Fox News Apologizes for O'Leary's China Data Center Claim

Fox News host Johnny Joey Jones read out an apology on the channel's air after Kevin O'Leary said during an appearance that opponents of his Utah data center were proxies for the Chinese government.

O'Leary made the claim while discussing his planned data center project in Utah, which has faced local opposition. The "Shark Tank" investor suggested that critics of the development were acting on behalf of Chinese interests.

Jones, who hosts "Fox & Friends Weekend," delivered the apology during a subsequent broadcast. He said the network had reviewed O'Leary's comments and found no evidence to support the allegation.

"We apologize for allowing those statements to air," Jones said. "They were inaccurate and we regret the error."

The apology came after local officials and community members in Utah pushed back against O'Leary's characterization of their opposition. The data center project has been a subject of debate over land use and environmental concerns, not foreign influence, according to those involved.

O'Leary has not publicly commented on the apology. His representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fox News did not disclose whether it would change its guest vetting or fact-checking procedures following the incident. The network has faced similar issues in the past with unsubstantiated claims made by guests during live or pre-recorded segments.