Overview
- Two community groups and two organizers filed a federal defamation suit in July against Kevin O'Leary and Fox News, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for reputational and economic harm.
- The complaint says O'Leary named the critics on a May 11 Fox News interview and accused them of acting for China, statements he later retracted on June 25 and that Fox programs publicly corrected.
- Plaintiffs say the on‑air claims and subsequent social media spread triggered online harassment, conspiracy theories, and fundraising appeals that harmed their lives and organizations.
- O'Leary and Fox say they will vigorously defend the case, O'Leary's lawyer has signaled possible counterclaims, and both point to the network's published corrections as part of their defense.
- The suit grows out of local opposition to O'Leary's Stratos data‑center plan in Box Elder County and raises broader questions about how national media platforms and guests are held accountable for inflammatory claims.