret Memos, Emails, and Doodles That Could Take Down a President
| publisher=Harper Design
| isbn=978-0062834263
}}

===''Onion News Network''===
{{Main|Onion News Network}}

In April 2007, ''The Onion'' launched ''[[Onion News Network]]''—a daily web video broadcast—with a story about an illegal immigrant taking an executive's $800,000-a-year job for $600,000 a year, directed by Dikkers. The publication reportedly initially invested $1 million in the production and hired 15 new staffers. On February 3, 2009, ''The Onion'' launched a spin-off of the ''Onion News Network'' called the ''Onion Sports Network.''<ref name="wsj_20070323"/> In April 2009, the program was awarded a [[Peabody Awards|Peabody Award]] noting that the publication provides "ersatz news that has a worrisome ring of truth."<ref name="peabodyawards_2008">{{cite web |date=April 2009 |title=Onion News Network |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/onion-news-network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312083247/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/onion-news-network |archive-date=March 12, 2015 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |website=The Peabody Awards}}</ref><ref name="wsj_digits_20090401">{{cite web |last=LaVallee |first=Andrew |date=April 1, 2009 |title=The Onion Wins a Peabody Without Even Trying |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/01/the-onion-wins-a-peabody-without-even-trying |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816210104/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/01/the-onion-wins-a-peabody-without-even-trying/ |archive-date=August 16, 2014 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |website=Digits – The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

In a ''[[Wikinews]]'' interview in November 2007, former ''Onion'' President Mills said the ''Onion News Network'' had been a huge hit. "We get over a million downloads a week, which makes it one of the more successful produced-for-the-Internet videos", said Mills. "If we're not the most successful, we're one of the most.'<ref name="wikinews_20071124"/> In January 2011, ''The Onion'' launched two TV shows on cable networks: ''[[Onion SportsDome]]'' which premiered January 11 on Comedy Central,<ref name="youtube_sportsdome_20101220">{{YouTube|id=VqHv74MVm7A|title=Onion SportsDome: Get Sportsed}}</ref> and the ''Onion News Network'' which premiered January 21 on [[Independent Film Channel]] (IFC).<ref name="youtube_onn_20101220">{{YouTube|id= BnOSo2QbnlU|title=Onion News Network – Fact Zone – Coming To IFC January 2011}}</ref> Later in the year IFC officially announced the renewal of the ''Onion News Network'' for a second season in March 2011 while Comedy Central officially announced the cancellation of ''Onion SportsDome'' in June 2011.<ref name="ifc_20110323">{{cite web|url=http://www.ifc.com/blogs/ifc-now/2011/03/coming-soon-ifc-renews-the-oni.php|title=Coming Soon: IFC Renews The Onion News Network Plus So Much More|website=IFC Fix|date=March 23, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Melissa|last=Locker|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126024618/http://www.ifc.com/blogs/ifc-now/2011/03/coming-soon-ifc-renews-the-oni.php|archive-date=November 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter_20110620">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sports-show-norm-macdonald-onion-203420|title='Sports Show With Norm Macdonald', 'Onion SportsDome' Canceled|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627102144/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sports-show-norm-macdonald-onion-203420|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2011, the [[Writers Guild of America, East]], [[AFL–CIO]], announced the unionization of the ''Onion News Network'' writing staff, averting a potential strike which hinged on pay and benefits. It is also not the first time Onion, Inc. has been criticized for the way it treats its employees: In June 2011 ''[[The A.V. Club|A.V. Club]]'' Philadelphia city editor [[Emily Guendelsberger]] was the victim of an attack and—according to the ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''—her job did not provide health insurance to cover hospital bills. According to the WGA, ''Onion News Network'' was the only scripted, live-action program that had employed non-union writers. "The ONN writers stood together and won real improvements", said WGAE Executive Director Lowell Peterson. "We welcome them into the WGAE and we look forward to a productive relationship with the company." Peterson noted that more than 70 Guild members from all of the New York-based comedy shows signed a letter supporting the ''Onion News Network'' writers, and hundreds of Guild members sent emails to the producers.<ref name="huffingtonpost_20110729">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/29/the-onion-strike-writers-guild-of-america_n_913721.html|title='The Onion' Strike Possible: TV Show Embattled In Writers Guild Of America Standoff|work=Huffington Post|first=Ross|last=Luippold|date=July 29, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626124615/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/29/the-onion-strike-writers-guild-of-america_n_913721.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost_20110802">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/onion-news-network-tv-writers-unionized_n_916119.html|title='Onion' Strike Averted: 'Onion News Network' TV Writers Join Writers Guild Of America|work=Huffington Post|first=Ross|last=Luippold|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626154505/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/onion-news-network-tv-writers-unionized_n_916119.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wgaeast.org/2011/08/onion-news-network-writers-join-writers-guild-of-america-east|title=Onion News Network Writers Join Writers Guild Of America, East|website=Writers Guild of America East|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120835/https://www.wgaeast.org/2011/08/onion-news-network-writers-join-writers-guild-of-america-east/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="deadline_20110802">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2011/08/this-just-in-wga-east-unionizes-onion-news-network-152613/|title=This Just In: WGA East Unionizes Onion News Network|website=Deadline|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|archive-date=January 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124222306/http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/this-just-in-wga-east-unionizes-onion-news-network/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUS111978029420110802|title=Onion News Network Writers Join WGA East Fold|work=Reuters|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312042953/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS111978029420110802|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/08/02/onion-news-network-writers-join-wgae|title=Onion News Network Writers Join WGAE|publisher=AFL–CIO|date=August 2, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Mike|last=Hall|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928212202/http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/08/02/onion-news-network-writers-join-wgae|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

In March 2012, IFC officially announced the cancellation of the ''Onion News Network''. After the show's cancellation, a pilot for a new comedy series titled ''Onion News Empire'' premiered on [[Amazon.com]] in April 2013, which presented as a behind-the-scenes look of ''The Onion''{{'}}s newsroom. The pilot was one of several candidates for production on Amazon, but was not ultimately selected.<ref name="huffingtonpost_20120321">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/onion-news-network-canceled-by-ifc_n_1370700.html|title=Onion News Network Canceled: IFC Spokesperson|website=Huffington Post|date=March 21, 2012|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Ross|last=Luippold|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626160149/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/onion-news-network-canceled-by-ifc_n_1370700.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="splitsider_20130529">{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/05/amazon-passes-on-onion-news-empire-and-those-who-cant-in-favor-of-beta-house-and-alphas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615024830/http://splitsider.com/2013/05/amazon-passes-on-onion-news-empire-and-those-who-cant-in-favor-of-beta-house-and-alphas/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2013|title=Amazon Officially Picks Up 'Beta House' and 'Alphas' and Not 'Onion News Empire' and 'Those Who Can't'|website=Splitsider|date=May 29, 2013|access-date=June 20, 2015|first=Bradford|last=Evans}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost_20130424">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/onion-news-empire-trailer_n_3147106.html|title='Onion News Empire' Trailer: Amazon Video Pilot Stars Jeffrey Tambor(VIDEO)|website=Huffington Post|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=April 25, 2013|first=Katla|last=McGlynn|archive-date=April 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427080131/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/onion-news-empire-trailer_n_3147106.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2024, ''The Onion'' relaunched the ''Onion News Network'' on its YouTube page, starring former MSNBC host [[Joshua Johnson (journalist)|Joshua Johnson]] as ONN anchor Dwight Richmond.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sommer |first=Will |date=2024-09-30 |title=The Onion is pivoting to video — no joke — with a former MSNBC anchor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/09/30/the-onion-news-network-joshua-johnson-host/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

