CBS News has terminated the contract of "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley, according to two sources at the network. Pelley, a veteran journalist and longtime correspondent for the program who previously served as "CBS Evening News" anchor, was fired on Tuesday evening following a confrontation with new leadership at the program.
The termination came one day after Pelley had a tense exchange with new "60 Minutes" leadership, according to CBS News. The Straits Times reported that Pelley's termination came amid media reports that he accused CBS News' editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of "murdering" 60 Minutes.
Sources provide differing accounts of who was involved in the confrontation. The Washington Examiner reported that the clash was with CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss over new leadership at 60 Minutes. Financial Times also characterized the firing as escalating a confrontation between the newsroom and editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
Newsmax reported that the confrontation was with new "60 Minutes" Executive Producer Nick Bilton and centered on growing tensions over the show's direction. Deadline reported that Pelley was fired following a verbal confrontation with the show's new executive producer in which the veteran correspondent criticized the new leadership. CBS News reported that Pelley had a tense exchange with the new "60 Minutes" executive producer.
According to Variety, CBS News terminated Pelley's contract after the journalist and executives felt they could not find a way to work together following a heated exchange. The outlet noted that the departure leaves "three" remaining figures at the program.
Left-leaning sources emphasized the broader context of turmoil at CBS News. The Independent described the situation as deepening turmoil at CBS News. Daily Maverick, citing Reuters, noted that Pelley's departure joins more than half a dozen departures at the network in recent weeks.
Right-leaning sources focused on the nature of the confrontation. The Washington Examiner reported that Pelley had a confrontation with CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and stated that he accused her of "murdering" 60 Minutes. Newsmax characterized the clash as being with new "60 Minutes" Executive Producer Nick Bilton over growing tensions about the show's direction.
Pelley had been with "60 Minutes" as a correspondent and previously served as anchor of the "CBS Evening News." The circumstances of his termination have drawn attention to tensions between the newsroom and new leadership at the program.
As of Tuesday, June 2, Pelley's termination has been confirmed by two sources at the network, according to Daily Maverick. The specific details of the confrontation that preceded his firing remain subject to varying accounts across media reports, with some sources naming Bari Weiss as the party involved and others naming Nick Bilton as the new executive producer involved in the clash.
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