George Stephanopoulos ‘miserable’ after ABC’s $16M settlement with Trump as network insiders claim ‘he’s a dead man walking’
Longtime ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is said to be ‘miserable’ at the network after it paid President Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his remarks about the president.
Stephanopoulos erroneously claimed on-air that the president-elect was found ‘liable for rape’ – rather than the correct phrasing of sexual abuse – against writer E. Jean Carroll in March.
Trump sued Stephanopoulos and the network for defamation soon after the segment aired, accusing the anchor of making the statements with ‘malice’ and a disregard for the truth.
As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was forced to issue a public apology.
He has since isolated himself at the network, insiders told the New York Post, with some suggesting he may be out of a job by the summer.
‘George seems miserable,’ one source said.
‘He’s definitely gone. He’s a dead man walking for sure.’
Others, though, said Stephanopoulos could remain at the network in a lower-profile way, possibly working on film and television projects.
Longtime ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is said to be ‘miserable’ at the network after it paid President Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his remarks about the president
Still, another source denied the claims that Stephanopoulos is on his way out.
‘This is nonsense,’ the unidentified source told the New York Post. ‘Anyone watching GMA can see he’s engaged, all-in and as committed as ever.
‘He’s happy to be here.’
In fact, the former Bill Clinton aide has already signed a multi-year contract extension with the Disney-owned network.
He was reportedly paid $20 million a year in his current contract for hosting Good Morning America and Sunday news staple This Week, as well as producing documentaries.
But sources have said the new contract comes with a pay cut from his $20-25 million-per-year and the possibility that eventually his role will be reduced.
They also noted that a contract renewal is not necessarily an impediment to ousting Stephanopoulos, who has been with the network since 1997.
‘It’s the Disney way,’ a longtime former Disney executive said.
‘Thy re-sign your contract, then they move you out.’
Stephanopoulos erroneously claimed on-air that the president-elect was found ‘liable for rape’ – rather than the correct phrasing of sexual abuse – against writer E. Jean Carroll in March
Network executives have apparently been upset with Stephanopoulos since the interview with Republican Rep. Nancy Mace.
Legal experts have claimed that Stephanopoulos ignored multiple network warnings not to say ‘rape’ on-air, which likely hurt their ability to fight back against Trump’s lawsuit.
In the segment, Stephanopoulos pressed the South Carolina representative about why she endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential election, after he was found liable of sexual abuse in a May 2023 civil case.
‘I’m asking you a question, about why you endorse someone who’s been found liable for rape?’ Stephanopoulos asked.
Mace, who has seen her stock rise since Trump’s election, accused the anchor of trying to shame her by bringing up the case.
The congresswoman went on: ‘As a rape victim, who’s been shamed for years now because of her rape. You’re trying to shame me again.’
Mace was raped when she was 16 years old and says it is what drives her to be an advocate for women’s issues.
”I have endorsed a man that I believe is best for our country. It’s not Joe Biden.’
Among the names now being floated for his coveted anchor spot are GMA Weekend anchor Gio Benitez and ABC News correspondent Will Reve
Stephanopoulos was initially defiant of the lawsuit, telling Stephen Colbert that he wouldn’t be ‘cowed out of doing my job because of a threat’.
He added: ‘Trump sued me because I used the word ‘rape,’ even though a judge said that’s in fact what did happen. We filed a motion to dismiss.’
Among the names now being floated for his coveted anchor spot are GMA Weekend anchor Gio Benitez.
Some sources suggested Robin Roberts could use her influence at the network to push Benitez for Stephanopoulos’ job.
‘Everybody thinks Gio could be the new George,’ one insider said. ‘He’s in with the in-crowd.’
Another name that has been floated is Will Reeve, an ABC News correspondent, who is the son of Superman actor Christopher Reeve.
‘If you could put Superman on GMA wouldn’t you?’ a network insider said.
Other options include hiring NBC’s Willie Geist, or ABC News could wind up just sticking with Roberts and Strahan for their slumping morning show, which has been trailing NBC’s Today Show since the fall.
Meanwhile, Trump is also suing CBS News for $20 billion in damages alleging the network practiced ‘deceptive conduct’ when they interviewed former Vice President Kamala Harris in October
Meanwhile, Trump is also suing CBS News for $20 billion in damages alleging the network practiced ‘deceptive conduct’ when they interviewed former Vice President Kamala Harris in October.
Lawyers for the president claimed numerous violations by the broadcaster including lying in a thoughtful and malevolent way, according to a lawsuit.
They wrote the complaint is because of ‘CBS’ partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference through malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion calculated to confuse, deceive, and mislead the public.’
Trump and his team also allege that CBS News was trying to run cover for Democrats by making Kamala Harris’ performance look better than it was.
A new filing includes multiple excerpts from Harris’ unedited interview, arguing they prove CBS News cut out unflattering remarks to help the Democratic nominee in the election.
‘Once Defendants finally released the unedited version of the Interview, it became apparent that they had engaged in gross broadcast distortion cover-up,’ the lawsuit alleges.
The unearthed version released last week by the FCC showed that CBS only aired 20 minutes of Harris talking, compared to the 60 minutes that were filmed.
