A power struggle for editorial control of 60 minutes has led to the dismissal of its correspondent Scott Pelley.
Pelley has been the front face of the show for decades since joining in 2004.
The letter was sent to Pelley by his executive producer, a copy of which was accessed by several American media outlets that reported on the matter.
“Your employment with CBS News is ending for cause effective immediately,” Nick Bilton, the show’s newly appointed executive producer, wrote to Pelley.
Pelley had alleged that Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, was “murdering” 60 minutesaccording to NBC News.
The media has reported a confrontation between Pelley and Bilton for which the former accuses him of “poor qualifications” for the role of 60 minutes.
However, Pelley did not say a word on the subject so far.
For the uninitiated, Bilton has worked with the New York Times as a technology columnist and has produced several documentaries for HBO and Netflix.
Bilton succeeded Tanya Simon as the show’s general executive producer.
Simon had a career spanning more than two decades in 60 minutes before she was fired last week.
On the other hand, Bilton has no prior experience producing a magazine show.
Following the merger of Skydance and Paramount that took place last year, new management has taken control of CBS and other Paramount entities.
This is not the first time 60 minutes has been immersed in controversy.
In 2024, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump legally notified 60 minutesalleging that the show had intentionally edited an interview with his opponent, Kamala Harris.
Paramount lost that defamation suit and paid $16 million, frustrating people at the show, including host Pelley.
In early May, Anderson Cooper also announced his departure from 60 minutes.
Where the money will stop in the coming days remains to be seen, as Paramount Skydance management is trying to merge Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery, which requires approval from the FCC and DOJ.
