Scott Pelley Fired from '60 Minutes' After 35 Years Amid Internal Disputes

CBS News terminated veteran journalist Scott Pelley on Tuesday, removing one of the most recognizable faces of the news program "60 Minutes." This dismissal adds to the departure of over six executives and journalists from the highest-rated show in the United States amid internal disagreements.

The program's new executive producer, Nick Bilton, sent an email to Pelley, aged 68, stating, "Your hostility toward the future of the program has become very clear," according to a message reviewed by Reuters.

Bilton continued, "Accordingly, I am writing on behalf of CBS News to inform you that your employment with the network is terminated for cause, effective immediately."

In an internal memo to staff, cited by The New York Times, Bilton confirmed, "We have ended our professional relationship with Scott Pelley."

The decision followed a tense meeting on Monday during which Pelley accused CBS News chief editor Barry Weiss of "destroying the 60 Minutes program," protesting the recent dismissal of the program's leadership and two anchors the previous week.

Pelley, who joined CBS in 1989 and previously served as a CBS Evening News anchor, had been a prominent figure on "60 Minutes" since 2004.

During the meeting, Pelley strongly criticized Bilton's appointment, describing him as a technology journalist "without experience in television news," questioning his qualifications, and stating that Bilton "will never be welcome on 60 Minutes."

Pelley: I Risked My Life for 60 Minutes

In his first statement after the dismissal, Pelley said he devoted decades of his life to "60 Minutes," adding, "I was in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine; I risked my life and my family's stability because of my dedication to this program."

He also attacked CBS's new management, asserting that "the lack of competence and professionalism has created chaos within the network," and that "the collapse of values in senior management has become unbearable."

The firing occurs amid turmoil within "60 Minutes," which lost four correspondents in one month, including Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, while Anderson Cooper voluntarily left the program in May, according to The New York Times.

Barry Weiss has led CBS News since last year, appointed by network owner David Elison to restructure the news division for the digital era, facing increasing criticism over her management of the network's flagship program.