George Stephanopoulos was repeatedly told by executive producers to “not use the word rape” before discussing Donald Trump on air, but the ABC News anchor ignored the warnings and added the word rape. The decision cost the station $16 million, the Post reported.
Parent company Disney's surrender last week in President Trump's defamation lawsuit against ABC News and Stephanopoulos shocked the media and legal experts, but this damning revelation is why Mouse House CEO Bob Iger may help explain why they agreed to a settlement so quickly.
The “This Week” host discussed a civil lawsuit won by journalist E. Jean Carroll during an interview with Republican Rep. Nancy Mace in March and said Trump was “responsible for rape.” did.
He “raped” and slandered former President Donald Trump before the broadcast.
officials said. GC images
“The producers of 'This Week' said to me, 'Don't use the word rape,' before the segment started,” a network source told the Post. “EP [executive producer] I've said it many times. ”
Another source on the show confirmed that Stephanopoulos was warned “not to mention rape” in text messages seen by the Post.
Legal experts told the paper that Disney's chances of winning the case would be hurt if Stephanopoulos ignored the producers' warnings.
When dealing with the subject of litigation, a company's legal team often speaks with producers in advance to advise on language to avoid litigation, which is common practice in the media industry.
However, it is unclear whether ABC's legal team was involved before Stephanopoulos was aired.
ABC News declined to comment. Representatives for Disney and Stephanopoulos did not respond to requests for comment.
The New York Times reported that Iger agreed late Friday, hours after Florida Judge Cecilia Altonaga denied a request to postpone the case and ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to take several hours of depositions. The New York Times reported that he agreed. reported Wednesday.
The judge also required Disney to hand over emails and text messages sent and received to and from Stephanopoulos by Sunday, and the paper said that if the damning text messages surfaced, they would cause a stir in the media world. There was a possibility that a big name might reach out.
Horacio Gutierrez, Disney's top lawyer, urged Iger to settle the case rather than risk a civil trial in front of a jury in the president-elect's home state. A person familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
Iger was also concerned that filing a lawsuit “risks undermining protections for the press” and could “damage Disney's brand,” the newspaper said.
If Disney had an unfavorable outcome in the Florida District Court, the company was concerned about the repercussions of a possible appeal to the Supreme Court, given the current 6-3 right-wing majority.
According to the newspaper, Disney could appeal an unfavorable ruling to the Supreme Court, which would overturn New York Times v. Sullivan, the landmark 1964 decision that granted news organizations full protection against defamation lawsuits. He was concerned that the risk of being exposed to the virus would increase.
The people also told the Post that one factor influencing Mr. Iger's thinking was that he did not want to litigate his company's flagship television assets ahead of a potential sale.
The deal gave Trump's foundation and museum $15 million, plus $1 million for Trump's legal fees.
As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was forced to apologize for “stunning” and “humiliating” a reporter with an article headlined “Furious George,” the Post exclusively reported Tuesday.
ABC News employees now refer to Mr. Stephanopoulos as “Furious George” behind his back, the people said. They also question how the star anchor will be able to cover the incoming Trump administration.
“Everyone seems to be asking that question except the brass at ABC,” the source said.
Trump first filed the lawsuit in March.
A few days later, the anchor appeared on CBS's “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and said that based on comments made by the judge in the New York case, “rape” was the appropriate word to use. He reasserted his claim.
“I'm not going to let threats deter me from doing my job,” Stephanopoulos said of Trump's lawsuit.
Trump has denied all wrongdoing towards Carroll, but last year a New York court ruled that he abused her at a department store in 1996 and later defamed her with statements denying the allegations. , found him responsible for the sexual abuse.
