Veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley had a contentious meeting with CBS News administration on Tuesday afternoon, main a few of his colleagues to imagine that he will likely be fired, sources acquainted with the matter instructed NCS.
The meeting got here sooner or later after Pelley pointedly questioned and criticized new “60 Minutes” govt producer Nick Bilton in a workers meeting. Pelley’s scathing remarks instantly leaked to outdoors information retailers and ignited a disaster inside CBS.
Pelley charged editor in chief Bari Weiss with attempting to “kill” the acclaimed newsmagazine and strongly objected to her hiring of Bilton, a former tech reporter with little TV information expertise, to run this system.
Pelley had declined Weiss and Bilton’s earlier makes an attempt to satisfy with him privately to debate last Thursday’s shakeup at “60 Minutes,” which included the firings of top producers and two correspondents. Bilton was appointed on the identical day.
At Monday’s workers meeting, Pelley depicted Weiss and Bilton as unqualified for his or her jobs and stated Bilton would “never be welcome here.”
Some insiders at CBS stated afterward that they thought Pelley was daring Weiss to fireside him. His detractors at the community stated he acted like a bully at the workers meeting. But his supporters — and he has many — stated he was simply standing up for his colleagues and attempting to guard the “60 Minutes” franchise.
Pelley was considered beginning a summer season trip on Tuesday, however he remained in New York, and instructed colleagues that he was summoned to a Tuesday afternoon meeting with administration.
Weiss and Bilton have been current, alongside with CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and a human assets consultant, based on a supply.
The meeting, which was first reported by Puck, ended with none clear decision about the best way ahead.
A CBS News spokesperson had no rapid touch upon the matter. Pelley didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.