Fox News apologizes after Kevin O’Leary makes claims related to his AI data center
Fox News issued apologies for unfounded claims by Kevin O'Leary, who accused critics of his Utah AI data center project of being funded by China. The "Stratos Project" in rural Utah faces significant local opposition due to its massive 9-gigawatt power demand and potential environmental impact on the Great Salt Lake. O'Leary defends the project as a vital national defense asset, but local lawmakers and conservationists continue to challenge it.
Fox News aired multiple on-air retractions and apologies after businessman Kevin O'Leary, known from Shark Tank, made unsubstantiated allegations on the network. O'Leary had claimed that local opponents of his "Stratos Project" AI data center development in rural Utah were funded by the Chinese government or Communist Party. During a 45-second segment on The Big Weekend Show, host Johnny Joey Jones stated that O'Leary had corrected his initial comments and that neither O'Leary nor the network had found any evidence to support the claims, concluding with an apology from Fox News Media.
The "Stratos Project," dubbed "Wonder Valley," is a proposed 10,000-acre data center on 40,000 acres of unincorporated land near the Great Salt Lake. The project has drawn considerable controversy due to its projected 9-gigawatt power demand, which exceeds Utah's current energy usage, and concerns about its environmental impact on the shrinking Great Salt Lake. Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams reportedly demanded a 75 percent reduction in the campus size and stricter environmental commitments, although O'Leary's team offered only a 50 percent reduction. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club's Utah chapter, have voiced strong opposition, particularly regarding the facility's immense resource consumption during an ongoing water crisis.
O'Leary has consistently defended the development as a critical national defense asset, essential for maintaining the U.S.'s technological advantage over foreign adversaries. However, local opposition persists, with community groups continuing to mount legal and political challenges to halt the project. The Independent reached out to O'Leary's booking agent and Fox News for further comment on the matter.