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CBS Fires Scott Pelley After He Accused New Leadership of 'Murdering' 60 Minutes
Nick Bilton, the new executive producer, sent a memo to staff after CBS dismissed longtime correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday.
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CBS fired longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday after he questioned the qualifications of new executive producer Nick Bilton and CBS News top editor Bari Weiss during an all-hands meeting. Bilton sent a memo titled "Looking forward" to 60 Minutes staff on Thursday.
" Bilton said he had spent time in conversation with many staffers and consulted with correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim.
Pelley confronted Bilton on Monday during Bilton's first all-hands meeting. According to audio obtained by Status and The New York Times, Pelley said Weiss was "murdering" the 60 Minutes program. " Weiss told CBS News staffers in an editorial meeting Wednesday morning that the network "had to part ways" with Pelley.
Bilton announced that Maria Gavrilovic has been named senior producer. " CBS also let go of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Anderson Cooper left 60 Minutes earlier. Only three full-time correspondents remain: Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim.
Pelley, Alfonsi, and Vega described clashes with CBS News leadership over editorial integrity and the network's direction in statements after their exits. Bilton had not worked in TV news before taking the 60 Minutes role. The program has been on air for 58 years, and Season 59 is beginning.
