Utah group files lawsuit against Mr. Wonderful, Fox News over data center 'smear campaign'
A group called Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, along with their founders, has filed a lawsuit against Kevin O'Leary (Mr. Wonderful) and Fox News. They allege that O'Leary launched a smear campaign, amplified by Fox News, accusing them of being Chinese Communist Party agents to discredit their opposition to his proposed data center in Box Elder County, Utah. The plaintiffs seek to hold O'Leary and Fox News accountable for damages to their reputations and businesses.
A lawsuit has been filed in Utah against television personality Kevin O'Leary, known as "Mr. Wonderful," and Fox News, alleging a "smear campaign" related to opposition to a proposed data center. The plaintiffs, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, along with their founders Joshua Kanter and Gabrielle Finlayson, filed the suit on Wednesday.
The lawsuit claims O'Leary accused data center opponents in Box Elder County of working for the Chinese government during a Fox News interview. The plaintiffs contend that these claims were part of a "coordinated public campaign" designed to silence criticism of the data center project and that Fox News amplified these accusations.
The plaintiffs assert that O'Leary's and Fox News' actions caused severe damage to their reputations, businesses, and inflicted emotional distress, exposing them to ongoing threats to their physical safety. They seek to hold O'Leary and Fox News accountable for this alleged campaign.