CBS News has fired longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, one of the most recognizable figures in broadcast journalism, following a heated confrontation with the program’s new executive producer.
The dismissal occurred on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, just one day after Pelley clashed with Nick Bilton, whom CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss recently installed to lead the iconic newsmagazine. According to multiple reports, Pelley accused Weiss— a former New York Times opinion writer and founder of The Free Press with no prior television news experience—of “murdering” the storied program during an all-staff meeting. He also criticized Bilton’s qualifications and the recent wave of cuts that have ousted several veteran producers and correspondents.
In a termination letter sent that evening, Bilton cited Pelley’s “remarkable incivility and contempt” as grounds for immediate dismissal for cause.
Pelley, who joined CBS News in 1989 and served as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” before becoming a “60 Minutes” correspondent in 2004, had spent 37 years at the network. His exit marks the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the program since CBS’s 2025 merger with Skydance Media under David Ellison and Weiss’s appointment as editor-in-chief.
In his first interview since the firing, Pelley described the changes as a “massacre” and alleged editorial interference, including suggestions from Weiss to alter a segment about a fatal shooting by an ICE agent in a way that he said favored the Trump administration’s narrative. CBS News has denied any political bias, describing Weiss’s input as standard editorial process.
The shakeup has left “60 Minutes”—America’s top-rated news program—with just three correspondents: Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim. The remaining reporters issued a joint statement affirming they will stay with the show as it prepares for its 59th season.
Pelley’s ouster has sparked widespread discussion about the future of “60 Minutes” and the direction of CBS News under its new ownership. The veteran journalist has called for intervention to restore what he described as the program’s traditional values of independence and journalistic rigor.
CBS News has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Pelley.
SOURCES:
CBS News Fires Scott Pelley of ‘60 Minutes’ – The New York Times
Scott Pelley Accuses CBS News Boss of ‘Murdering’ ‘60 Minutes’ – The New York Times
Scott Pelley on the Bari Weiss Era and His Last Days at ‘60 Minutes’ – The New York Times
CBS News fires ‘60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley after clash with new producer
’60 Minutes’ in turmoil after longtime correspondent Scott Pelley is fired | PBS News
Scott Pelley fired from ‘60 Minutes’ after confrontation with new boss – The Washington Post
