Kevin O'Leary and Fox News sued for defamation over Chinese money claims

Published Jul 17, 07:00 AM UTC

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.