===Video series===
* ''Today Now!'': a series of parodies of a morning talk show<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15hdo1ajFwplcB9vMVVV-goU -->
* ''Onion Film Standard with Peter K. Rosenthal'': a series of parodies in which "Movie critic Peter K. Rosenthal" (played by Ron E. Rains) presents his views on famous films, both classic and contemporary.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bennett|first=Laura|title=Is the Onion's Film Criticism Better Than Its News Satire?|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/115283/onions-film-criticism-better-its-news-satire|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|date=October 22, 2013|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095635/https://newrepublic.com/article/115283/onions-film-criticism-better-its-news-satire|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Enlow|first=Courtney|title=On Set at The Onion's Film Standard, with America's Most Insane—and Best?—Movie Critic|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/12/onion-film-standard|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=December 2, 2014|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709134240/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/12/onion-film-standard|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15iZLbSfrxZCpZfKchWr9Vna -->
* ''Onion Social'': a series of parodies of [[Facebook]]<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15hn-4L6f8KgIUTw4Ri5L2VU -->
* ''In the Know with Clifford Banes'': a series of parodies of a news talk show<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFD1BFDFC7134BC71 -->
* ''Mothershould with Grace Manning-Devlin'': a series of parodies of women's issues [[YouTube]] [[vlogs]]<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15ilk-AcqmvT6hfUWvL7YQyA -->
* ''The Whole Body'': a series of parodies of health tips<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15hQ-6TnFFkGTetrrjNtp255 -->
* ''Good Taste'': a series of parodies of Recipe and cooking videos<!-- https://inv.nadeko.net/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15iI4AdgS0soNLVNXhlpNfs- -->
* ''EDGE'': a series of parodies of the HBO non-fiction TV series ''[[Vice (TV series)|VICE]]''  <!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15ghlkHBAZNLXvuOq3PUhDKE -->
* ''Owner's Box'': a series of parodies of [[ESPN]] and other sports-news programs<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15hYHl3WQ1gJyC4u_WY7BLRX -->
* ''Sportology'': a series of parodies of investigation of sport science<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15i9vKMkH3vLNCJgFgouRIYP -->
* ''O-Span'': a series of parodies of [[C-SPAN]] <!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15jF7SJhmeJJ59qQh9TOuyXM -->
* ''Now: Focus'': a series of parodies of [[NowThis News]]<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15gFhYUu8hNL5XNo-H0LtwOg -->
* ''Onion Explains'': a series of parodies of ''[[WIRED]] Explains''<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15iPySGqHXa3a08ROYaIJ5aY -->
* ''Onion Insights'': a series of parodies of [[Vox (website)|Vox]] videos <!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15g_BKv8wYgmZuv1cESesXod -->


'''Onion Digital Studios'''

In 2008, ''The Onion'' launched a series of YouTube videos produced by its 'Onion Digital Studios' division, funded in part by a grant from YouTube and exclusive to the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultivatedwit.com/quick-hits-theres-a-real-show-called-sex-box-and-its-coming-to-america/|title=Quick Hits: There's A Real Show Called Sex Box, And It's Coming To America|website=Cultivated Wit|date=May 21, 2014|access-date=February 13, 2015|archive-date=February 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213064209/http://www.cultivatedwit.com/quick-hits-theres-a-real-show-called-sex-box-and-its-coming-to-america/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> 

Series produced were:
* ''[[Sex House]]'': A dark satire of reality show culture and negligent producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/sex-house-a-hilarious-new-web-series-from-the-onion-strips-away-the-real-worlds-boring-subtlety|title=Sex House, A Hilarious New Web Series From The Onion, Strips Away The Real World's Boring Subtlety|work=[[Mediaite]]|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2012|archive-date=July 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717032508/http://www.mediaite.com/online/sex-house-a-hilarious-new-web-series-from-the-onion-strips-away-the-real-worlds-boring-subtlety/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5943001/goodbye-to-sex-house-the-best-show-of-the-summer|title=Goodbye to Sex House, the Best Show of the Summer|work=[[Gawker]]|date=September 13, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2012|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022174544/http://gawker.com/5943001/goodbye-to-sex-house-the-best-show-of-the-summer|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jacobinmag.com/2012/10/sex-house-and-the-refusal-to-fuck|title=Sex House and the Refusal to Fuck|publisher=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]]|access-date=October 23, 2012|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026073238/http://jacobinmag.com/2012/10/sex-house-and-the-refusal-to-fuck/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15hEvLzZoJ6vthn7_VFiY_-z --> 
* ''Lake Dredge Appraisal'': A show centering on the dredged salvage of a lake, appraised of its worth on public access television.<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C7941B0228E0240 -->
* ''Trouble Hacking with Drew Cleary'': A mock Life Hacking Q and A series.<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEE064653669DD57B -->
* ''Horrifying Planet'': A [[nihilistic]] parody of nature documentaries.<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC083AB6A1E3CADA9 -->
* ''Onion Talks'': A satire of [[TED Talks]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Aguilar|first=Mario|title=The Onion's First TED Talk Parody Is Freaking Hilarious (Because It Seems So Real)|url=https://gizmodo.com/5952554/the-onions-first-ted-talk-parody-is-freaking-hilarious-but-sadly-it-could-be-real|website=[[Gizmodo]]|date=October 17, 2012|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722070101/https://gizmodo.com/5952554/the-onions-first-ted-talk-parody-is-freaking-hilarious-but-sadly-it-could-be-real|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''Porkin' Across America with Jim Haggerty'': An on-the-road food reality show featuring Jim Haggerty from ''Today Now''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tepper|first=Rachel|title=The Onion Debuts Fake Food Show 'Porkin' Across America'|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/11/the-onion-porkin-across-america_n_1959247.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=February 18, 2015|date=October 11, 2012|archive-date=February 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218211158/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/11/the-onion-porkin-across-america_n_1959247.html|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15jdlr2KQf_lyhXl5f0PFnzF -->
* ''America's Best'': An ''[[American Idol]]'' parody.
* ''Dr. Good'': Parody of ''[[The Dr. Oz Show]]''.<!-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4NL9i-Fu15jfDETSxUC-V8lojhlu2XXg -->

