Scott Pelley Urges Bari Weiss' Removal After 60 Minutes Fires 1/3 of Correspondents
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 7
Scott Pelley Urges Bari Weiss' Removal After 60 Minutes Fires 1/3 of Correspondents
3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 7
Summary
Scott Pelley said CBS fired him after a tense staff meeting and now should remove news chief Bari Weiss, calling the upheaval at 60 Minutes an “existential moment” for the program.
One-third of correspondents and top producer Tanya Simon were ousted last week, despite Pelley saying the latest season boosted ratings and grew the show’s online audience by 190%.
Pelley said staff expected Weiss to explain the shake-up, but new executive producer Nick Bilton instead read from his phone to about 50 employees; Pelley called Bilton unqualified for the role.
Tom Cibrowski later accused Pelley of physically abusing Bilton, Pelley said, then withdrew the claim before CBS fired him by email hours later.
The 37-year CBS veteran said the turmoil has left broadcasts close to missing air and reflects inexperienced leadership and political bias at a show he argued was performing strongly.