Scott Pelley's 50-year career at CBS ended on Tuesday. The 60 Minutes correspondent was fired hours after a fiery confrontation with new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, Rolling Stone reported.
During an all-hands meeting on Monday, Pelley accused Weiss of "murdering" the iconic Sunday evening show. He called the firing of four senior colleagues "cruel" and branded the day "Black Thursday." The 76-year-old correspondent did not restrain his criticism.
Weiss responded at a Wednesday newsroom meeting by saying a "foundation of trust had been broken" and there was "no way back," according to the New York Times. Pelley's outburst had sealed his fate.
Pelley disputed the account. He claimed Weiss was lying about their conversation and accused CBS leadership of "instruct[ing]" him to "inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story." He also said he was pressured to "include assertions that are unverified."
The turmoil extends beyond Pelley. Weiss, who became CBS News editor-in-chief last October after founding The Free Press independent media company, had already fired a slate of trusted correspondents and producers the previous week. She also hired tech journalist Nick Bilton as executive producer of 60 Minutes, a move that drew immediate objections from Pelley and other staff members.
Weiss was appointed by David Ellison, son of tech billionaire Larry Ellison, following the Paramount acquisition. Her appointment drew criticism given her background as a New York Times opinion writer and the ideological direction of her media company.
With three longtime correspondents dismissed in one week, the future of 60 Minutes—a program that has won over 150 Emmys since 1968—is uncertain. CBS News did not respond to Rolling Stone's request for comment, but staff morale has suffered visibly.