===Mockumentaries===
* ''[[Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile]]'': A 20-minute [[mockumentary ]] of [[Jeffrey Epstein]].<ref name="avclub/mockumentary-true">{{cite web |last1=Oller |first1=Jacob |title=Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile writes a damning birthday note to the true-crime industry |url=https://www.avclub.com/jeffrey-epstein-bad-pedophile-the-onion-mockumentary-true-crime |website=[[AV Club]] |access-date=16 November 2025 |date=October 1, 2025 |quote=review of Bad Pedophile}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Krishnan |first=Manisha |title=The Onion Made an Absolutely Unhinged Jeffrey Epstein Mockumentary |url=https://www.wired.com/story/the-onion-made-an-absolutely-unhinged-jeffrey-epstein-mockumentary/ |access-date=2025-10-12 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>
::limited release on October 2, 2025 in independent theaters, after a theater chain withdrew<ref name="thebeacon/bad-pedophile">{{cite web |title=Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile |url=https://thebeacon.film/calendar/movie/jeffrey-epstein-bad-pedophile |website=The Beacon Cinema |access-date=16 November 2025 |location=[[Columbia City, Seattle]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=Chris |date=2025-10-02 |title=The Onion Wants an Oscar for 'Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile'—Coming to a Theater Near You |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/the-onion-wants-an-oscar-for-jeffrey-epstein-bad-pedophile-coming-to-a-theater-near-you |access-date=2025-10-12 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="BKN-SF-FF">{{cite web |title=Screening of The Onion's Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile at Stuart Cinema & Cafe, 79 West Street, Brooklyn, NY |url=https://brooklynscififilmfest.com/ |website=Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival |access-date=16 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251116110746/https://watch.brooklynscififilmfest.com/ |archive-date=16 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="indiewire/1235154168">{{cite news |last1=Shachat |first1=Sarah |title=The Onion Is Making Mockumentaries for Real Americans with 'Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/the-onion-jeffrey-epstein-documentary-theater-screenings-1235154168/ |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=[[IndieWire]] |date=13 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Onion's Jeffrey Epstein film to screen publicly, despite distributor cold feet |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-onion-jeffrey-epstein-bad-pedophile-trailer-release |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}</ref>
::available online as ''The Onion Investigates: Jeffrey Epstein''<ref name="youtube/XjhSoGcQhWU">{{cite web |author1=[[The Onion]] |title=The Onion Investigates: Jeffrey Epstein |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjhSoGcQhWU |publisher=|via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=16 November 2025 |date=9 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Onion's Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is now available online |url=https://www.avclub.com/onion-jeffrey-epstein-bad-pedophile-online |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}</ref>

===''The Onion Movie''===
{{Main|The Onion Movie}}

''[[The Onion Movie]]'' is a [[direct-to-video]] film written by then-''Onion'' editor [[Robert Siegel (filmmaker)|Robert Siegel]] and writer [[Todd Hanson]] and directed by [[Tom Kuntz]] and Mike Maguire. Created in 2003, [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] was on board to release the movie, originally called ''The Untitled Onion Movie'', but at some point in the process, directors Kuntz and Maguire—as well as writer Siegel—walked away from the project. In 2006, [[New Regency Productions]] took over the production of the troubled project. After two years of being in [[Development hell|limbo]], the film was released [[direct-to-video|directly on DVD]] on June 3, 2008. Upon release, it was credited as being directed by James Kleiner, a [[pseudonym]] for Kuntz and Maguire.<ref name="nymag_20060227">{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/16055|title=What Ever Happened to that Sketchy Onion Film: Area Satirists Stay in the Picture|publisher=New York Magazine: Intelligencer|date=February 27, 2006|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Ben|last=Mathis-Lilley|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626105354/http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/16055/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Spring 2014, early employee and former shareholder, Peter K. Haise, sued majority shareholder,<ref name="captimes/3397c5ab0cd1">{{cite news |last1=Patenaude |first1=Joel |title=The story of The Onion is 'funny because it's true' |url=https://captimes.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/the-story-of-the-onion-is-funny-because-its-true/article_d4792234-fb87-11ef-869d-3397c5ab0cd1.html |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=[[The Capital Times]] |date=10 March 2025 |location=[[Madison, Wisconsin]] |language=en}}</ref> David K. Schafer, in [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]] over not being listed as an "[[Executive Producer]]" in the film's credits, despite that being a condition of his 2003 transfer of ownership.<ref name="browardpalmbeach_20140630">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/06/the_onion_founders_locked_in_hilarious_palm_beach_county_lawsuit.php|title=The Onion Founders Locked in Hilarious Palm Beach County Lawsuit|publisher=New Times Broward-Palm Beach|date=June 30, 2014|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Kyle|last=Swenson|work=The Daily Pulp |archive-date=October 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020000019/http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/06/the_onion_founders_locked_in_hilarious_palm_beach_county_lawsuit.php}}</ref> The lawsuit was ultimately settled with Haise claiming an undisclosed financial victory.<ref name="Wenc 2"/>

