ABC News has struck a new deal with its longtime anchor George Stephanopoulos after costing the network millions his lawsuit with newly elected President Donald Trump, reports indicate.
Stephanpoulos, who reportedly earned $18 million a year in his previous contract, was at the center of a defamation case settled with Trump last week, but reports said the timing between the settlement and his new contract was coincidental.
ABC News did not immediately respond Fox News digital‘s request for comment.
DISNEY, ABC NEWS CONTINUE TO TAKE HEAT FOR HUGE TRUMP LAW: ‘LOW, LOW POINT’
ABC News signed a new deal with liberal anchor George Stephanopoulos, following the network’s $15 million defamation settlement with newly elected President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
The extension of Stephanopoulos’ contract followed reports of alleged behind-the-scenes drama at the Disney network. Variation reported that Stephanopolous was “blindsided” by his bosses’ decision to settle the defamation case and that he was “unhappy” with the outcome.
According to Variety’s report, network insiders were unsure whether the settlement would affect Stephanopoulos’ future at ABC. However, hours after that story was published, The Los Angeles Times broke the news of the anchor’s renewal at ABC.
The lawsuit stemmed from a conversation Stephanpoulos had with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., in March about his Sunday program “This Week,” in which he claimed ten separate times Trump was found “liable for rape” when the jury in the E. Jean Carroll civil case found him essentially liable for “sexual abuse,” which has a separate definition under New York law.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Monday, December 16, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP/Evan Vucci)
Initially the co-host of “Good Morning America”. was challenging in light of Trump’s lawsuit, in which he told CBS CEO Stephen Colbert that he “would not be deterred from doing my job because of a threat.”
“Trump sued me for using the word ‘rape’ even though a judge said it actually happened. We have filed a motion to dismiss,” Stephanopoulos told Colbert.
A judge ultimately rejected ABC News’ request to dismiss Trump’s lawsuit and settled with the newly elected president in December before embarking on a costly lawsuit.
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos incorrectly said that former President Trump was “found liable for rape” multiple times during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. (Screenshot/ABC News)
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Under the settlement, ABC News will pay $15 million as a charitable contribution to a “Presidential Foundation and Museum to be established by or for Plaintiff, such as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past.” In addition, the network will pay $1 million in Trump’s attorney fees.
Stephanopoulos and ABC News also had to issue statements of “regret” as an editor’s note at the bottom of an article on ABC News’ website. The note reads: “ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements about President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Representative Nancy Mace on ABC’s This Week on March 10, 2024.”
Liberal critics from rival networks, including CNN, NBC and MSNBC, accused ABC News of “bending the knee” to Trump.
