CBS News fired "60 Minutes" veteran anchor Scott Pelley on Tuesday, a day after he sharply criticized the news program's new management in front of staff.
CBS said Pelley was fired for cause, and industry analysts immediately predicted Pelley might sue the network.
The firing is sure to draw even more scrutiny to CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and her controversial efforts to reorganize the network's news division.
In a letter to Pelley published by CBS, the program's newly appointed executive producer, Nick Bilton, wrote that "Pelley's antipathy toward the future of the show is clear. And I hear you.".
So he wrote: "Your employment with CBS is terminated for cause effective immediately.".
The letter cited Pelley's decision to harshly criticize and question Bilton's actions at a company-wide meeting on Monday morning. Pelley's harsh remarks immediately leaked to outside news outlets and sparked a crisis within CBS.
At the meeting, Pelley demanded an explanation from Bilton for the firing of the top producers and two correspondents of the well-known news program last Thursday. Bilton, appointed the same day, attempted to assure staff that he respected the program's legacy while simultaneously arguing that change was necessary.
Pelley also accused Weiss, who was not present at the meeting, of "killing" "60 Minutes." When Bilton said Weiss loved the show, Pelley responded, "She doesn't love the place. She was brought in to destroy it, and that's exactly what she's doing.".
Pelley's accusation had political overtones. President Donald Trump sued CBS in 2024 over Kamala Harris's 60 Minutes interview, and although legal experts declared the lawsuit frivolous, Paramount's previous ownership decided to settle the case in July 2025 rather than defend the program in court.
Furthermore, Paramount's new ownership team is seeking a close relationship with Trump and his administration, and some CBS critics have alleged a connection between the corporation's attempts to please Trump and the ongoing reorganization of "60 Minutes." Paramount is currently seeking Trump administration approval to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, including CNN.
CBS executives presented the situation very differently, saying Weiss and her deputies were trying to revive the company's ailing television news division and refocus its programming on new digital audiences.
Weiss brought in outside experts for this task. Her appointment of Bilton, a film director and former technology journalist with limited television experience, was the latest in a series of controversial moves.
At a staff meeting on Monday, Pelley portrayed Weiss and Bilton as unqualified for their positions and said Bilton would "never be welcome.".
Some CBS insiders later said they believed Pelley had provoked Weiss into quitting. His critics at the network said he acted like a bully at a staff meeting. But his supporters—and he has many—claimed he was simply standing up for his colleagues and trying to protect the 60 Minutes franchise.
In a letter justifying Pelley's dismissal on Tuesday evening, Bilton wrote to him: "You disrupted my first staff meeting to disparage me, my qualifications and my intentions with astonishing impoliteness and contempt.".
Bilton called it "a spectacular display of hostility played out in front of the staff" that "showed that you were not interested in contributing to the future success of the show, or in approaching my new position with an open mind to collaboration and progress.".
«"Despite yesterday's misdeeds," Bilton continued, "I had hoped that when we met today, we could find a way forward together. You've made it clear that such a path is not of interest to you.".
The discussion centered on Pelley's meeting with senior management, which took place later that evening. According to a source, Weiss and Bilton were present, along with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and a human resources representative.
The meeting, first reported by Park, ended without any clear decision on how to proceed, and Pelley told employees he expected to be fired.
Later Tuesday evening, Bilton wrote to the "60 Minutes" staff about Pelley's firing, acknowledging the correspondent's stature at the news magazine but defending the decision to "part ways" with him.
«"I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I'm not saying this lightly," Bilton wrote. "I tried to speak to him directly several times over the weekend, and this afternoon I tried to find common ground. Scott chose the wrong path.".
Bilton also tried to refocus staff attention on the future of 60 Minutes, writing: "I understand this is a huge change in a very short time, and I won't pretend otherwise.".
«"I won't be here to discuss the events of last week with you again," Bilton wrote. "But I can say this with confidence: I will have the utmost support for each of you, your journalism, and what we do together in the future.".
Pelley did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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