===''Onion Radio News''===
The ''Onion Radio News'' was an audio [[podcast]]/[[Radio program|radio show]] produced by ''The Onion'' from 1999 and 2009. The core voice of the podcast was that of a fictional newsreader named "Doyle Redland" who was voiced by [[P. S. Mueller|Pete S. Mueller]]. At its peak ''Onion Radio News'' was picked up by the [[Westwood One (1976–2011)|Westwood One]] radio network as well as [[Audible.com]].<ref name="jimromenesko_20111125">{{cite web|url=http://jimromenesko.com/2011/11/25/onion-radio-news-anchor-doyle-redland-reinvents-himself|title=Onion Radio News Anchor Doyle Redland Reinvents Himself|website=jimromenesko.com|date=November 25, 2011|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Jim|last=Romenesko|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626124323/http://jimromenesko.com/2011/11/25/onion-radio-news-anchor-doyle-redland-reinvents-himself/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="npr_20060131">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5181114|title=Fake News Podcasts from 'The Onion'|website=NPR: All Things Considered|date=January 31, 2006|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Robert|last=Siegel|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626114959/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5181114|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="npr_20060202">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5184980|title=The Voice Behind Onion Radio News|website=NPR: Talk of the Nation|date=February 2, 2006|access-date=June 25, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626103515/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5184980|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Onion Public Radio podcasts===
On February 5, 2018, ''The Onion'' published its first podcast, titled ''[[A Very Fatal Murder]]''. It was released in six parts and parodies other true crime podcasts such as ''[[Serial (podcast)|Serial]]'' and ''[[My Favorite Murder]]''. The story follows Onion Public Radio reporter David Pascall (voiced by [[David Sidorov]]) as he tries to investigate the murder of a 17-year-old girl named Hayley Price in the fictional town of Bluff Springs, Nebraska.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mertes|first=Micah|url=http://www.omaha.com/go/the-onion-made-a-podcast-about-a-fake-nebraska-murder/article_0ef6328d-31e3-55cf-b7b3-7b9bc53acf07.html|title=The Onion made a podcast about a fake Nebraska murder, and it's brilliant|work=[[Omaha World-Herald]]|date=February 7, 2018|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205214737/http://www.omaha.com/go/the-onion-made-a-podcast-about-a-fake-nebraska-murder/article_0ef6328d-31e3-55cf-b7b3-7b9bc53acf07.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 16, 2020, ''The Onion'' expanded its podcast formula to include ''The Topical'', in a partnership with [[Sony Music]]. ''The Topical'' was a satirical news podcast which parodies the style and format of [[NPR]] [[drive-time]] news broadcasts and ''The Daily'' by the ''New York Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2019-11-05 |title=The Onion Teams With Sony Music to Create Podcasts for 'Presumably Illiterate People' |url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/the-onion-sony-music-podcast-deal-1203393152/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Onion Presents The Topical | website=[[YouTube]] | date=January 16, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYgqvo-WXtA | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/qYgqvo-WXtA| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=June 15, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was hosted by a fictional Leslie Price, with its final episode on May 20, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-20 |title=The Final Episode Of The Topical |url=https://theonion.com/the-final-episode-of-the-topical-1846933621/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=The Onion |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Influence and controversies==
===Taken seriously===
Occasionally, the straight-faced manner in which ''The Onion'' reports non-existent events, happenings and ideas has resulted in [[wikt:third party|third parties]] mistakenly citing ''The Onion'' stories as real news.
* {{"'}}98 Homosexual-Recruitment Drive Nearing Goal": In 1998, [[Fred Phelps]] posted an article from ''The Onion'' article on his [[Westboro Baptist Church]] website as apparent "proof" that homosexuals were indeed [[Homosexual recruitment|actively trying to "recruit"]] others to be gay.<ref name="wired_199903"/><ref name="theonion_28970">{{cite web|url = http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28970|title='98 Homosexual-Recruitment Drive Nearing Goal|website = The Onion|date = July 29, 1998|access-date  = June 24, 2015|url-status= dead |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100219073451/http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28970|archive-date = February 19, 2010}}</ref>
* "Congress Passes Americans With No Abilities Act": At various times since the article's initial publication in 1998, variants of the "Americans With No Abilities Act" article and theme have been passed around online including a variant in 2009 that changed the stated U.S. president from Bill Clinton to [[Barack Obama]] as well as a 2007 variant that changed the country from the United States of America to Australia.<ref name="snopes_americanswithnoabilities_1998">{{cite web| url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/noabilities.asp|title=Americans with No Abilities Act| website=Snopes.com| date=November 15, 2014| access-date=June 25, 2015| first=Barbara| last=Mikkelson| archive-date=January 18, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114742/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/americans-no-abilities-act/| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Harry Potter Books Spark Rise in Satanism Among Children": Beginning in the year 2000, an article on [[Harry Potter]] inciting children to practice [[witchcraft]] was the subject of a widely forwarded email which repeated the quotes attributed to children in the article. Columnist Ellen Makkai and others who believe the ''Harry Potter'' books "recruit" children to [[Satanism]] have also been taken in by the article, using quotes directly from it to support their claims.<ref name="snopes_harrypotter_2000">{{cite web| url=http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/potter.htm| title=Harry Potter Satanism| website=Snopes.com| date=November 26, 2001| access-date=June 24, 2015| first=Barbara| last=Mikkelson| archive-date=January 18, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114742/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/harry-potter-satanism/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="creators_20011127">{{cite web| url=http://www.creators.com/opinion_show.cfm?columnsName=ema| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011130173041/http://www.creators.com/opinion_show.cfm?columnsName=ema| title=Harry the Wiz is the Wrong Biz| website=Creators.com| date=November 27, 2001| archive-date=November 30, 2001| access-date=June 24, 2015| first=Ellen| last=Makkai}}</ref>
* "Congress Threatens To Leave D.C. Unless New Capitol Is Built": On June 7, 2002, [[Reuters]] reported that the ''[[Beijing Evening News]]'' republished and translated portions of the article.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=((Reuters)) |first= |title=China Paper Bites on Onion Gag |url=https://www.wired.com/2002/06/china-paper-bites-on-onion-gag/ |access-date=2025-09-20 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> The article is a parody of U.S. sports franchises' threats to leave their home city unless new stadiums are built for them.<ref name="sfgate_20020608">{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F06%2F08%2FMN129538.DTL| title=U.S. satire tricks Beijing paper / Satire fools Chinese paper / Daily steals, prints Onion article on plan for new Capitol| work=The San Francisco Chronicle| first=Henry| last=Chu| date=June 8, 2002| access-date=June 24, 2015| archive-date=May 7, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507193346/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F06%2F08%2FMN129538.DTL| url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Beijing Evening News'' initially stood by the story, demanding proof of its falsehood but later retracted the article, responding that "some small American newspapers frequently fabricate offbeat news to trick people into noticing them with the aim of making money."<ref name="latimes_20020613">{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-13-fg-whoops13-story.html| title=Beijing Newspaper Retreats, Apologizes for Capitol Gaffe| work=Los Angeles Times| last=Chu| first=Henry| date=June 13, 2002| access-date=June 24, 2015| archive-date=June 26, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626123501/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/13/world/fg-whoops13| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Conspiracy Theorist Convinces Neil Armstrong Moon Landing Was Faked": In September 2009, two [[Bangladesh]]i newspapers—''The Daily Manab Zamin'' and the ''New Nation''—published stories translated from ''The Onion'' claiming that astronaut [[Neil Armstrong]] had held a news conference claiming the Moon landing was an elaborate hoax.<ref name="bbc_20090904">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8237558.stm| title=One giant slip in Bangladesh news| work=BBC News| date=September 4, 2009| access-date=May 25, 2010| archive-date=September 10, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910085327/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8237558.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Denmark Introduces Harrowing New Tourism Ads Directed By [[Lars Von Trier]]": In February 2010, online newspapers such as ''[[Il Corriere della Sera]]'' (Italy) and ''[[Adresseavisen]]'' (Norway) repackaged clips from ''The Onion'' video piece as legitimate news.<ref name="noiseFromAmeriKa_20110323">{{cite web| url=http://noisefromamerika.org/articolo/the-onion-1000-corriere-sera-0| website=noiseFromAmeriKa| title=The Onion: 1000 – Corriere della Sera: 0| date=March 23, 2011| access-date=June 25, 2015| archive-date=June 26, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626115511/http://noisefromamerika.org/articolo/the-onion-1000-corriere-sera-0| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="adressa.no_1450990">{{cite web| url=http://www.adressa.no/kultur/film/article1450990.ece| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219125922/http://www.adressa.no/kultur/film/article1450990.ece| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 19, 2013| title=Lars Von Trier med kontroversiell Danmark-reklame| publisher=adressa.no| date=March 23, 2011| access-date=June 25, 2015}}</ref>
* "Frustrated Obama Sends Nation Rambling 75,000-Word E-Mail": In November 2010, the [[Fox Nation]] website presented ''The Onion'' article as a genuine report.<ref name="mediaite_20101126">{{cite web| url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/foxnation-com-repurposes-anti-obama-article-from-the-onion-forgets-to-mention-its-a-joke/| title=FoxNation.com Reposts Anti-Obama Article From The Onion, Doesn't Mention It's A Joke| website=Mediaite| date=November 26, 2010| access-date=July 27, 2011| first=Jon| last=Bershad| archive-date=October 8, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008043437/https://www.mediaite.com/online/foxnation-com-repurposes-anti-obama-article-from-the-onion-forgets-to-mention-its-a-joke/| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Congress Takes Group Of Schoolchildren Hostage": In September 2011, [[United States Capitol Police]] investigated a series of [[Twitter|tweets]] coming from ''The Onion''{{'}}s Twitter account claiming that U.S. congressmen were holding twelve children hostage.<ref name="nytimes_mediadecoder_20110929">{{cite news| url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/the-onions-hostage-tweets-draw-scrutiny| title=The Onion's Twitter Posts Draw Scrutiny| work=The New York Times| date=September 29, 2011| access-date=September 30, 2011| first=Jennifer| last=Preston| archive-date=October 2, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014623/https://archive.nytimes.com/mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/the-onions-hostage-tweets-draw-scrutiny/| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Obama Openly Asks Nation Why On Earth He Would Want To Serve For Another Term": On January 7, 2012, [[Lim Hwee Hua]]—a former [[Singapore]]an [[Member of parliament|MP]]—posted the article on her Facebook page.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ong |first=S. M. |date=2019-09-16 |title=That time a former minister shared fake news - I mean, satire |url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/others/s-m-ong-time-former-minister-shared-fake-news-i-mean-satire |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=The New Paper |language=en}}</ref>
