Former “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Perry expressed strong criticism towards CBS News’ leadership, citing political bias and mismanagement. This came during his first interview since he was let go from the network after a dispute with the new management.
Perry, with a lengthy 37-year tenure at CBS, noted that the turmoil started when the network dismissed several senior members of the “60 Minutes” team and appointed Nick Bilton, a technology journalist, as the show’s new executive producer under Bari Weiss, the network’s editor-in-chief.
He referred to the layoffs as a “Black Thursday massacre,” indicating that many employees were left without clear explanations. “This involves all our senior staff,” Perry remarked, highlighting how Tanya Simon, the first female executive producer of “60 Minutes,” had led the show to significant viewer growth before the changes.
Perry mentioned canceling a trip with his wife to attend Bilton’s first meeting, where he raised concerns about Bilton reading from his phone after Perry’s dismissal. He felt it was his duty to speak up, seeing himself as the most senior person present.
Stressing the need to advocate for his colleagues, Perry asserted, “I felt like someone had to stand up for the people, not just for the broadcast.” He accused Weiss of interference in a previously approved segment about protests in Minneapolis, especially after the show’s deadline. One change involved how the death of Renee Good was to be depicted, which he critiqued as politically motivated.
Perry stated that he reviewed the footage with producers, ultimately deciding against making changes. He expressed concern over the political influence he perceived during his time at CBS, something he hadn’t encountered in almost four decades in journalism.
Addressing Weiss’s qualifications, Perry remarked, “Television is not her thing,” comparing it to someone asking him to pilot a large aircraft without any experience. CBS News, however, countered Perry’s claims regarding Weiss’s alleged political agendas and insisted that her editorial input aimed to enhance the work’s strength and fairness.
In the wake of these events, CBS asserted that there are no credible arguments to suggest Weiss was influencing content on behalf of any administration. Despite attempts, CBS did not provide further comments at the time of inquiry.
