CBS News dismissed longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday, escalating a growing conflict inside one of America’s most recognizable television news programs as management and staff continue to clash over the show’s direction.
The firing came just one day after Pelley reportedly launched a sharp criticism of network leadership during a staff meeting, accusing Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of undermining the program and questioning the qualifications of newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton.
According to a report from the Status website, which said it obtained a recording of the meeting, Pelley confronted Bilton during his first gathering with staff following a recent leadership shakeup. Bilton was installed as executive producer by Weiss last week after several high-profile personnel changes.
Pelley, 68, reportedly told colleagues that Weiss had been brought in to dismantle the institution that “60 Minutes” had become, claiming she was carrying out exactly that mission. Weiss was not present during the meeting.
A termination notice obtained by The Associated Press described the encounter in stark terms. In the letter, Bilton accused Pelley of orchestrating an “ambush” and using the meeting to attack both his credentials and intentions.
“Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt,” Bilton wrote.
Bilton, known primarily as a technology journalist and filmmaker, does not come from a traditional broadcast news background, a fact that became a focal point of Pelley’s criticism.
Following his dismissal, Pelley issued a statement arguing that “60 Minutes” had lost its core identity under its new leadership. He claimed management had attempted to push him toward incorporating “falsehoods and bias” into his reporting, though he did not provide specific examples to support the allegation.
The veteran correspondent also defended several recently departed colleagues. According to reports, he questioned Bilton about the firings of former executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
Alfonsi had previously criticized Weiss for delaying a segment concerning deportees sent to El Salvador’s CECOT prison as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
In his statement, Pelley praised those colleagues, saying they had stood for fairness against political bias. He also criticized CBS owner David Ellison, accusing him of abandoning the program’s long-standing reputation in an apparent effort to gain favor with the Trump administration.
Ellison has owned CBS since 2025 following the merger of Paramount and Skydance Media. He is widely viewed as an ally of President Trump.
Bilton’s dismissal letter rejected Pelley’s accusations and characterized his conduct as a “performative display of hostility.” The executive producer concluded that Pelley had demonstrated no interest in helping shape the program’s future.
The conflict comes during an uneasy period for CBS News. Since Weiss assumed control of the news division last October, the network has undergone significant changes that have generated both support and criticism.
Just days before Pelley’s firing, Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski circulated a memo outlining plans for a “new approach” designed to help “60 Minutes” evolve and remain successful in the modern media environment. Their vision could include expanding the program beyond its traditional one-hour television format.
For many observers, the dispute represents a broader struggle over the future of legacy journalism. Since its debut in 1968, “60 Minutes” has built a reputation for aggressive reporting and tough interviews. Pelley, who joined CBS in 1989 and later served as chief White House correspondent and anchor of “CBS Evening News,” argued that this tradition is now under threat.
With 51 Emmy Awards to his name, Pelley leaves behind a long career at CBS even as questions continue to swirl around the future direction of one of television’s most influential news programs.
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