* "[[Planned Parenthood]] Opens $8 Billion Abortionplex": On February 3, 2012, U.S. Congressman [[John Fleming (U.S. politician)|John Fleming]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[Louisiana]]) posted a link to the article on his Facebook page.<ref name="Wenc 3"/><ref name="politico_20120206">{{cite web| url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/congressman-links-to-onion-story-072507| title=John Fleming skinned by The Onion| publisher=Politico| date=February 6, 2012| access-date=February 6, 2012| archive-date=August 25, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825043902/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72507.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Gallup Poll: Rural Whites Prefer [[Ahmadinejad]] to Obama": On September 28, 2012, Iran's [[Fars News Agency]] copied ''The Onion'' story verbatim on their website. ''The Onion'' updated the original story with the note: "For more on this story: Please visit our Iranian subsidiary organization, Fars", linking to a screenshot of Fars's coverage of the story.<ref name="foreignpolicy_20120928">{{cite web| url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/09/28/iranian_news_agency_falls_for_onion_story_plagiarizes_it| title=Iranian news agency falls for Onion story, plagiarizes it| website=Foreign Policy| date=September 28, 2012| access-date=September 28, 2012| first=Joshua| last=Keating| archive-date=September 28, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928184414/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/09/28/iranian_news_agency_falls_for_onion_story_plagiarizes_it| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="newyorktimes_20120928">{{cite news| url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/iranian-news-agency-plagiarizes-the-onion/| title=Iranian News Agency Plagiarizes The Onion| work=The New York Times| date=September 28, 2012| access-date=September 28, 2012| first=Robert| last=Mackey| archive-date=March 20, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320062733/https://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/iranian-news-agency-plagiarizes-the-onion/| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Kim Jong-Un Named ''The Onion's'' Sexiest Man Alive For 2012": On November 27, 2012, the online version of the Chinese Communist Party newspaper ''[[The People's Daily]]'' ran a story on [[Kim Jong-un]], citing ''The Onion's'' article as a source and even included a 55-page photo gallery with the article in tribute to the [[North Korea]]n leader.<ref name="peoplesdaily_20121127">{{cite news| url=http://english.people.com.cn/90777/8035568.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127154724/http://english.people.com.cn/90777/8035568.html| work=The People's Daily| title=North Korea's top leader named The Onion's Sexiest Man Alive for 2012| archive-date=November 27, 2012| url-status=dead| date=November 27, 2012| access-date=June 25, 2015| first=Zhang| last=Qian}}</ref><ref name="yahoonews_20121127">{{cite news| url=https://news.yahoo.com/oops-chinas-communist-party-paper-hails-nkoreas-kim-140014309.html| website=Yahoo! News| title=Oops! China's Communist Party paper hails NKorea's Kim being named The Onion's 'sexiest man'| date=November 27, 2012| access-date=June 2, 2015| agency=Associated Press| archive-date=June 3, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603025934/http://news.yahoo.com/oops-chinas-communist-party-paper-hails-nkoreas-kim-140014309.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "[[Fred Phelps]], Man Who Forever Stopped March Of Gay Rights, Dead At 84": In March 2014, Ed Farrell—the Vice Mayor of [[Maricopa, Arizona]]—apologized for inadvertently and enthusiastically praising Fred Phelps via a post of the satirical obituary on his Facebook page. In an interview about his Facebook post Farrell apologized for doing it, stating "I had no clue about this guy; he's an idiot. I can't believe that I posted what I posted [...] shame on me."<ref name="huffingtonpost_20140328">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/28/ed-farrell-arizona-fred-phelps_n_5043250.html|title=Ed Farrell, Arizona Vice Mayor, Shamed For Praising Fred Phelps After Being Confused By Satirical Article|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=March 28, 2014|access-date=March 28, 2014|first=Yasmine|last=Hafiz|archive-date=March 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329031558/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/28/ed-farrell-arizona-fred-phelps_n_5043250.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="christianpost_20140329">{{cite news|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/ariz-vice-mayor-apologizes-after-mistakenly-praising-westboros-fred-phelps-on-facebook-shame-on-me-117031|title=Ariz. Vice Mayor Apologizes After Mistakenly Praising Westboro's Fred Phelps on Facebook: 'Shame on Me'|newspaper=The Christian Post|date=March 29, 2014|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Katherine|last=Webber|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626145543/http://www.christianpost.com/news/ariz-vice-mayor-apologizes-after-mistakenly-praising-westboros-fred-phelps-on-facebook-shame-on-me-117031/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="copamonitor_20140425">{{cite news|url=http://www.pinalcentral.com/maricopa_monitor/news/update-farrell-apologizes-for-pro-westboro-facebook-post/article_286d518e-caed-554a-8085-15fdbc697ac2.html|title=Farrell apologizes for pro-Westboro Facebook post|newspaper=Maricopa Monitor|date=March 25, 2014|access-date=January 14, 2018|first=Sarah|last=Ruf|archive-date=February 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201051114/http://www.pinalcentral.com/maricopa_monitor/news/update-farrell-apologizes-for-pro-westboro-facebook-post/article_286d518e-caed-554a-8085-15fdbc697ac2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* "FIFA Frantically Announces 2015 Summer World Cup In United States": In May 2015, the former [[FIFA]] vice president [[Jack Warner (football executive)|Jack Warner]]—who was arrested on corruption charges that same month—drew attention to ''The Onion'' article by reporting it as real news in a video on Facebook.<ref name="theguardian_20150531">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/31/ex-fifa-vice-president-jack-warner-swallows-onion-spoof|title=Ex-Fifa vice president Jack Warner swallows Onion spoof|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114737/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/31/ex-fifa-vice-president-jack-warner-swallows-onion-spoof|url-status=live}}</ref>
* "Study: Every 10 Seconds A Skyscraper Window Washer Falls To His Death": In September 2018, Serbian president [[Aleksandar Vučić]] made the statement commenting on the death of two workers who died working on the [[Belgrade Waterfront]] construction site. He expressed his condolences to the families, but said that "in [[Serbia]], there are proportionally a lot less accidents in dangerous jobs, such as construction. As for the allegations aimed against the state, I want to tell the citizens—even though I did not want to speak about it—that I read some data. Did you know that, in America, every ten seconds one window washer dies doing his job?".<ref name="n1_20180915">{{cite web| url=http://rs.n1info.com/a420205/English/NEWS/Vucic-apologises-for-false-statement-on-window-washers-in-US.html| title=Vucic apologises for false statement on window washers in US| work=N1 Srbija 2
| publisher=N1| date=September 15, 2018| access-date=September 17, 2018| archive-date=September 16, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916132259/http://rs.n1info.com/a420205/English/NEWS/Vucic-apologises-for-false-statement-on-window-washers-in-US.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
* "CIA Issues Posthumous Apology After New Evidence Clears Osama Bin Laden Of Involvement In 9/11 Attacks": On October 13, 2019, former Inspector-General of the [[Royal Malaysia Police|Royal Malaysian Police]] [[Musa Hassan]] received criticism after promoting the titled post as real news on Twitter, and then doubling down when other Twitter users pointed out the satirical nature of the site, remarking "Wait for ''The Onion'' to deny it. If not, it means that America allows the spreading of fake news."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-IGP Musa Hassan gets flak over Osama bin Laden 'article' |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2019/10/13/ex-igp-musa-hassan-gets-flak-over-osama-bin-laden-039article039 |website=The Star |access-date=October 14, 2019 |language=en |date=October 13, 2019 |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014053047/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2019/10/13/ex-igp-musa-hassan-gets-flak-over-osama-bin-laden-039article039 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== As a political actor ===
Several commentators have characterized ''The Onion'' as overtly political. In 2013, Noreen Malone, editor of ''[[The New York Times]]'' Sunday Business section, characterized the publication as producing biting, leftist op-ed pieces through its presentation of satire news.<ref name="newrepublic_20130830">{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=Noreen |date=30 August 2013 |title=The Onion Is The Country's Best Op-Ed Page. Seriously. |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/114556/onion-countrys-best-op-ed-page-seriously |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517121957/https://newrepublic.com/article/114556/onion-countrys-best-op-ed-page-seriously |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |access-date=1 September 2014 |magazine=New Republic}}</ref> Conversely, journalist [[David Weigel]] criticized the outlet for advocating [[US intervention in the Syrian civil war]] and [[same-sex marriage in the United States]], which he framed as already popular views adopted for the faster Internet news cycle.<ref name="buzzfeed_20130828">{{cite web| url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/the-onion-denies-taking-a-serious-line-on-syria| title=The Onion Denies Taking A Serious Line On Syria| website=BuzzFeed| date=August 28, 2013| access-date=September 1, 2014
| first=Rosie| last=Gray| archive-date=July 17, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717003137/http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/the-onion-denies-taking-a-serious-line-on-syria| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="weigel_20130903">{{cite web |last=Weigel |first=David |date=September 3, 2013 |title=The Onion: Not Funny. (A #SlatePitches Special Report.) |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/09/03/the_onion_not_funny_a_slatepitches_special_report.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916052009/http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/09/03/the_onion_not_funny_a_slatepitches_special_report.html |archive-date=September 16, 2014 |access-date=September 1, 2014 |website=Slate}}</ref> [[Farhad Manjoo]] of [[Slate (magazine)|''Slate'']] similarly attributed the publication's "faster, bigger, more strident, and, to me, a little inconsistent" tone to the exigencies of the Internet.<ref name="slate_20130905"/>

