Fox News issued an unusual on-air apology this week following claims made by “Shark Tank” star and prominent Trump supporter Kevin O’Leary during an appearance on the network, walking back comments he made about opponents of his controversial data center project in Utah.
The apology was flagged by media journalist Brian Stelter, who described it as “a rare on-air apology by Fox News” that appeared to come in response to legal threats from people O’Leary had attacked during his appearance.
According to journalist Acyn, who shared video of the on-air statement, O’Leary had appeared as a guest on the network and discussed the ongoing controversy surrounding his planned data center project in Utah, making claims about the opponents of the development.
In its apology, Fox said there was no evidence to support O’Leary’s claim that his opponents were working on behalf of China, distancing the network from the assertion.
The data center has drawn significant backlash. O’Leary has backed the development of a large-scale, 9-gigawatt facility on a 40,000-acre parcel of land in Utah, a project that has prompted outrage from local residents and state leaders. Critics, including scientists, have warned the natural-gas-powered facility near the Great Salt Lake could increase emissions, strain resources, and further damage an ecosystem already in decline.
The project has also made O’Leary a target for critics. Former “South Park” writer Toby Morton recently announced a billboard campaign aimed at the businessman, noting that he had purchased a domain matching O’Leary’s social media handle to use against him.
On-air apologies of this kind are uncommon for the network, making Fox’s decision to publicly disavow a guest’s claims a notable moment — and one Stelter tied directly to the prospect of legal exposure over the remarks.
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