A dramatic internal battle at CBS News ended Tuesday with the firing of longtime “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, closing the chapter on one of the network’s most recognizable journalists after a heated dispute with new leadership.
According to Fox News, Pelley’s departure followed escalating tensions between the veteran reporter and newly appointed “60 Minutes” executive producer Nick Bilton, who informed him that his employment was being terminated immediately.
In a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, Bilton accused Pelley of undermining his leadership during a staff meeting.
“Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt. I welcome a diversity of viewpoints and respectful debate among the team, but this was nothing of the sort,” Bilton wrote.
Bilton went on to characterize Pelley’s conduct as a public display of hostility rather than an attempt to engage in productive discussion.
“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,” he wrote.
The memo continued by stating that efforts to resolve the conflict had failed.
“Despite yesterday’s misconduct, I had hoped that in sitting down with you today we could find a path forward together. You made clear that you are not interested in such a path,” Bilton wrote.
“I therefore write on behalf of CBS News, Inc. (‘CBS’) to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated for cause effective immediately.”
Bilton also informed staff members of the decision in a separate message.
“I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I don’t say this lightly,” Bilton wrote. “I made repeated attempts to have direct conversations with him over the weekend, and this afternoon I tried to find common ground. That was not the path Scott chose.”
Reports indicate the conflict intensified during a contentious all-staff meeting on Monday. Pelley reportedly criticized CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and Bilton, accusing Weiss of “murdering” the program and telling Bilton he had “slender qualifications” for the role.
The confrontation came amid anger over recent staffing changes at “60 Minutes,” including the departures of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, as well as executive producer Tanya Simon.
Pelley reportedly referred to those departures as “Black Thursday.”
According to reports, Weiss later met with Pelley and requested an apology while also accusing him of creating a hostile work environment.
After news of his firing became public, Pelley spoke with The New York Times about his career and commitment to journalism.
“I have been in combat in Afghanistan,” Pelley said. “I have been in combat in Iraq. I have been in the war zone in Ukraine multiple times, risking my life and the happiness of my family because of my devotion to the broadcast.”
Pelley joined CBS News in 1989 and became a correspondent for “60 Minutes” in 2004. He also served as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” from 2011 through 2017.
In recent years, he had become increasingly outspoken about decisions made by network leadership and parent company Paramount. Following the resignation of former “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens in 2025, Pelley publicly criticized corporate oversight of the program.
“Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger,” he told viewers at the time. “The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories have been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism required.”
His firing marks one of the most significant personnel shakeups in the history of “60 Minutes” as the newsmagazine moves forward under new leadership.