Political commentator [[Emmett Rensin]] has described ''The Onion'' as "the paper most dedicated to the overthrowing capitalism in the United States" and that it "represents some latent Marxism in our culture", citing its criticism of [[false consciousness]], [[Commodity fetishism|commodity fetishization]], and the [[invisible hand]].<ref name=":5">{{cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/116479/onion-americas-finest-marxist-news-source|title=The Onion Has Become America's Finest Marxist News Source|magazine=New Republic|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2014|first=Emmett|last=Rensin|archive-date=October 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016112302/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116479/onion-americas-finest-marxist-news-source|url-status=live}}</ref> Rensin attributes this slant to the need to work from "obvious, intuitive truth—the kind necessary for any kind of broadly appealing humor", while Christine Wenc's book ''Funny Because It's True'' highlights that many early writers came from ''[[The Daily Cardinal]]'', the left-leaning [[student newspaper]] of the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]].<ref name=":5"/><ref>{{harvp|Wenc|2025|pp=138-142}}</ref>

Some of the publication's political impact is unintentional. For example, ''The Onion''{{'s}} [[Joe Biden (The Onion)|long-running caricature of Joe Biden]] as a [[Blue-collar worker|blue-collar]] "creepy but harmless uncle" character is believed to have benefited the real [[Joe Biden]]'s public image. In May 2019, the former ''Onion'' editor [[Joe Garden]] published an op-ed in ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' to express regret over the character, which he felt had distracted from serious concerns about Biden's political record and personal behavior.<ref>{{cite web |last=Garden |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Garden |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/area-man-regrets-helping-turn-joe-biden-into-a-meme/ |title=Area Man Regrets Helping Turn Joe Biden into a Meme |magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |date=May 16, 2019b |access-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517014024/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xwngb3/area-man-regrets-helping-turn-joe-biden-into-a-meme |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===U.S. Presidential Seal dispute===
[[File:Seal of the President of the United States.svg|thumb|upright|The U.S. Presidential Seal]]
In September 2005, the assistant counsel to President [[George W. Bush]], Grant M. Dixton, wrote a [[cease-and-desist]] letter to ''The Onion'', asking the publication to stop using the [[Seal of the President of the United States|presidential seal]], which it used in an online parody of Bush.<ref name="nytimes_20051024"/>

