Quote:
Fast forward to 2024, and George Stephanopoulos is now the face of ABC News and one of the highest-paid anchors on TV, making up to $18 million per year. And inside Disney's C-suites on the Burbank lot, there was a feeling of dj vu thanks to a looming defamation lawsuit filed in March by former and incoming President Donald Trump, a far more powerful and strident adversary than a South Dakota food processor. But a protracted fight with the president elect were similarly unpredictable and potentially devastating.
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In a move that floored ABC News' rank-and-file journalists inside the network and in the broader journalistic community, Disney CEO Bob Iger authorized a $15 million settlement and an additional $1 million to cover Trump's legal fees as well as a quasi-apology on Dec. 13. According to sources, Stephanopoulos was blindsided, unaware that Disney would back down in such a public manner until a few hours before the news broke. (Disney and Stephanopoulos declined comment.)
Sounds to me as if Georgie is on his way out.Quote:
But with Stephanopoulos' current deal up in early 2025, insiders at ABC aren't sure if he will stay at the network given the recent turn of events. Sources say Stephanopoulos has been vocal about how unhappy he has been with the settlement and apology. For ABC, the economics of paying an anchor $18 million a year may not make sense as "GMA" isn't the advertising cash cow it once was. (Hoda Kotb recently announced her departure as a full-time anchor on "Today" after NBC tried to slash her salary.)
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