CBS Fires Scott Pelley After On-Air Critic Blasts New Leadership
CBS News has abruptly terminated veteran anchor Scott Pelley following a heated internal clash over the network’s direction.
The move came hours after Pelley publicly criticized top brass during a 60 Minutes all-hands meeting. A subsequent closed-door session with new executive producer Nick Bilton, Bari Weiss, and HR failed to resolve differences, prompting an immediate “for cause” firing.
Pelley’s exit letter accused him of a “performative display of hostility,” refusing private talks, and questioning Bilton’s qualifications along with Weiss’s motives. The network cited recent staff cuts as part of broader changes.
Pelley, a CBS fixture since 1989, has not commented publicly. The “for cause” label sets up a likely fight over his contract and severance. The episode underscores deepening tensions inside one of America’s legacy news outlets as it navigates leadership overhaul and audience pressures.