''The Onion'' responded with a formal request to use the seal in accordance with the executive order, while maintaining that its use was legitimate. The letter stated, "It is inconceivable that anyone would think that, by using the seal, ''The Onion'' intends to 'convey&nbsp;... sponsorship or approval' by the president", but then went on to ask that the letter be considered a formal application requesting permission to use the seal.<ref name="nytimes_20060129"/><ref name="nytimes_20051024">{{cite news
| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/business/24onion.html| title=Protecting the Presidential Seal. No Joke.| newspaper=The New York Times| date=October 24, 2005| access-date=June 25, 2015| first=Katharine Q.| last=Seelye| archive-date=January 18, 2023
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114738/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/24/business/protecting-the-presidential-seal-no-joke.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost_20100503">{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/the-onion-obama-attends-t_n_561225.html| title=The Onion: Obama Attends The White House Maintenance Staff Annual Dinner (VIDEO)| newspaper=Huffington Post| date=May 3, 2010| access-date=June 25, 2015| first=Morgan| last=Evans| archive-date=June 26, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626160205/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/03/the-onion-obama-attends-t_n_561225.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

===85th Academy Awards controversy===
During the [[85th Academy Awards]], a post on ''The Onion''{{'}}s Twitter account called 9-year-old [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] nominee [[Quvenzhané Wallis]] "a [[cunt]]". The post was deleted within an hour, but not before hundreds of angry responses.<ref name="cnet_200130324">{{cite web| url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57571025-93/the-onion-deletes-offensive-tweet-about-child-oscar-nominee/| title=The Onion deletes offensive tweet about child Oscar nominee| website=CNET| date=February 24, 2013| access-date=February 26, 2013| first=Daniel| last=Terdiman| archive-date=January 15, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115103712/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57571025-93/the-onion-deletes-offensive-tweet-about-child-oscar-nominee/| url-status=live}}</ref> CEO Steve Hannah issued an apology to Wallis and the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]], calling the remarks "crude and offensive" and "No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire."<ref name="usatoday_20030225">{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/02/25/onion-apology-oscars-wallis/1946327/| title='The Onion' issues apology for tasteless Twitter remark| work=USA Today| first=Korina
| last=Lopez| date=February 25, 2013| access-date=February 26, 2013| archive-date=February 26, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226131434/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/02/25/onion-apology-oscars-wallis/1946327/
| url-status=live}}</ref> Scott Dikkers—who was Vice President Creative Development for the publication at the time—said in an interview with [[WMAQ-TV|NBC 5 Chicago]] that the publication had sent an apology note to Quvenzhané and her family but also stated, "She's a big star now. I think she can take it."<ref name="nbc_chicago_20130205"/> The publication's public apology was denounced by some former ''Onion'' writers, with one stating, "It wasn't a great joke, but big deal."<ref name="cnet_200130324"/><ref name="usatoday_20030225"/><ref name="nbc_chicago_20130205">{{cite news| url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Onion-Criticized-For-Tweet-About-Quvenzhane-Wallis-193009841.html| work=NBC Chicago| title=The Onion Apologizes For Offensive Actress Tweet| date=February 25, 2013| access-date=February 26, 2013| archive-date=December 9, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209041541/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Onion-Criticized-For-Tweet-About-Quvenzhane-Wallis-193009841.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="buzzfeed_20130226">{{cite web| url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/cjlotz/former-onion-staffers-denounce-ceos-apology| title=Former Onion Staffers Denounce CEO's Apology For Quvenzhané Wallis Tweet| website=BuzzFeed| date=February 25, 2013| access-date=February 26, 2013| first=CJ| last=Lotz| archive-date=February 27, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227054539/http://www.buzzfeed.com/cjlotz/former-onion-staffers-denounce-ceos-apology| url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Subway September 11 Promotion ===
In 2013, ''The Onion'' published an article detailing the introduction of a recent promotion at [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] themed around the [[September 11 attacks]], where customers could supposedly get two footlong subs for $9.11. This article was accompanied by an ad that depicted a man flying towards two sub sandwiches (arranged to depict the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|twin towers]]) along with further offensive jokes around the attacks. The ad quickly circulated around the internet and gathered much criticism as it led customers to believe it was official.

Subway responded on Twitter with a statement reading: "Like everyone, we are deeply offended by the fake story and ad created by ''The Onion''." However, the hoax again came under some scrutiny when YouTuber [[Travis Northrup]] posted a video where he printed out the ad and presented it as a coupon when ordering at his local Subway in San Francisco. To his surprise, the coupon was accepted. This video caused some backlash due to some believing that Subway was honoring the hoax, but many still saw it as a humorous situation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrasquillo |first=Adrian |date=2013-09-06 |title=The Onion Makes Intentionally Offensive 9/11 Subway Ad, Subway Is Offended |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/the-onion-makes-intentionally-offensive-911-subway-ad-subway |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Forbes |first=Paula |date=2013-09-16 |title=A Subway Accepted the Onion's Fake 'Subtember 11' Deal |url=https://www.eater.com/2013/9/16/6371059/a-subway-accepted-the-onions-fake-subtember-11-deal |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Eater |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Murder of Big Show===
On June 16, 2017, ''The Onion'' featured an article describing professional wrestler [[Big Show]] being killed by [[WWE]] after a seven-year-old boy wandered into a [[Steel cage match|steel cage]] during a [[House show|live event]] in [[Indianapolis]]. The article, meant to lampoon the real-life killing of [[Harambe]], a gorilla in a Cincinnati zoo, received criticism for satirizing the murder of an actual person as well as leading some fans to believe Big Show was dead.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theonion.com/wwe-staff-forced-to-shoot-aggressive-wrestler-after-chi-1819580023/|title=WWE Staff Forced To Shoot Aggressive Wrestler After Child Climbs Into Steel Cage|date=June 16, 2017|website=The Onion|volume=53|issue=23|access-date=June 20, 2017}}</ref>

