’60 Minutes’ host Scott Pelley calls out Paramount – Business News
Legendary “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley launched an astonishing on-air assault on his Paramount bosses for interfering with this system’s protection.
Pelley went rogue on the finish of Sunday night time’s episode during what gave the impression to be a easy tribute to Bill Owens, the longtime “60 Minutes” government producer who give up final week over the company’s heavy-handed interference.
“60 Minutes” host Scott Pelley rebukes Paramount during the printed.
Bill Owens introduced his resignation final week. Variety by way of Getty Images
“Bill resigned Tuesday — it was hard on him and hard on us,” Pelley mentioned in his closing remarks on the show he has labored on for more than 20 years.
“But he did it for us — and you,” he advised viewers — then unexpectedly instructed that Owens’ exit may finish the period of protection being “accurate and fair.”
“Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger,” he mentioned, noting that it wants approval from the Trump administration.
“Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways,” he mentioned.
Pelley mentioned that whereas “none of our stories have been blocked,” Owens “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.”
Owens walked away following a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump accusing this system of “unlawful and illegal behavior” for what the president claims was misleading enhancing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris final October.
Bill Owens speaks at a convention in June 2022. Sportsfile by way of Getty Images
“Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for ’60 Minutes,’ right for the audience,” Owens wrote in a memo final week obtained by The Post.
“So, 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.
Paramount owns CBS. REUTERS
Trump has demanded a retraction and even instructed CBS’ broadcast license be revoked.
The Post beforehand reported that Paramount controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, who’s concerned in settlement talks between the Trump administration and her company, had wished Owens gone.
Owens, who’s the 57-year-old show’s third government producer, was changed by interim Tanya Simon, government editor and daughter of late “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Simon.
