CBS News fired veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 [1].
The termination of a high-profile journalist marks a significant rupture in the leadership of one of the most influential news programs in the U.S.
Pelley was fired after a public clash with editor-in-chief Bari Weiss [2]. According to CBS, the firing resulted from Pelley's public criticism of Weiss and his questioning of the qualifications of a new producer [3].
During the dispute, Pelley said Weiss was "murdering the show" [4]. In other reports, he was cited as saying Weiss was "murdering the program" [5]. Pelley also referred to the "slender qualifications" of the new producer [6].
Pelley joined CBS News in 1989 [7]. He served as a correspondent for 60 Minutes for more than 20 years [8]. The events leading to his departure culminated at the CBS News headquarters in New York [9].
CBS said the decision was based on the public nature of the dispute and the challenges it posed to the network's leadership structure [3].
“"murdering the show"”
The removal of a multi-decade veteran like Pelley suggests a fundamental shift in the editorial direction of 60 Minutes under Bari Weiss. By prioritizing leadership cohesion over the tenure of a star correspondent, CBS is signaling a transition toward a new era of production and management that may clash with the legacy standards of the program.
