Veteran correspondent Scott Pelley is out at CBS News after a heated confrontation with network leadership that ended his long career at the network.
CBS fired Pelley on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, one day after he lashed out during an all-staff meeting for the iconic program “60 Minutes.”
According to multiple people familiar with the meeting, Pelley directly attacked new executive producer Nick Bilton and Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.
“She is murdering ‘60 Minutes,’” Pelley said of Weiss. “She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it, and she’s been doing exactly that.”
Scott Pelley’s CBS Career Ends After Heated Internal Confrontation
He also questioned Bilton’s fitness for the top job, telling him he had “slender qualifications” because he lacked experience in linear television. The remarks stunned many in the room and quickly reached top executives.
Weiss demanded that Pelley apologize and accused him of creating a hostile work environment, sources said.
When he refused, CBS moved to terminate him. The network confirmed the departure but declined to comment further on the internal dispute.
Pelley, 67, had been with CBS News since 1989. He joined “60 Minutes” as a correspondent in 2004 and served as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” from 2011 to 2017.
Known for his serious delivery and tough reporting, he built a reputation as one of the most respected journalists in broadcast news.
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His exit constitutes a dramatic end to more than three decades at the network. In recent years, Pelley had grown more vocal about decisions made by CBS leadership and its parent company, Paramount.
Colleagues described him as frustrated with changes he believed were weakening the quality and independence of “60 Minutes.”
The clashes come as the network tries to reshape the program. Bari Weiss, a former New York Times writer known for her pointed opinions and criticism of mainstream media, took on the role of Editor-in-Chief earlier this year.
Her arrival signaled a shift toward a more opinion-driven or combative style at the network.
Nick Bilton, a technology writer and podcaster, was named executive producer despite limited experience producing traditional television news.
Staff members said the changes have already led to several longtime producers being pushed out.
Some insiders worry the network is trying to modernize “60 Minutes” for younger audiences and digital channels, even if it means losing institutional knowledge.
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Pelley’s supporters see his firing as the latest sign that old-school journalism is under threat.
“60 Minutes” has actually seen ratings increases in recent months, bucking wider trends of declining viewership for network news.
Yet internal tensions have grown as the show navigates strain from both advertisers and shifting audience habits.
Pelley is the latest high-profile departure from CBS. The network has undergone several rounds of layoffs and restructuring since Paramount began experiencing financial difficulties.
Pelley’s departure closes a long chapter within American television news. He covered everything from wars in the Middle East to presidential elections and major disasters.
His reporting on the September 11 attacks and the financial crisis earned widespread praise.
His surprising firing went viral on social media, sparking mixed reactions, with some praising Pelley for speaking up.
Others said it was time for new voices at the network. The story dominated conversations among journalists and media watchers across the country.
CBS now faces a difficult balancing act: modernizing without losing the credibility “60 Minutes” has spent decades building.
