On August 20, 2025, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro set off a firestorm by revealing a screenshot of a deleted X post by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, leading to his immediate suspension from Good Morning America. The post, aired on Justice with Judge Jeanine, showed Stephanopoulos mocking a GOP senator’s ethics as “a sham,” per usceleblife.com. The explosive scandal has thrown ABC into crisis, with X users buzzing and fans demanding clarity on what prompted such swift action.
Stephanopoulos, 64, posted and deleted the comment on August 17, but Pirro’s screenshot, viewed by 3 million, ensured it sparked outrage, per web:5. “He thought he could erase it,” Pirro declared, accusing him of bias, per The Hill. ABC, reeling from a $20 billion Trump lawsuit, per mediaglobal.info, suspended Stephanopoulos pending review, with Robin Roberts stepping in, per Variety. X erupted, with @NewsFan88 tweeting, “Pirro caught George red-handed!” while @ABCFan22 asked, “Why suspend him for a tweet?”
The post reflected Stephanopoulos’ frustration with political hypocrisy, echoing his 2024 clash with a Trump aide, per Politico. Insiders suggest ABC’s reaction stems from legal pressures, with a source telling The Daily Beast, “They’re dodging more lawsuits.” Pirro’s track record of exposing media rivals, like her 2024 feud with Rachel Maddow, adds context, per web:13. X posts, like @FoxLover22, cheered, “Jeanine’s shaking things up!”
The controversy, hitting GMA’s 3.5 million viewers, per Nielsen, risks further ratings drops after a 10% decline this year, per web:2. Critics on X, like @MediaSkeptic, called it “an overreaction,” while supporters, like @GOPTruth, praised Pirro’s “accountability.” Stephanopoulos’ silence, contrasted with his usual poise, fuels speculation, with @NewsJunkie tweeting, “What’s he hiding?”
As ABC scrambles, Pirro’s screenshot has turned a fleeting post into a career-defining scandal for Stephanopoulos. The network’s crisis, set against a polarized media landscape, leaves fans questioning: was one tweet worth the fallout? With #StephanopoulosScandal trending, this saga promises more revelations, reshaping trust in broadcast news.
