Scott Pelley fired from "60 Minutes" following testy exchange
· Axios
Nick Bilton, the newly installed executive producer of "60 Minutes," has fired Scott Pelley after the veteran anchor assailed him in front of staff members during a meeting on Bilton's first day on the job.
Visit bettingx.bond for more information.
Why it matters: The leaked exchange showed how little confidence top talent has in the new management team at "60 Minutes" and CBS News.
- Pelley told Bilton he lacked relevant expertise and that Bilton's new boss Bari Weiss was "murdering" CBS News' flagship show.
Zoom in: In a termination letter, Bilton said he fired Pelley "for cause" after the confrontation.
- Bilton said he was disappointed the journalist chose to ambush him at his first meeting instead of have a conversation after he invited Pelley to dinner.
- "Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt," the note said.
- "Yesterday's performative display of hostility — enacted in front of the staff instead of in a civil, private conversation-demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show, or approaching my new tenure with a mind open to collaboration and progress."
Of note: Bilton had a conversation with Pelley Tuesday to sort out their differences.
- In a separate letter to staff, Bilton said during that meeting he "tried to find common ground," adding: "That was not the path Scott chose."
The big picture: The firing of Pelley adds to a growing list of veteran "60 Minutes" talent exiting the show following management and ownership changes.
- Last week, the network parted ways with longtime producer-turned-interim executive producer Tanya Simon, as well as correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
- Alfonsi, who clashed with Weiss over the delayed airing of one of her reports, railed against Weiss in her exit memo.
- Bill Owens, that show's former executive producer, resigned in April 2025, citing concerns about journalistic independence.
- Anderson Cooper resigned from "60 Minutes" after nearly two decades this year, citing the desire to spend more time with his family.
What to watch: The takeover of CBS by Paramount chair David Ellison, the son of billionaire Oracle co-founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, has news staffers at CNN on edge.
- Paramount has agreed to merge with CNN parent Warner Bros Discovery, but the deal is still awaiting regulatory approval before it can close.