Disney determined to resume ABC Information anchor George Stephanopoulos’ contract — regardless of having to fork over a $16 million authorized settlement — as a result of they didn’t need “his blood on their hands,” The Submit has discovered.
Stephanopoulos, who hosts “This Week” and is a co-anchor on “Good Morning America,” was handed a multi-year deal — although he took a pay minimize from his lofty $20 million annual wage, sources stated.
“No one wants a talent mess on their hands,” one longtime community government advised The Submit. “No one wants an angry George Stephanopoulos loose in the world. No one wants to humiliate George by firing him or to have his blood on their hands.”
The well-connected former Democratic operative had been in talks with ABC Information-parent Disney, which is in cost-cutting mode, earlier than the corporate’s stunning determination Saturday to settle with President-elect Donald Trump, in response to Deadline.
The Mouse Home confirmed the extension Wednesday.
“George is well-liked by the liberal-elite in Hollywood and The Hamptons. He’s friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Michael J Fox and Netflix boss Ted Sarandos,” the supply stated, including that he operates in the identical “bubble” as left-leaning Disney prime brass.
“George has carefully cultivated a relationship with [Disney CEO] Bob Iger and board members. He remains a respected member of the Disney family.”
However contained in the halls of ABC Information, staffers stay “livid” over Iger’s determination to face by Stephanopoulos and cave to Trump.
“They paid off Trump for a mistake that George made. How many jobs could that $16 million have saved?” stated a second community supply, citing a contemporary spherical of layoffs on the community.
“I think people are angry at the humiliation of the settlement with Trump. People are angry with George’s unforced errors and his defiance and that he’s rewarded for his mistakes with another lucrative contract even if his salary has been cut,” the primary supply stated.
The supply stated that even when the journalist is well-regarded by prime brass, he isn’t a favourite amongst staffers.
Sources stated Stephanopoulos is a “loner” who doesn’t play effectively with others.
They famous that Stephanopoulos gained’t participate in election night time protection or seem on air with “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir.
“Most nice anchors are bigger than life. George has all the time been smaller than life. And this humiliating settlement has made him even smaller,“ the community exec stated.
mess and determined to resume Stephanopoulos. Selection by way of Getty Pictures
As a part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was compelled to apologize — which made the journalist “apoplectic” and “humiliated,” The Submit completely reported Tuesday in an article headlined, “Furious George.”
A supply stated ABC Information workers at the moment are calling Stephanopoulos “Furious George” behind his again.
“George is mortified about the settlement and livid about the apology but he values money and status more than anything else,” the particular person stated. “So he’ll take the paycheck and shut up.
Fiercely bold and introverted, Stephanopoulos has an inner-circle of loyalists, however his expensive obstinance has alienated the journalist much more, a supply near the anchor stated.
“He has just been humiliated. The news division is furious at him for an unforced error,” the particular person added.
Stephanopolous has remained mum regardless of a number of requests for remark by The Submit this week.
ABC Information and Disney declined to remark.
The deal awarded $15 million to a presidential basis and museum for Trump and one other $1 million for Trump’s legal professional charges.
Stephanopoulos created the authorized headache throughout an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in March. The “This Week” host stated that Trump was “liable for rape” whereas discussing the civil lawsuit gained by journalist E. Jean Carroll.
The Submit completely reported on Wednesday that Stephanopoulos was repeatedly warned by his producer to not use the phrase “rape.”
Disney’s probabilities of profitable the lawsuit can be broken if Stephanopoulos ignored his producer’s warnings, authorized specialists advised The Submit.
Iger signed off on the community’s settlement late Friday — hours after Florida Choose Cecilia Altonaga rejected a request to delay the case and ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit down for hours-long depositions simply days earlier than Christmas.
The choose additionally demanded that Disney flip over emails and textual content messages despatched by and to Stephanopoulos by Sunday, in response to reviews.
Disney’s prime lawyer, Horacio Gutierrez, urged Iger to settle the swimsuit reasonably than danger a civil trial in entrance of a jury within the president-elect’s dwelling state, individuals aware of the matter advised the Wall Avenue Journal.
Iger additionally was anxious that combating the case might “risk damaging press protections” and “hurt the Disney brand,” in response to the New York Instances.
