Kevin O'Leary and Fox News Sued for Defamation Over China Claims

Kevin O’Leary, a star of the television show Shark Tank, and Fox News are facing a defamation lawsuit after O’Leary claimed that opponents of his Utah data center project were affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. The lawsuit was filed by two Utah nonprofits, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies, along with their leaders, Joshua Kanter and Gabrielle Finlayson, who allege that O’Leary made these claims during at least 10 appearances on Fox News. The complaint, filed on July 15, 2026, states that O’Leary referred to the nonprofits and their leaders as “proxies of the Chinese government.” O’Leary later retracted his statements, admitting he had “no evidence” to support his claims. Fox News issued an on-air apology acknowledging the correction. Despite the retraction, the plaintiffs argue that the damage to their reputations has already occurred, as O’Leary’s segments remain available online. Fox News has stated that it will defend against the lawsuit. The proposed data center has faced significant opposition from local residents due to concerns about its environmental impact and resource consumption.