CHICAGO, Ill. — Digital media company and preeminent news satire organization The Onion will reportedly cease publication if Donald J. Trump wins the US presidential election, says one former contributor.
“It’s just not funny anymore,” says Althea Thoone, speaking of Trump news coverage as it applies to satire and parody. Thoone participated in early voting in order to be out of the country on Election Day. “I don’t want to be around. I’m not the only one who feels this way. I think they may fold up the tent. I’m going to Canada.”
Things began to cross the line for Thoone last spring.
Her worries increased after Trump hinted that “Second Amendment people” might prevent Hillary Clinton from curbing gun rights.
“It was bad enough when Trump said his supporters would riot if he was denied the nomination. And that was way back in March. Back then I could pitch a Trump headline and hope to get a green light. But his rantings and attacks increased. As I said, it’s just not funny anymore.”
“The endless GOP debates were like the twelve days of Christmas. The headlines would practically write themselves. Trump was still an outsider at the start. But the poll numbers kept climbing no matter what he said or did.”
Thoone describes writing satirical articles about Trump akin to “racing with the devil.”
“It became a contest of getting something out there before Trump tweeted something even more absurd.”
Now that Trump’s staff has reportedly taken away his Twitter access, does Thoone regret leaving The Onion and relocating to Canada?
“Absolutely not,” says Thoone. “As the editors said in the Times article, how in the world do you satirize this election anymore?
“Donald Trump portrayed the press as the enemy. With his thin skin, and his need to get even with anyone who criticizes him —even humorously— well, I decided to leave. When freedom of the press, including the satirical press isn’t free, where are we supposed to go?”
As of this article’s publication, The Onion has neither verified Thoone’s employment, nor validated her claims.
