CBS News fires Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes, sources say

June 2 (Reuters) – CBS News has terminated the contract of “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, two sources at the network said on Tuesday, joining ​more than half a dozen departures in recent weeks.

“Your antipathy to ‌the future of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you,” the show’s executive producer, Nick Bilton, wrote in a Tuesday email to Pelley ​that was seen by Reuters.

“I therefore write on behalf of CBS ​News, Inc. (“CBS”) to inform you that your employment with CBS ⁠is terminated for cause effective immediately.”

Pelley did not immediately respond when reached ​for comment.

His termination from the network came amid media reports that he accused ​CBS News’ editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” “60 Minutes.”

In a note to the show’s staff, which was seen by Reuters, Bilton said the network had parted ways with Pelley and acknowledged “the great deal ​of change in a very short time” at “60 Minutes.”

Pelley joins more than ​half a dozen people who have departed the Sunday news magazine, which is the longest-running ‌prime-time ⁠show in the U.S., in recent weeks. CBS fired Tanya Simon, the previous executive producer, as well as correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.

Skydance Media, run by David Ellison – the son of Larry Ellison, a co-founder of Oracle (ORCL.N), opens new tab and ​a longtime supporter ​of U.S. President Donald ⁠Trump – acquired Paramount in August and installed Weiss in October as editor-in-chief. David Ellison helped secure regulatory approval for ​the deal, which created Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), opens new tab, with the promise that ​the ⁠CBS network would reflect the “varied ideological perspectives” of American viewers.

Prior to the deal, Paramount paid $16 million to settle a 2024 lawsuit that Trump filed over a “60 Minutes” ⁠interview ​with former Vice President Kamala Harris, which he ​said gave a distorted view of his rival for the White House.