LEFT: Bari Weiss (Photo by Alberto E. Tamargo/Sipa USA) (Sipa via AP Images) RIGHT: Scott Pelley (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) (Sipa via AP Images)
CBS News fired its Scott Pelley, long-time correspondent of the program «60 Minutes» , hours after he and the organization's leadership met to discuss his future at the television company.
The day before, at a staff meeting chaired by the program's new executive producer «60 Minutes» Nick Bilton , A former technology news commentator with no experience producing television news programs, Pelley challenged his new boss, in part because of the management of CBS News under Bari Weiss .
«"In an unusually tense exchange, an impassioned Pelley relentlessly grilled Bilton about Weiss's intentions for the renowned news magazine, pointed out his lack of experience running television's most prestigious news program, grilled Bilton about his knowledge of the firings, and much more," he said Monday. Oliver Darcy from Status.
CBS News fired Pelley on Tuesday.
«"Yesterday, you disrupted my first staff meeting to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with astonishing impoliteness and contempt," Bilton wrote in a letter to Pelley obtained by Mediaite. "Yesterday's ostentatious display of hostility, played out in front of staff in lieu of a civilized, private conversation, demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the show's future success or in approaching my new position with an open mind to collaboration and progress.".
Shortly after the news of his dismissal broke, Pelley gave a telephone interview to the newspaper. The New York Times :
«"I've seen combat in Afghanistan," Mr. Pelley said. "I've seen combat in Iraq. I've been to the war zone in Ukraine multiple times, risking my life and the happiness of my family because of my dedication to broadcasting.".
Dylan Byers Puck, who reported earlier Tuesday that Pelley would likely either resign or be fired, said the wording of Bilton's letter, in which CBS News terminated Pelley's contract for cause, suggests a legal battle is coming.
The article "Scott Pelley speaks out after being fired from 60 Minutes" first appeared on the Mediaite website.