ABC News is looking to keep both Donald Trump and George Stephanopoulos happy after paying Trump a $16 million settlement over their star anchor’s comments about the president-elect.
The ex-Bill Clinton aide has reportedly signed a multi-year contract extension with the network, according to the LA Times.
Stephanopoulos 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.
It comes after the 63-year-old ABC stalwart’s on-air words have cost the Disney-owned network $16 million.
Stephanopoulos, who became a target of Trump’s ire over the summer and was referred to as ‘Slopadopoulos,’ was the impetus behind a lawsuit after he said that the president-elect was ‘liable for rape’ against writer E. Jean Carroll in an interview with Congresswoman Nancy Mace in March.
It stipulates that the network will pay $15 million as a charitable contribution towards Trump’s presidential library. They will also pay his legal fees as part of the settlement, which have totaled $1 million.
ABC also has to post a note on its website expressing regret over the claim in a March 10 segment on “This Week” made by Stephanopoulos.
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