Kevin O’Leary and Fox News Face Defamation Suit Over China Allegations

By Priya Anand

Kevin O’Leary, known for his role on “Shark Tank,” and Fox News are facing a defamation lawsuit filed by two Utah-based nonprofits, Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies. The lawsuit, filed on July 15, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Utah, accuses O’Leary and Fox News of conducting a smear campaign by falsely alleging the groups have ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

The plaintiffs argue that these claims have resulted in severe reputational damage, economic losses, and threats to their safety. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

The controversy stems from O’Leary's media appearances between May 11 and June 3, where he described the nonprofits as “cells” of the Chinese Communist Party, despite lacking evidence to support these assertions. O’Leary later admitted on Instagram that he had no evidence of Chinese funding for the groups.

Fox News has issued on-air corrections and apologies, acknowledging the lack of evidence for the claims and has corrected the record on all programs where O’Leary's comments were aired.

The dispute is linked to O’Leary's involvement in the Stratos Project, a proposed data center in Box Elder County, Utah, which has faced opposition due to environmental concerns.