===Amicus brief in ''Novak v. City of Parma''===
On October 3, 2022, ''The Onion'' filed its first ''[[amicus curiae]]'' brief with the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] in the case of ''[[Novak v. City of Parma]]''.<ref name="npr-novak">{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/1126773469/onion-supreme-court-brief-author-interview |title=The man who wrote ''The Onion''{{'s}} Supreme Court brief takes parody very seriously |last=Treisman |first=Rachel |date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |work=[[NPR]] |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005003004/https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/1126773469/onion-supreme-court-brief-author-interview |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-293/242292/20221003125252896_35295545_1-22.10.03%20-%20Novak-Parma%20-%20Onion%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf |title=Brief of ''The Onion'' as ''Amicus Curiae'' in Support of Petitioner |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004142044/https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-293/242292/20221003125252896_35295545_1-22.10.03%20-%20Novak-Parma%20-%20Onion%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Onion'' supported the ''[[certiorari]]'' petition of Anthony Novak, who was seeking civil damages after having been arrested and unsuccessfully prosecuted over a Facebook page parodying the page of the Parma Police Department.<ref name="nyt-novak">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/us/the-onion-supreme-court.html |title=Area Man Is Arrested for Parody. The Onion Files a Supreme Court Brief. |last=Medina |first=Eduardo |date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-access=limited |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004234622/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/us/the-onion-supreme-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Onion''{{'s}} brief contained numerous jokes, including a claimed readership of 4.3 trillion,<ref name="nyt-novak"/> a remark that "the federal judiciary is staffed entirely by total Latin dorks",<ref name="npr-novak"/> and a boast regarding [[Jonathan Swift]] that "its writers are far more talented, and their output will be read long after that hack Swift's has been lost to the sands of time".<ref>Brief of ''The Onion'', p. 8.</ref> The brief noted the paper's Latin motto as {{lang|la|Tu stultus es}} ("You are stupid").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/onion-filed-brief-supreme-court-205748242.html |agency=Bloomberg |title=The Onion Filed a Brief With the Supreme Court. It's Not a Joke |first=Zoe |last=Tillman |date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of satirical magazines]]
* [[List of satirical news websites]]
* [[List of satirical television news programs]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Works cited ==
* {{Cite book |last=Wenc |first=Christine |title=Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire |publisher=[[Running Press]] |year=2025 |isbn=9780762484430}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last1=Berkowitz |first1=Dan |last2=Schwartz |first2=David Asa |title=Miley, CNN and The Onion: When fake news becomes realer than real |journal=Journalism Practice |date=2016 |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=1–17 |doi=10.1080/17512786.2015.1006933|s2cid=142931957 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Brodie |first=Ian |title=Pretend News, False News, Fake News: The Onion as Put-On, Prank, and Legend |journal=The Journal of American Folklore |date=2018 |volume=131 |issue=522 |pages=451–459 |doi=10.5406/jamerfolk.131.522.0451 |jstor=10.5406/jamerfolk.131.522.0451 |s2cid=165844528 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/jamerfolk.131.522.0451 |issn=0021-8715|url-access=subscription }}
*{{cite journal |last=Coogan |first=Tom |title="Usually I Love The Onion, but This Time You've Gone Too Far": Disability Humour and Transgression |journal=Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies |date=2013 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=1–17 |doi=10.3828/jlcds.2013.1 |s2cid=143591650 |issn=1757-6466}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Holland |first1=Edward C. |last2=Levy |first2=Adam |title=The Onion and the geopolitics of satire |journal=Popular Communication |date=2018 |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=182–195 |doi=10.1080/15405702.2017.1397674|s2cid=149307551 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Fife |first=Jane |title=Peeling The Onion : Satire and the Complexity of Audience Response |journal=Rhetoric Review |date=2016 |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=322–334 |doi=10.1080/07350198.2016.1215000|s2cid=151462545 }}
*{{cite book |last=Kaye |first=Sharon M. |title=The Onion and Philosophy: Fake News Story True, Alleges Indignant Area Professor |date=2010 |publisher=Open Court Publishing |isbn=978-0-8126-9687-5 |language=en}}
*{{cite book |last1=Leporati |first1=Matthew |last2=Jacklosky |first2=Rob |title=Isn't it Ironic? |date=2021 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-003-08035-0 |chapter=Peeling The Onion: Pop culture satire in the writing classroom}}
*{{cite journal |last=Marx |first=Nick |title=Radio voices, digital downloads: bridging old and new media in the Onion Radio News podcast |journal=Comedy Studies |date=2015 |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=107–117 |doi=10.1080/2040610X.2015.1083166|s2cid=193011281 }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Sinkovich |first1=Justin |last2=Brindisi |first2=Jerry |title=Company Profile: The Art, Influence and Business of Satire: Peeling Back the Layers of "The Onion" |journal=International Journal of Arts Management |date=2016 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=75–85 |jstor=44989652 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44989652 |issn=1480-8986}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Stevens |first1=Elise M. |last2=McIntyre |first2=Karen |title=The Layers of The Onion : The Impact of Satirical News on Affect and Online Sharing Behaviors |journal=Electronic News |date=2019 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=78–92 |doi=10.1177/1931243119850264|s2cid=196184028 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Waisanen |first=Don J. |title=Crafting Hyperreal Spaces for Comic Insights: The Onion News Network 's Ironic Iconicity |journal=Communication Quarterly |date=2011 |volume=59 |issue=5 |pages=508–528 |doi=10.1080/01463373.2011.615690|s2cid=144663611 }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|The Onion}}
* {{official website}}

{{The Onion}}
{{Orwell Award recipients}}
{{portal bar|Chicago|Comedy|Internet|Journalism|United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Onion, The}}
[[Category:The Onion| ]]
[[Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1990s in comedy]]
[[Category:2000s in comedy]]
[[Category:2010s in comedy]]
[[Category:2020s in comedy]]
[[Category:American satirical websites]]
[[Category:Fusion Media Group]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:Mass media in Madison, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Online newspapers with defunct print editions]]
[[Category:Newspapers disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Satirical newspapers]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Wisconsin]]
<!-- [[Category:American satirical newspapers]] -->
<!-- [[Category:Newspapers disestablished in 1996]] -->
<!-- [[Category:Newspapers established in 1988]] -->