Paying $15 million, apologizing, and throwing Stephanopoulos under the bus was the best option available for ABC which means the alternative must be worse.

Creatively and content-wise, Disney might be infected with the Woke Virus, but on a corporate level, they’re still a for-profit company. They exist in a capitalistic system — and in capitalism, people make deals out of their own self-interest. Paying the money and emasculating Stephanopoulos was better than the alternative.

The alternative was to undergo a lengthy discovery process.

Typically, actual malice requires intent — that the other party knew they were wrong, but proceeded anyway.

George Stephanopoulos isn’t a lawyer. So why didn’t Disney argue that poor, innocent George was confused about the legal terms? Or that he was using a “layman’s definition” instead of precise legalese?

That plus delaying tactics would make far more sense for an enormous corporation like Disney than throwing in the towel, neutering Stephanopoulos, and eating a ton of crappy PR.

Unless, of course, Trump’s lawyers were going to find (and leak) something during the discovery process that would be even more costly.

They rigged a presidential debate, fact-checking (falsely!) only one side
They “mistakenly” released early election results (showing that Kamala Harris won Pennsylvania)
They continue to promote anti-Trump diehards like Jimmy Kimmel and the nags on “The View”
And then they caved (to the tune of $15M) on this defamation case
Whatever Disney was trying to hide, it must’ve been not good. Bad enough, at least, that paying $15 million and issuing a groveling apology was the better option.

Makes you wonder. ABC threw in the towel a little too easily with this.