CBS News fires ’60 Minutes’ veteran Scott Pelley
“60 Minutes” veteran Scott Pelley’s departure comes after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss allegedly accused him of “murdering” the news organization.
CBS News has fired Scott Pelley, who worked as a correspondent on “60 Minutes” for more than 20 years.
Anchor’s departure came after a heated staff meeting in which Perry was heard accusing CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the news organization, according to a recording obtained by The New York Times and reported on June 1.
Viewers can’t take their eyes off the interesting details as the same dramatic events are interwoven with their memories of watching the long-running network show. This aroused real emotions in fans, who expressed their disappointment on social media platforms.
“I’m in my 70s and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t watch 60 minutes. Important traditional programming was ruined,” one viewer commented on a YouTube clip breaking the news. “Some young people may not understand the importance of 60 minutes. It’s a big loss.”
USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment.
People grew up on “60 Minutes.” Now the show changes
For generations, “60 Minutes” is the show they watch all the time in their living rooms and stuff their DVRs with episodes their parents vowed to watch later.
“This is the news show I used to watch with my parents when I was a kid,” one person wrote on TikTok. “Real news with real legends in our living rooms every Sunday night.”
The June 1 exchange took place during a meeting intended to introduce newly hired “60 Minutes” executive Nick Bilton. Mr. Perry called Mr. Bilton’s qualifications “frivolous” and questioned Weiss’s commitment to making “60 Minutes” a success, the Times reported.
According to the Times and Status, Mr. Perry was reportedly angered by Mr. Bilton’s remark to staff that Mr. Weiss “loves this facility.” Perry interjected, “She doesn’t love this place. She was brought here to kill this place, and that’s exactly what she’s doing.”
He also asked Bilton about the recent mass layoffs at the department on May 28th. Those fired also reportedly include senior, longtime 60 Minutes executives such as executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Dragan Mihailovic, and correspondents Sharin Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. In public statements, Alfonsi and Vega claimed that the dismissal was politically motivated.
Layoffs are hitting the job market hard
Viewers may not only be mourning the loss of “60 Minutes” as we know it, but they may also be empathizing with the mass layoffs occurring across the country due to rising costs and the replacement of workers by artificial intelligence.
When it happens to someone you respect, it not only becomes a familiar problem, but it may also make people who are struggling financially feel less alone. This is sometimes called “parasocial healing” by psychologists, and people feel seen when celebrities share personal struggles that match their own.
More Americans say their living conditions are worse today than at any time in the past 25 years. According to an April 2026 Gallup poll, more than half (55%) said their financial situation has worsened.
The poll also marks the fifth year in a row that Americans say things are getting worse, not better. The only time public mood was so low was during the Great Recession.
Why don’t you turn away from the discussion?
Experts say it’s the irresistible allure of interesting stories that makes it impossible for us to turn away from the discourse. But in Perry’s case, he also means a lot to the people who grew up watching him on TV with their families. This drama evokes feelings of nostalgia and sadness and feels personal to many.
“I was 7 years old when the first episode of 60 Minutes aired, and my dad barely missed an episode,” another viewer of the show wrote on YouTube.
“My family had one, so I grew up watching a lot of television. For me, television has always represented integrity in journalism, but that’s no longer the case,” they continued. “Scott Pelley is one of a long line of outstanding journalists, and he leaves with the greatest integrity.”
And with public trust in the media already at record lows, seeing thoughtful reporting cut short can feel like a punch in the gut.
“A once great news show has collapsed for almost 60 years,” one viewer wrote on Reddit. “This is going to kill me,” another person added to the thread. “It was just a tradition for us to watch ’60 Minutes’ every Sunday with our parents when we were kids. And now… hmm.”
Contributor: Anthony Robredo
