’60 Minutes’ reporter drops on air bombshell over boss’s abrupt exit, but viewers are distracted

Scott Pelley used “The Last Minute” segment of the “60 Minutes” broadcast to drop a scathing rebuke of CBS parent company Paramount Global.

In what started as a nod to the show’s executive producer, Bill Owens, who suddenly resigned last week, Pelley launched into a defiant on-air criticism as he called out his Paramount bosses for supervising journalistic content.

“He was our boss. Bill was with CBS News nearly 40 years, 26 years at ’60 Minutes.’ He covered the world, covered combat, the White House,” Pelley said.

“His was a quest to open minds, not close them. If you’ve ever worked hard for a boss because you admired him, then you understand what we’ve enjoyed here. Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us. But he did it for us and you,” he continued.

(Video Credit: 60 Minutes)

“Stories we pursued for 57 years are often controversial. Lately, the Israel-Gaza war and the Trump administration. Bill made sure they were accurate and fair. He was tough that way. But our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger,” Pelley said.

“The Trump administration must approve it,” he noted.

“Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories has been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it, but in resigning, Bill proved one thing: He was the right person to lead ’60 Minutes’ all along,” Pelley concluded.

Owens told staffers in a memo: “Having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,” he wrote.

Owens’ departure and Pelley going rogue on air sparked cries of alarm and indignation from the left, such as CNN’s Brian Stelter, who whined about “Trump’s autocratic playbook.”  CNN’s Jim Acosta said on X that he was “proud” of Owens for resigning, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) lamented the effect on journalistic independence.

Many social media users had a different view and expressed their thoughts on X:

This show has been nothing but fraudulent the past 8+ years. This editorial by Scott Pelley jumps the shark. https://t.co/PHWI2GSTyP

— Patrick Williams (@boazvoice) April 28, 2025

Scott Pelley and the entire 60 Minutes team … total frauds. After the Harris interview editing debacle, for that clown to sit there so sanctimoniously and claim a transgression was visited upon the righteous 60 Minutes staff …

— Terry Rombalski (@Rhumbatouche) April 28, 2025

Nope. Those stories were not “accurate.” They were not “fair.” Progressives score big points with such tantrums because their media friends praise them. They are clueless at the disaster 60 Minutes has become. Their bubble is the reason. So. CRY HARDER.

— CCwriter (@ccwriter) April 28, 2025

“Honest” journalism = cutting, splicing and re-arranging Democrat political candidates’ word salad answers to make them appear cogent and succinct.

— NeoUnrealist (@NeoUnrealist) April 28, 2025

He’s calling them out because they’re starting to monitor the garbage they spew. They don’t like accountability, but Paramount is tired of getting sued.

— Fonzo (@Godofthunder70) April 28, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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