During his appearance on The View, Geraldo Rivera discussed the low morale at Fox News due to the ongoing legal payments the network has been making. He mentioned the recent $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and the $12 million settlement with former producer Abby Grossberg, which have created an atmosphere of uncertainty at the network. The Dominion settlement is tied to Donald Trump’s false 2020 election claims.
Rivera stated that there is a period of fear at Fox News, with an atmosphere of retrenchment as the network tries to compensate for these significant settlements. He noted that the network is cutting back and firing employees, leading to concerns about job security for staff members, especially those in lower-level positions. Rivera expressed worry for the young and old staffers who may be affected by these changes.
Furthermore, Rivera commented on Ray Epps, who filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News for amplifying conspiracy theories about his involvement in the January 6th events at the Capitol. Rivera voiced his belief that Fox News deserved to be sued by Epps, as the network’s actions had forced him into hiding.
It just seems to me that there is a period, now, of fear at Fox. I believe that there is an atmosphere that because of the Dominion settlement, $787 million, and these other cases, the $12 million for the woman with her allegations, and they’re cutting back now.
They’re firing a lot of people, and I think the crush of that retrenchment as they try to make up for those huge settlements, paid, and to come. It’s the little guy and girl who are the object of the accountants’ wrath or let’s lose three of these jobs or five of those jobs. And I think that the journalists, you know — I think the high-profile journalists are fine. What happens to the staffers, young and old, I wonder, and I worry about them.
The discussion highlighted the challenges and consequences that Fox News is currently facing, both in terms of financial settlements and the impact on employee morale. These issues may continue to shape the network’s future and its relationship with its employees and viewers.
