Scott Pelley, a veteran correspondent for '60 Minutes,' launched a blistering attack on the program's new leadership during a staff meeting on Monday, according to multiple reports. Pelley accused Bari Weiss, CBS News Editor in Chief, of 'murdering' the show and questioned the qualifications of both Weiss and new executive producer Nick Bilton.
The outburst, first reported by the Status newsletter, saw Pelley demand to know why CBS News had fired former correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, as well as longtime producer Tanya Simon and her deputy Draggan Mihailovich. Bilton reportedly tried to deflect the questions before ending the meeting early.
Despite the tensions, CBS News had been eager to retain Pelley and other remaining correspondents including Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl and Jon Wertheim, according to a person familiar with the situation. Senior executives had reached out to them multiple times since last week to encourage them to stay.
Pelley has a history of clashing with CBS News management. He previously criticized the loss of executive producer Bill Owens and alleged he was removed from the 'CBS Evening News' in 2017 after complaining about a hostile work environment. Last week, Pelley publicly supported a student journalist who criticized the network's direction while accepting a scholarship named after former '60 Minutes' correspondent Mike Wallace.
CBS News declined to comment on the reports of Pelley's remarks.
