ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is reportedly “apoplectic” and “humiliated” following the network’s decision to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump, according to sources cited by The Post.
Stephanopoulos faced backlash after alleging in an interview with Republican lawmaker Nancy Mace that Trump had raped E. Jean Carroll. Sources suggest the anchor was especially upset about being compelled to issue an apology.
One insider noted that Stephanopoulos, the host of This Week, recently extended his contract with Disney-owned ABC News, although the terms remain undisclosed.
The settlement, which includes a $15 million donation to a presidential foundation and museum for Trump and an additional $1 million to cover his legal fees, has reportedly left morale at ABC News at a low point. Staff members expressed frustration at the network’s reluctance to cover its own settlement story, despite it making headlines elsewhere.
“This wasn’t a decision made by the news division but by the company,” speculated one source. “They likely wanted to avoid the discovery process, which would require sharing internal documents and emails.”
The lawsuit stemmed from Stephanopoulos’s comment during a March interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), where he inaccurately stated that Trump “has been found liable for rape by a jury.” While a Manhattan jury in a civil case found Trump liable for sexual battery and defamation against Carroll, it did not find him liable for rape.
The settlement announcement came shortly after a judge ruled both Stephanopoulos and Trump must sit for depositions in the case.
Adding to the tensions, Stephanopoulos has reportedly deactivated his social media account, where he had over 2.3 million followers, and has maintained a low profile since the settlement was made public.
ABC News and Stephanopoulos issued a joint statement expressing regret for the erroneous remarks. ABC News declined further comment, and Stephanopoulos did not respond to requests for clarification.
The decision appears to be part of Disney’s broader strategy to manage relations with Trump ahead of his presidency. Reports indicate that Debra O’Connell, who oversees ABC News, visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago, likely seeking to avoid further legal and regulatory challenges that could impact Disney’s wider business interests.
While the settlement resolves the immediate legal issue, it has sparked significant internal strife at ABC News, with one source labelling it “a sheer embarrassment” and yet another blow to staff morale following recent layoffs.
