Kevin O'Leary and Fox News Sued for Defamation Over False CCP Claims
Kevin O'Leary and Fox News face a defamation lawsuit from Utah political groups Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, along with their founders. The suit, filed in Utah federal court, alleges O'Leary falsely accused them of being Chinese Communist Party-backed agents opposing his Stratos data center project. Plaintiffs claim reputational harm, economic losses, and safety threats. O'Leary later admitted no evidence, and Fox News says it corrected the record. The case highlights tensions over data center development in Utah.
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Kevin O'Leary sued for claiming Utah data center opponents were funded by Chinese money
Kevin O'Leary, the Shark Tank investor, is being sued by two Utah residents—Gabi Finlayson and Josh Kanter—after he alleged on Fox News that their opposition to his proposed 40,000-acre AI data center in Utah was funded by the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party. The lawsuit, filed against O'Leary and Fox News, claims the plaintiffs suffered devastating reputational harm, economic losses, emotional distress, and physical threats. O'Leary later issued a social media retraction stating he had no evidence for the claims, but his attorney said he would fight the lawsuit. Fox News stated it corrected the record on all programs where the comments were made and will vigorously defend itself. The plaintiffs seek damages to be determined at trial.
Kevin O'Leary and Fox News Sued for Defamation Over Chinese Money Claims
Two Utah-based political organizations, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, along with their founders Joshua Kanter and Gabrielle Finlayson, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary and Fox News. The suit, filed in Utah Federal District Court, alleges O'Leary falsely accused the groups of being linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during at least 10 media appearances in May and June, causing 'devastating reputational harm, significant economic losses, severe emotional distress, and ongoing threats to their physical safety.' O'Leary had claimed opposition to his proposed Utah data center was fueled by Chinese money and bot-written comments. O'Leary's attorney dismissed the lawsuit as a 'cash grab,' while Fox News stated it publicly corrected the record. O'Leary later clarified on Instagram that he had no evidence of CCP funding for the groups. The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages.
Kevin O'Leary and Fox News Sued for Defamation Over Chinese Money Claims
Kevin O'Leary, star of Shark Tank, and Fox News are being sued for defamation by two Utah-based political organizations, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, along with their founders. The lawsuit, filed in Utah Federal District Court, alleges O'Leary falsely accused the groups of being linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during multiple media appearances in May and June, claiming they organized bot-written opposition to his proposed data center in Utah. The plaintiffs argue O'Leary's comments caused devastating reputational harm, economic losses, emotional distress, and physical safety threats. O'Leary's attorney dismissed the suit as a 'cash grab' and welcomed discovery. Fox News stated it publicly corrected the record on every program where O'Leary's comments aired. O'Leary later clarified on Instagram that he had no evidence of CCP funding for the groups, but the plaintiffs say this came only after a legal demand and failed to address the harm.
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Kevin O'Leary and Fox News Sued Over Allegedly False Statements About Data Center Opposition Funding
A group opposing data center construction in Utah, including Alliance for a Better Utah, Elevate Strategies, and individuals Gabrielle Finlayson, Taylor Knuth, and Josh Kanter, has filed a lawsuit against Fox News and businessman Kevin O'Leary. The suit alleges that O'Leary made false statements on Fox News regarding the group's funding sources. The plaintiffs claim the network and pundit aired inaccurate information about their financial backing, potentially damaging their reputation and credibility. The case highlights ongoing tensions over data center development in Utah and the role of media in shaping public perception of local opposition groups.
Kevin O'Leary and Fox News Sued for Defamation Over False CCP Agent Claims
Kevin O'Leary, star of 'Shark Tank,' and Fox News are being sued for defamation by Alliance for a Better Utah, Elevate Strategies, and their founders. The lawsuit, filed in Utah federal court, alleges O'Leary falsely accused the groups and individuals of being foreign agents backed by the Chinese Communist Party during at least 10 media appearances between May 11 and June 3. The accusations targeted critics of O'Leary's Stratos data center project in Box Elder County, Utah. Plaintiffs claim severe reputational damage and economic harm, including lost clients. Fox News stated it will vigorously defend and noted it publicly corrected the record. O'Leary later posted on Instagram that he had no evidence of Chinese funding. The Stratos project, a massive hyperscale data center, has faced local opposition over water use, air quality, and approval processes, leading to a separate lawsuit and a governor's executive order tightening data center regulations.