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Jimmy Kimmel blasted CBS News executives Wednesday night after the network fired longtime “60 Minutes” reporter Scott Pelley following a heated staff meeting with the show’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton.
During his monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the late-night ABC host accused CBS of punishing Pelley for defending the show’s values.
“Last night, the Trump suck-ups at CBS fired the most respected and respected reporter, Scott Pelley, from his job at ’60 Minutes,’ because he stood up for truth and integrity on a show that has been the gold standard of broadcast journalism for 57 years,” Kimmel said.
He said Pelley’s frustration follows recent changes at “60 Minutes,” including the firing of reporters Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega and executive producer Tanya Simon.
SCOTT PELLEY IS FIRED BY CBS NEWS AFTER CLASHING WITH BARI WEISS, NEW ’60 MINUTES’ PRODUCER
Jimmy Kimmel criticized the leadership of CBS after the firing of Scott Pelley, accusing the network executives of abandoning the values that made “60 Minutes” an institution of journalism. (ABC/JimmyKimmelLive)
Bilton replaced Simon after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss tapped him for the role.
“Pelley had enough after the clowns, who now run the show on CBS News, fired reporters Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, and executive producer Tanya Simon, and put Tanya Simon and a guy who doesn’t know anything about TV news,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel pointed to Pelley’s own criticism of CBS leadership, saying the veteran journalist confronted Bilton during the meeting.
“And so was Scott Pelley,” Kimmel said. “He said the deterioration of standards at the top was unacceptable, and he allowed him to have it in a staff meeting right in the face of the new guy.”
“So last night, they fired him,” Kimmel said.
SCOTT PELLEY FIRES TEAM WITH NEW ’60 MINUTES’ HOST, ACCUSES BARRY WEISS OF ‘MILDER’ QUESTION
The late-night host defended Scott Pelley’s clash with CBS executives, arguing that the veteran news anchor was speaking out against the changes that happened at “60 Minutes.” (Michele Crowe/CBS News ©2025; Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
The late-night host also joked that the network’s signature news magazine could be remade into a new CBS late-night show, after “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was replaced in May by Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed.”
“’60 Minutes’ will be replaced by new episodes of ‘Reporters Unleashed,'” Kimmel said.
Kimmel turned to President Donald Trump’s response to Pelley’s firing. Trump criticized Pelley in a “Pod Force One” interview with Miranda Devine that aired Wednesday, calling him “horrible” and part of “a bunch of stupid, bad people.”
“Yes, the president applauded this cowardly decision,” said Kimmel. “He said Scott Pelley is part of a group of criminals, stupid people … different from the group of stupid idiots he’s a part of.”
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Kimmel mocked CBS for Pelley’s firing and focused on executives who he said are overhauling the network’s news division under new leadership. (ABC/JimmyKimmelLive!)
Kimmel also included Trump’s comments at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, scheduled for July 24 after the April event was disrupted by the shooting.
“That should make for an interesting atmosphere at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which is obviously back,” Kimmel said.
Bilton accused Pelley of “lurking” in a termination notice obtained by The Associated Press, writing that Pelley “hijacked” his first staff meeting with “bad behavior and disrespect.” CBS News did not comment on the shooting, according to the AP.
Pelley, in a statement after his firing, said “60 Minutes” had “lost its DNA” under new management and accused CBS leaders of asking him to “inject lies and bias” into his work.
Weiss told employees Wednesday that trust had been broken and that CBS was trying to “find a way back,” according to the Washington Post.
Pelley disputed that account, saying, “No CBS official, at any time, suggested a ‘way back.’
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump administration for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
