Anderson Cooper ticked off his old boss at CBS with some 'thinly veiled' digs during his 60 Minutes signoff, according to a new report. Subtle swipes about the show's ability to 'change' and concerns over its 'independence' completely 'blindsided' Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, Status reported.
The remarks were not lost on the top editor, who was left 'furious' as a result, Status reported. The fact that the message came from her own network was even more maddening, sources said.
Cooper specifically said that while 'things can always evolve and change,' he hoped 'the core of what 60 Minutes is always remains.'
'I think the independence of 60 Minutes has been critical. I think the trust it has with viewers is critical to the success of 60 Minutes,' he said.
'It requires time,' he said. 'It requires patience. It requires money. It requires an appreciation of the history and the sacrifices and the hard work of the people here.'
The remarks appeared to reference claims of meddling that first surfaced around a year ago, when 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens suddenly left after a long stint in charge. Owens asserted in April 2025 that the newsmagazine had lost its journalistic independence as he handed in his resignation.
Former CBS News and Stations CEO Wendy McMahon, the other force behind 60 Minutes, fled as well. She told staffers the following month: 'It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.'
Paramount merged with David Ellison's Skydance that July, with CBS since subject to an overhaul that started in October. Ellison articulated a vision of the network reaching more people across the nation. He paid Weiss, a former New York Times opinion editor, $150 million for her news site The Free Press and appointed her as CBS News's top editor.
Several other journalists have left since, with Cooper leaving in part because of the changes, Status previously reported. 'He wasn't comfortable with the direction the show was taking under Bari, and is in a position where he doesn't have to put up with it,' a source said. A second source said Cooper's exit was because of Weiss.
Recent moves like a last-minute decision to shelve a 60 Minutes segment on the 'brutal and tortuous conditions' at a prison in El Salvador have also rankled staff. Longtime 60 Minutes journalist Lesley Stahl, 84, is also reassessing her future at the network after being passed over for the show's recent sit-down with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Cooper's remarks appeared to reference claims of meddling that first surfaced from 60 Minutes staff a year ago, ahead of Paramount's merger with Skydance. Cooper was a 60 Minutes journalist for some 20 years beforehand.
Justice Department Correspondent Scott MacFarlane, who had been with CBS News since 2021, gave his on-air signoff in March. He said the next phase of his career will center around 'independence and finding new spaces to share my work in line with my personal goals.' MacFarlane now works at progressive media company MeidasTouch.
Paramount, which owns CBS, is in the final stages of purchasing Warner Bros Discovery, along with prime asset CNN. The Daily Mail approached CBS News for comment.
Cooper said he was leaving to spend more time with his two young children. He will keep his main job hosting on CNN, where he remains one of the news network's biggest stars. Cooper could soon find himself working for Weiss again, if plans for Paramount to buy the struggling news network come to fruition.
