CBS News Replaces Scott Pelley and Several 60 Minutes Veterans in Major Staff Overhaul

CBS News terminated correspondent Scott Pelley, who had served as managing editor and anchor of 60 Minutes. The 68-year-old journalist had worked at the network for 37 years, including 22 years as a correspondent. Pelley confronted network leadership during a June 2 meeting and accused editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of being brought in to kill 60 Minutes.

CBS laid off senior staff the day after Pelley and executive producer Tanya Simon won two Emmys. The cuts occurred on a day Pelley referred to as Black Thursday.

Those dismissed included Tanya Simon, correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, senior executive producer Draggan Mihailovich, veteran producer Guy Campanile, and staffer Matthew Polvoy. One-third of 60 Minutes correspondents were fired. Pelley said his colleagues had worked together 10, 20, 30 years.

"We travel together. We dine together. We go into literal combat together," he said. He described the layoffs as wiping out and murdering a large number of your family members and said it was like your spouse being murdered.

Pelley gave an exclusive interview to the New York Times published on Sunday and broke down in tears several times while describing the cuts. Tanya Simon was replaced by tech journalist Nick Bilton, who has no previous broadcast experience. Bari Weiss, who has no broadcast journalism experience, was appointed CBS News editor-in-chief in October by David Ellison.

Paramount purchased Weiss’s The Free Press last year. Pelley was sent a termination letter by Nick Bilton. The letter accused Pelley of hijacking his first meeting with staff on Wednesday. Pelley was informed he was fired later that evening via email.

Pelley posted a statement on Instagram on Saturday. He said he departs after 37 years at CBS with a heart brimming with gratitude for the men and women of CBS News. The most recent season of 60 Minutes under Tanya Simon saw ratings skyrocket, and the show’s online presence grew by 190 percent under her leadership.