George Stephanopoulos could also be OUT at ABC Information after CEO Bob Iger determined to pay out a $15 million defamation settlement, plus $1 million to cowl Trump’s attorneys charges.
Trump’s defamation case towards ABC Information was associated to statements made by “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos.
Trump sued ABC Information earlier this 12 months after Stephanopoulos claimed Trump was “discovered responsible for rape” by a Manhattan jury within the E. Jean Carroll case.
In 2019, E. Jean Carroll alleged Donald Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room within the Nineties.
Trump has denied the allegations and known as E. Jean Carroll a “whack job” who’s “not my kind.”
President Trump doesn’t even know who this lady is.
The jury discovered Trump ‘sexually abused’ E. Jean Carroll however they didn’t discover he raped her.
Stephanopoulos defamed Trump throughout an interview with Nancy Mace earlier this 12 months:
President Trump is suing George Stephanopoulos for defaming him and saying he was discovered responsible for rape right here on this shameful interview with Nancy Mace. pic.twitter.com/ANon5X5qoI
— JKash MAGA Queen (@JKash000) March 19, 2024
Stephanopoulos could go away the community after being pressured to apologize as a part of the Trump defamation settlement.
Excerpt from Selection:
In a transfer that floored ABC Information’ rank-and-file journalists contained in the community and within the broader journalistic neighborhood, Disney CEO Bob Iger licensed a $15 million settlement and an extra $1 million to cowl Trump’s authorized charges in addition to a quasi-apology on Dec. 13. Based on sources, Stephanopoulos was blindsided, unaware that Disney would again down in such a public method till just a few hours earlier than the information broke. (Disney and Stephanopoulos declined remark.)
As CEO, Iger had lengthy been a champion of Stephanopoulos, regardless of the anchor’s wonkier tendencies as “GMA” has wanted to lean extra closely on popular culture and celeb for scores. (The morning present averaged 2.69 million viewers final week, behind “At present’s” 2.83 million common.) When Stephanopoulos began to drift the thought in 2020 that he would possibly go away ABC as his four-year contract was about to run out, Iger instantly helped steer the negotiations to maintain him within the fold — giving the anchor a brand new profitable deal that additionally allowed him to provide documentaries for Hulu corresponding to “Fairly Child.”
However with Stephanopoulos’ present deal up in early 2025, insiders at ABC aren’t positive if he’ll keep on the community given the latest flip of occasions. Sources say Stephanopoulos has been vocal about how sad he has been with the settlement and apology. For ABC, the economics of paying an anchor $18 million a 12 months could not make sense as “GMA” isn’t the promoting money cow it as soon as was. (Hoda Kotb not too long ago introduced her departure as a full-time anchor on “At present” after NBC tried to slash her wage.)
