During his show on Wednesday night, Jimmy Kimmel harshly criticized CBS News executives for firing Scott Pelley. The “60 Minutes” correspondent was let go after a heated meeting with the show’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton.
In his monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Kimmel accused CBS of punishing Pelley for defending the program’s journalistic standards. Kimmel remarked, “Last night, the Trump allies at CBS dismissed a respected journalist, Scott Pelley, from ’60 Minutes.’ He stood up for truth and integrity at a show that set the standard for broadcast journalism over the last 57 years.”
Pelley’s frustration followed several changes at “60 Minutes,” including the dismissals of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, along with executive producer Tanya Simon. Bilton took over from Simon after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss placed him in the position.
Kimmel emphasized that Pelley, showing discontent, confronted Bilton. “Scott Pelley had enough after CBS decided to fire Alfonsi and Vega, then replaced Simon with someone lacking TV news experience,” Kimmel said.
Pelley, he continued, faced Bilton and expressed that the leadership’s collapse in values was unacceptable. Following this confrontation, CBS decided to terminate him.
Additionally, Kimmel speculated about CBS potentially revamping their news shows in alignment with their late-night lineup changes, mentioning Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” replacing “The Late Show” previously.
Kimmel also referenced President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pelley. Trump labeled Pelley as “terrible” and linked him with “a gang of crooked, stupid people” during an interview with Miranda Devine.
The late-night host connected Trump’s remarks to the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, scheduled for July 24.
Bilton accused Pelley of an “ambush” in his termination notice, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The notice described Pelley’s approach as “remarkably uncivil and contemptuous.” CBS News has not issued a comment on the firing.
Pelley stated afterward that “60 Minutes” had “lost its DNA” under the new leadership, accusing CBS figures of prompting him to distill falsehoods and bias into his work. Weiss informed staff that trust was fractured and CBS sought reconciliation, yet Pelley contested this claim.
Fox News Digital sought comments from the Trump administration but has not received a response. CJ Womack, an associate editor at Fox News, began reporting on news media in 2026 after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Journalism from Long Beach State University in 2025.
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