A dustup between Alex Jones, a notorious internet conspiracy theorist, and David Hogg, a 17-year-old survivor of the Parkland school shooting, may seem bizarre. But in some ways it was inevitable.
Jones, an opponent of gun control, has argued that school shootings, including the 2012 Sandy Hook killings and the Parkland shooting in Florida, were faked to drum up opposition to guns. Hogg, meanwhile, has become one of the most vocal teens demanding protection from gun violence.
Last week, YouTube pulled a video in which Jones said the Florida shooting that killed 17 was a “deep state false flag operation.” An InfoWars video titled “David Hogg Can’t Remember His Lines In TV Interview,” insisted that Hogg was a “crisis actor” posing as a survivor.
Hogg wrote Tuesday morning: “Hey Alex Jones you seem to be really confused as to what I do/who I am I’d love to come on and clear some of this up because clearly as a sh– journalist you can’t clearly,” said Hogg.
In June 2017, Sandy Hook families sent a legal threat to NBC over a Megan Kelly interview with Jones. “Over the last few years, Alex Jones has weaponized his radio show to publish false and defamatory statements about our clients: chief among them that they are actors perpetrating a massive fraud on the American public by faking the deaths of their loved ones,” the letter read, in part.
Hogg alluded to Jones’ legal history in another tweet Tuesday — though he wrongly suggested Jones had been sued over his past school-shooting statements.
“Wait ???”didn’t you get sued for pedaling lies about the survivors and victims of another school shooting? Clearly someone didn’t learn from their mistakes,” added the teen.
Hey Alex Jones you seem to be really confused as to what I do/who I am I'd love to come on and clear some of this up because clearly as a shit journalist you can't clearly.
— David Hogg ☮️ (@davidhogg111) February 27, 2018
Wait ???”didn’t you get sued for pedaling lies about the survivors and victims of another school shooting? Clearly someone didn’t learn from their mistakes
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) February 27, 2018
Jones responded by inviting Hogg on “InfoWars.”
“I would love to have you on today to clear up some of the disinformation that has been put out about my statements concerning the tragedy,” he wrote. “I notice you’re calling me a ‘s- journalist’ and ‘snake oil’ salesman when I have never called you any disparaging names.”
https://twitter.com/RealAlexJones/status/968516117571522562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thewrap.com%2Fdavid-hogg-alex-jones-infowars-parkland-florida-shooting-backpedal%2F
@davidhogg111 I would love to have you on today to clear up some of the disinformation that has been put out about my statements concerning the tragedy. I notice you’re calling me a “shit journalist” and “snake oil” salesman when I have never called you any disparaging names.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
In several followup tweets, Jones tried to take the teenager to task.
@davidhogg111 Also I have never been sued by survivors of any school shooting. Please stop the defamation. My YouTube channel with 2+ billion views has now been frozen after CNN lobbied for it to be closed in your name.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
@davidhogg111 Again Mr Hogg, in your name CNN has shut down my speech on YouTube. It is critical that you come out and support the 1st Amendment and not let them use you to end free speech.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
@davidhogg111 DM me your email and my producer will set you up. Thank you.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
Reached for comments by TheWrap, Hogg said he was withdrawing his offer to appear on “InfoWars” and that he was unaware of Jones’ history when he tweeted out his offer.
“I will not speak to anyone that has had disgusting remarks to victims of mass shootings in the past,” he told TheWrap. “I sent that tweet without realizing just how awful so many people have been to victims and witnesses of these events in the past #neveragain.”
That led Jones into a final parting shot against the teenager, who he accused of deliberately baiting him.
“David Hogg challenged me to a debate by bullying and viciously attacking me,” said Jones. “After I politely accepted, he backed out when his real goal of baiting me failed. Only #HoggWash fears investigation.”
https://twitter.com/RealAlexJones/status/968571121456041984