10 Things We Learned From Jon Ronson On Louis Theroux's Grounded Podcast
1. The Fascinating Origin Story Theory About Alex Jones
A good chunk of the interview is dedicated to a discussion about Alex Jones. A controversial American conspiracy theorist, Jones has crossed paths with Ronson on numerous occasions. He was de-platformed by YouTube and many other social media companies for breaching the terms of their service. Ronson is a believer in the effects of this punishment. It takes away a hatemonger's power and Jones had a large following that he commanded to find out 'the truth' about Sandy Hook. This meant harassing the parents of the slain children of that massacre.
A contemptible character from afar, Jones is no more pleasant up close as Ronson will attest. He told Theroux that he caught Jones in a lie 20 years ago and judged him to be a charlatan thereafter. However, a recent discussion with someone who worked closely with Jones for years gave Ronson cause for doubt. The source, Josh Owens, wanted to become a whistleblower on his time with Infowars and told him that Jones acts the same both on and off camera.
It was Owens who shared a theory with Ronson about why Jones became the person he is. Apparently, Jones was a massive bully at school and pushed all of his victims too far. In an act of revenge, they invited him to a party in a barn before ambushing him. They beat him to within an inch of his life, knocking out his teeth and leaving him with a limp that he has to this day. Being the victim of conspiracy is a compelling supervillain origin story if it's true.