Scott Pelley has message for fans after ’60 Minutes’ firing

Veteran correspondent Scott Pelley is speaking out following his abrupt exit from 60 Minutes. On Saturday, the 68-year-old journalist turned to social media to express his gratitude to his supporters, sharing an Instagram post featuring a photo of himself on a sailboat. "To all of you who have been so kind, you are the wind in my sails. So deeply grateful," Pelley wrote.

The Conflict Behind the Firing

Pelley's departure follows a tumultuous week at CBS News. He was officially terminated on Tuesday, just one day after reportedly confronting Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. During a staff meeting, Pelley allegedly claimed Weiss was "murdering the show" and questioned the credentials of the program's new executive producer, Nick Bilton.

Details regarding the clash were reported by the Status website, which noted that Pelley criticized management during a staff meeting led by Bilton. Bilton, a technology journalist and filmmaker, took over the executive producer role last week.

Accusations and Termination

In a termination notice documented by The Associated Press, Bilton accused Pelley of staging an "ambush" during their inaugural staff meeting. The letter cited "remarkable incivility and contempt," alleging that Pelley actively disparaged his qualifications and intentions.

For his part, Pelley has maintained that the iconic news program has abandoned its core identity under current leadership. In a formal statement, he further accused management of pressuring him to inject bias and falsehoods into his reporting, though he did not provide specific examples.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.