Veteran CBS News journalist Scott Pelley was fired on Tuesday, a day after he publicly criticized his bosses during a staff meeting.
Pelley, a longtime correspondent for 60 Minutes, accused new management of destroying the revered news program.
>>> Hadestown Announces First UK and Ireland Tour Starting February 2027
Pelley's dismissal came after he told colleagues that new CBS News editor Bari Weiss was “murdering 60 Minutes.”
He claimed that Weiss, who has no broadcast TV experience, was brought in to dismantle the show. Pelley also questioned the qualifications of new executive producer Nick Bilton.
The staff applauded Pelley's remarks, but CBS leadership viewed them as insubordination. Pelley had worked at CBS for more than three decades.
Weiss's Tenure at CBS
Bari Weiss, founder of the anti-woke media site The Free Press, was appointed top editor of CBS News last fall.
Since then, several respected journalists have left the network, including Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Anderson Cooper also declined to renew his contract.
Weiss has been accused of meddling with editorial independence and pushing the news programming rightward.
In one incident, she pulled an investigation by Alfonsi into a Salvadoran prison before broadcast, citing concerns about corporate interests.
>>> Lena the Plug Files for Divorce From Adam22 in Los Angeles
The piece later aired with minor changes.
Pelley stated that new management instructed him to “inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story.” He did not provide further details.
Impact on 60 Minutes
Pelley's firing marks a significant loss for 60 Minutes, where he was the most prominent correspondent and the public face of the program.
Colleagues describe him as a beacon of integrity in journalism.
The departures of key talent and Pelley's dismissal have raised concerns about the future of the award-winning show.
Pelley, 68, is senior enough in his decorated career to speak out, but his firing sends a chilling message to other journalists.
>>> Ford Recalls Nearly 425,000 Vehicles Over Suspension and Seat Belt Defects
Donald Trump has praised CBS's new ownership, which includes tech scion David Ellison. Critics argue that the network is bowing to political pressure.
