Scott Pelley is speaking out after 60 Minutes Executive Producer Nick Bilton fired him.
What We Know: Scott Pelley was fired from 60 Minutes on Tuesday. He spent more than 20 years with the news magazine. His exit came one day after a verbal outburst at Bilton over the direction of the show. In the introductory meeting, Pelley accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the show. He also pressed Bilton about his lack of qualifications for the job. With his departure, Pelley becomes the fourth correspondent from the most recent season to exit.
What They Said: “Incompetence and unprofessionalism in the new management have wreaked havoc. In a case involving one of my stories, the entire program came within 19 minutes of not getting on the air at all. At 60 Minutes, we have fought harder than anyone knows to save the program that became an American icon. We owed that to our millions of viewers. I am deeply moved by the thousands of wishes we have received to ‘keep up the good fight.’ Most of the men and women of CBS News are still in that fight. But now the collapse of values at the top has become untenable. The leadership of 60 Minutes is no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are gone, and so I must leave as well.
“I depart after 37 years at CBS with one emotion—a heart brimming with gratitude for the men and women of CBS News who encouraged and enriched my work, very often at the risk of their own lives. I pray for a day when those people and their ideals are honored again—a day when sanity, competence, and courage return.” -Scott Pelley
What Remains Unclear: What lies ahead for Pelley. He was terminated for cause, according to a letter from Bilton. That letter alluded to a potential legal battle between Scott Pelley and CBS News following his contentious exit.
What It Means: Pelley’s response comes after a report that he had planned to resign from the program following the clash with Bilton. His chapter at CBS News is now officially closed. However, the chances that this story has concluded with his firing feels unlikely. It wouldn’t be unexpected to see a potential lawsuit launched in the coming weeks.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
