Exclusive | Disney renews George Stephanopoulos’ contract – with pay cut – despite Trump’s $16 million payout because he didn’t want ‘his blood on their hands’: source

Disney decided to renew ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos’ contract — despite having to settle a $16 million legal settlement — because they didn’t want “his blood on their hands,” The Post has learned.

Stephanopoulos, who hosts “This Week” and co-hosts “Good Morning America,” was handed a multiyear deal — though he took a cut from his top $20 million annual salary, sources said.

“Nobody wants a mess of talent on their hands,” one network executive told The Post. “No one wants an angry George Stephanopoulos on the loose in the world. Nobody wants to humiliate George by firing him or have his blood on their hands.”

The well-connected former Democratic operative had been in talks with ABC News parent Disney, which is in cost-cutting mode, before the company’s shock decision Saturday to settle with President-elect Donald Trump. according to Deadline.

The House of Mouse confirmed the extension on Wednesday.

“George is well-liked by the liberal elite in Hollywood and The Hamptons. He’s friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Michael J Fox and Netflix boss Ted Sarandos,” the source said, adding that he operates in the same “bubble” as Disney’s left-leaning Brazilian top.

“George has carefully cultivated a relationship with [Disney CEO] Bob Iger and board members. He remains a respected member of the Disney family.”

But inside the halls of ABC News, employees remain “ecstatic” about Iger’s decision to stand by Stephanopoulos and reach out to Trump.

“They paid Trump back for a mistake George made. How many jobs could that $16 million have saved?” said a second network source, citing a new round of layoffs at the network.

“I think people are outraged by the humiliation of the deal with Trump. “People are angry at George’s unforced errors and his defiance and that he is being rewarded for his mistakes with another lucrative contract even if his salary has been cut,” the first source said.

The source said that even if the journalist is well regarded by senior people, he is not a favorite among the staff.

Sources said Stephanopoulos is a “loner” who doesn’t play well with others.

They noted that Stephanopoulos will not participate in election night coverage or appear on air with “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir.

“Most large anchors are larger than life. George has always been smaller than life. And this humiliating solution has made him even smaller,” said the head of the network.

As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was forced to apologize — which left the reporter ‘apoplectic’ and ‘humiliated,’ The Post exclusively reported Tuesday in an article headlined, “Furious George.”

A source said ABC News staffers are now calling Stephanopoulos “frenzy George” behind his back.

“George is upset about the settlement and angry about the apology, but he values ​​money and status more than anything else,” the person said. “So he will get his salary and keep quiet.

Highly ambitious and introverted, Stephanopoulos has an inner circle of loyalists, but his expensive stubbornness has further alienated the journalist, a source close to the anchor said.

“He has just been humiliated. The news division is furious with him for an unforced error,” the person added.

Stephanopolous has remained mum despite multiple requests for comment from The Post this week.

ABC News and Disney declined to comment.

The settlement awarded $15 million to the Trump presidential foundation and museum and another $1 million for Trump’s attorney fees.

Stephanopoulos created the legal headache during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in March. The “This Week” host said Trump was “responsible for rape” while discussing the civil lawsuit won by journalist E. Jean Carroll.

The Post exclusively reported Wednesday that Stephanopoulos was repeatedly warned by his producer not to use the word “rape.”

Disney’s chances of winning the lawsuit would be hurt if Stephanopoulos ignored his producer’s warnings, legal experts told The Post.

Iger signed the network’s settlement late Friday — hours after Florida Judge Cecilia Altonaga denied a request to delay the case and ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for hours-long depositions just days before Christmas.

The judge also ordered Disney to turn over emails and text messages sent to and from Stephanopoulos by Sunday, according to reports.

Disney’s top lawyer, Horacio Gutierrez, asked Iger to settle the suit rather than risk a civil trial before a jury in the president-elect’s home state, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

Iger was also concerned that fighting the case could “risk undermining press protections” and “damage the Disney brand,” according to the New York Times.