Jimmy Kimmel criticized CBS News executives for firing '60 Minutes' correspondent Scott Pelley, accusing them of being 'Trump suck-ups' and cowardly. Kimmel suggested Pelley was punished for defending journalistic standards and that CBS leadership, including editor Bari Weiss, is making changes for political reasons.
Jimmy Kimmel strongly criticized CBS News executives on his show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following the firing of '60 Minutes' correspondent Scott Pelley. Kimmel accused the network of being 'Trump suck-ups' and cowardly for dismissing Pelley after he reportedly confronted new executive producer Nick Bilton and CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss during a staff meeting. Kimmel suggested Pelley was fired for defending the show's journalistic integrity and that the changes were politically motivated. He also mentioned the prior dismissals of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, and executive producer Tanya Simon. Kimmel referenced Donald Trump's positive reaction to Pelley's firing, calling Trump a 'son of a b----' for his comments. Bilton reportedly accused Pelley of an 'ambush' in a termination notice, while Pelley stated '60 Minutes' had 'lost its DNA' and accused CBS leaders of asking him to 'inject falsehoods and bias.' Weiss stated trust had been broken and CBS had tried to 'find a way back,' a claim Pelley disputed.
The commentary highlights a significant internal conflict at a major news program, suggesting potential political influence and a breakdown of journalistic standards, which could impact public trust in broadcast journalism.