CBS News has terminated “60 Minutes” veteran Scott Pelley after a public clash with Nick Bilton, the former tech journalist recently installed by editorial chief Bari Weiss. The decision leaves the long-running newsmagazine with just three remaining correspondents — Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim — as it prepares stories for its 59th season this fall.
Pelley’s departure follows months of upheaval at “60 Minutes” and comes after a heated staff meeting on Monday in which he sharply criticized Bilton and Weiss, questioning their ability to oversee a program widely regarded as one of the most respected and watched news shows in the United States. Pelley also accused Weiss of “murdering ’60 Minutes,’” reflecting the depth of internal conflict over the program’s direction.
In a letter reviewed by Variety, Bilton informed Pelley on Tuesday evening that his employment was terminated effective immediately, saying Pelley’s “antipathy to the future of the show” had become clear. Pelley could not be reached for comment.
Weiss, who has pushed for the show to “reach new heights” through investigative journalism that holds powerful institutions accountable, has overseen significant turnover at CBS News. Last week, the company removed several senior “60 Minutes” staff members, including executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Anderson Cooper, who had contributed to the program for nearly two decades, announced his exit in February.
In a memo to staff, Bilton said he had tried repeatedly to speak directly with Pelley over the weekend and on Tuesday afternoon in an effort to find common ground, but those efforts failed. He told employees he would provide strong support for the newsroom and the journalism they produce going forward.
Pelley has been a central figure at “60 Minutes” for years, delivering reports on breaking political events, profiles and long-form investigations. Among his notable work was a three-part 2021 feature on firefighters who tried to rescue people in the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 attacks, using tapes of Port Authority conversations. Since joining “60 Minutes” in 2004, Pelley has won a large share of the program’s major awards.
Jeff Fager, a former executive producer of “60 Minutes” and former chairman of CBS News, called Pelley a major talent and said his departure would be a significant loss for the program. Pelley also anchored the “CBS Evening News” from 2011 to 2017 and joined CBS News in 1989 after beginning his journalism career in Texas.
The shake-up leaves uncertainty over how CBS will reshape “60 Minutes” and whether its remaining team can preserve the program’s legacy while adapting to new leadership.
