CBS reportedly fired veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday, June 2. This comes a day after Pelley slammed editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and criticized her leadership and working style. Notably, Pelley is the fourth correspondent to leave 60 Minutes since February. His departure comes amid a controversial new era for CBS following Skydance Media’s acquisition of Paramount Global in October.
Scott Pelley gets fired from CBS News amid his criticism of new leadership
CBS reportedly axed long-time 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley after his sharp criticism of the network’s leadership in an explosive staff meeting on Monday. During the meeting, Pelley accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” 60 Minutes. The 68-year-old correspondent claimed that Weiss was “brought in to kill it and is doing exactly that.”
Not only that, but Pelley also slammed newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton. Pelley told Bilton that he had “slender” qualifications for the job and that he would “never be welcome here.” The meeting ended quickly, leading Bilton to walk out (via The New York Post and Entertainment Weekly).
Notably, before Pelley’s departure, Tanya Simon and Draggan Mihailovich were also fired from the network. Correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi, as well as Anderson Cooper, also exited CBS.
Bilton penned in a letter to Pelley, “Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you. I therefore write on behalf of CBS News to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated effective immediately.”
Bilton accused Pelley of having “hijacked” the meeting in order to “disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt.” He hoped that the two could resolve their issues and work toward improving 60 Minutes. Unfortunately, Pelley was not in favor of that.
For those unversed, Pelley joined CBS News in 1989 and has served as a 60 Minutes correspondent since 2004. He has been one of the network’s most popular and recognizable faces.
Shortly after his firing, Pelley shared with The New York Times that he still cared deeply about 60 Minutes. CBS, on the other hand, refused to comment on the matter.
