ABC News employees are expressing frustration over the network’s $15 million settlement with President-Elect Donald Trump in a defamation lawsuit. Trump had initially filed a $40 million lawsuit after George Stephanopoulos repeatedly claimed on air that Trump was liable for rape, a statement that was not true.
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ABC News talent and staff I’ve been talking to over the past few hours are stunned and furious about this settlement.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 15, 2024
Their anger primarily stems from the fact that they have faced repeated budget and compensation cuts in recent years, experienced layoffs, and yet the network —… https://t.co/m5RJCmR6Su
Considering how ABC News and its journalists have treated the President over the years, Trump supporters showed little sympathy for the network.
Commenters argue that ABC News has only itself to blame.
Perhaps they could try reporting news instead of libeling people with a small army of lawyers on retainer…
— BlimpCo Omniversal (@Blimp_Co2) December 15, 2024
Hahaha, j/k, those stupid bastards will never learn.
And just think, if they could find a way to tell the truth for a change, they wouldn't be in this position to begin with. Try journalism…for a change. Cheers.
— OutragedPickle! (@OutragedPickle) December 15, 2024
Staffers are dumb in addition to being very partisan then. Would’ve ended the company if the public could see their internal emails via deposition/discovery, on top of a massive jury verdict
— Gregg Re (@gregg_re) December 15, 2024
ABC News employees appear unaware of the potential consequences if the case had gone to trial. The network risked losing significantly more money in court.
Commenters provide the details.
Would they have preferred ABC spend $15 million defending the suit and then have to give Trump $100 million?
— The Original Kamala (@KamalaGrapple) December 15, 2024
Idiots.
You’re right. ABC should have gone to court and lost 200 million to Trump. That would have been the far better option.
— 5% NaCl (Salty) (@TwoRulesOfWar) December 15, 2024
Or, you know, they could choose not to defame a dude with an army of lawyers in retainer.
Imagine how stunned they'd be if it wasn't settled and went to court. This is the least expensive scenario by far.
— Lily Bart's Manacle (@an_artfuldodger) December 15, 2024
ABC News's budget is dwindling because it's on life support (like all network news).
Many commenters predict that ABC News and other legacy media outlets will continue to face setbacks.
Network news is dead. They’re lucky they have jobs even today. It’s coming to an end. They’re going to have far bigger things to complain about in the very near future once Disney, (like @wbd, is doing to @CNN and @comcast is doing to @MSNBC,) does to @ABC..
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) December 15, 2024
They’ll be owned by a…
ABC News talent and staff should learn coding.
— Albert Latham (@albert1776) December 15, 2024
And fast.
In October, ABC News faced layoffs affecting 75 employees at the network and several affiliate stations. The $15 million settlement paid by ABC News will be directed toward President Trump’s presidential library.
