Disney decided to extend ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos’ contract — despite having to reach a $16 million legal settlement — because they didn’t want “his blood on their hands,” The Post has learned has.

Stephanopoulos, who hosts “This Week” and co-hosts “Good Morning America,” was given a multi-year contract – although he took a pay cut from his hefty $20 million annual salary, according to sources.

“Nobody wants their talents mixed up,” a longtime network executive told The Post. “No one in the world wants to release an angry George Stephanopoulos. No one wants to humiliate George by firing him or have his blood on their hands.”

The well-connected former Democratic activist had been in talks with ABC News parent Disney, which is in cost-cutting mode, before the company made a shocking decision to settle with President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday, according to Deadline.

The Mouse House confirmed the extension on Wednesday.

“George is very popular with the liberal elite in Hollywood and the Hamptons. “He is friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Michael J. Fox and Netflix boss Ted Sarandos,” the source said, adding that he operates in the same “bubble” as the left-leaning Disney brass.

“George carefully cultivated a relationship with (Disney CEO) Bob Iger and the board members. He remains a respected member of the Disney family.”

But in the halls of ABC News, staffers remain “furious” over Iger’s decision to stand by Stephanopoulos and concede to Trump.

“They paid Trump for a mistake George made. “How many jobs could that $16 million have saved?” a second network source said, citing a new round of layoffs at the network.

“I think people are angry about the humiliation of the deal with Trump. “People are angry about George’s unforced errors and defiance and that he is being rewarded for his mistakes with another lucrative contract, even if his salary has been cut,” the first source said.

The source said that although the journalist is well respected by top managers, he is not a favorite among employees.

Sources said Stephanopoulos is a “loner” who doesn’t play well with others.

They noted that Stephanopoulos will not participate in election night coverage or go on air with “ABC World News Tonight” host David Muir.

“Most large anchors are larger than life. George has always been smaller than life. And this humiliating agreement has made it even smaller,” said the network executive.

As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was forced to apologize — leaving the journalist “apoplectic” and “humiliated,” The Post exclusively reported Tuesday in an article headlined “Furious George.”

According to a source, ABC News employees are now calling Stephanopoulos “Furious George” behind his back.

“George is embarrassed by the settlement and angry by the apology, but he values ​​money and status more than anything else,” the person said. “So he’ll take the paycheck and keep his mouth shut.

Stephanopoulos is fiercely ambitious and introverted and has an inner circle of loyalists, but his costly stubbornness has further alienated the journalist, a source close to the anchor said.

“He was just humiliated. The newsroom is angry at him for an unforced error,” the person added.

Stephanopolous has remained silent despite repeated requests from the Post this week for comment.

ABC News and Disney declined to comment.

The deal set aside $15 million for a presidential foundation and museum for Trump, and another $1 million for Trump’s legal fees.

Stephanopoulos caused legal headaches during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) in March. The “This Week” host said Trump was “responsible for rape” while discussing the civil lawsuit won by journalist E. Jean Carroll.

The Post exclusively reported Wednesday that Stephanopoulos was repeatedly warned by his producer not to use the word “rape.”

Disney’s chances of winning the lawsuit would be hurt if Stephanopoulos ignored his producer’s warnings, legal experts told The Post.

Iger signed the network’s agreement late Friday, hours after Florida Judge Cecilia Altonaga rejected a request to postpone the trial and ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to give hours of testimony just days before Christmas.

The judge also reportedly demanded that Disney release emails and text messages sent to and from Stephanopoulos by Sunday.

Disney’s top lawyer Horacio Gutierrez urged Iger to settle the lawsuit rather than risk a civil trial before a jury in the president-elect’s home state, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

According to the New York Times, Iger also feared that tackling the case “could jeopardize press protection and harm the Disney brand.”