CBS News fires correspondent Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes

June 3, 2026

CBS News terminated veteran 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley following escalating conflicts with the show's new executive producer Nick Bilton. The dismissal stemmed from a confrontational staff meeting where Pelley allegedly criticized Bilton and new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, accusing them of lacking qualifications and damaging the program. Bilton accused Pelley of showing hostility from their first interactions and hijacking meetings with incivility, ultimately firing him for cause after determining reconciliation was impossible.

Who is affected

Scott Pelley (fired 60 Minutes anchor)
Nick Bilton (new executive producer of 60 Minutes)
Bari Weiss (new editor-in-chief of CBS News)
60 Minutes staff members
Tanya Simon (fired predecessor executive producer)
Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega (fired 60 Minutes correspondents)
CBS News organization
David Ellison (Paramount buyer and Trump ally)

What action is being taken

The organizational shakeup at CBS News is ongoing and tumultuous under new leadership. Bilton is leading 60 Minutes as executive producer, and Bari Weiss is leading changes as the newly installed editor-in-chief.

Why it matters

This situation represents a significant transformation of one of America's most iconic and established news programs under new ownership with political connections to President Trump. The rapid personnel changes and internal conflicts signal potential shifts in editorial direction and journalistic standards at a major network news organization, raising questions about media independence and the future integrity of investigative journalism at CBS.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC