CBS News terminated veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley following a reported dispute with new executive producer Nick Bilton. Bilton accused Pelley of disrupting a staff meeting and conveyed in a letter that Pelley’s negativity towards the show’s future was evident. Consequently, Pelley’s employment was terminated immediately.
The controversial meeting took place on Monday morning, where Pelley criticized CBS News head Bari Weiss and questioned Bilton’s qualifications for the role. Bilton had recently been appointed as the executive producer of 60 Minutes.
In response to his dismissal, Pelley expressed concern over the direction of 60 Minutes under new management, alleging pressure to include falsehoods and bias in his work. He also suggested that his firing was politically motivated.
Having joined CBS in 1989, Pelley held various roles within the network, including chief White House correspondent and evening news anchor before becoming a 60 Minutes correspondent in 2004.
Recent tensions within the show stem from Paramount’s settlement with Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview and subsequent changes following the acquisition of Paramount by SkyDance. Bari Weiss’s leadership decisions, including delaying a segment on deportees to El Salvador, have garnered criticism and led to clashes with 60 Minutes correspondents.
Notably, Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were recently released from the show, and Anderson Cooper announced his departure. Nick Bilton’s selection as executive producer, along with Weiss’s appointment, has raised eyebrows due to their unconventional backgrounds in news.
Amidst these developments, Trump’s appearances on 60 Minutes have reignited scrutiny over the show’s editorial decisions, with comparisons drawn to past editing controversies.
