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Report: 60 Minutes stars' insubordination against CBS News

Report: 60 Minutes stars' insubordination against CBS News

Daily Mail​27-06-2025
The A-List stars of flagship CBS News program 60 Minutes have demanded the company appoint their pick for the show's next executive producer amid ongoing turmoil at the network. Correspondents Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Bill Whitaker, Anderson Cooper , Sharyn Alfonsi, Jon Wertheim, and Cecilia Vega all signed a letter addressed to the co-chief executive of CBS parent company Paramount requesting that longtime 60 Minutes staffer Tanya Simon get the job.
The journalists' request, sent last month, has so far go unanswered by Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks, Status reported. One staffer insisted that the high-profile correspondents' are deadly serious. 'There will be a revolt if it's not her,' the source told Status. Simon, described as a 'beloved leader' in the newsroom, has worked as 60 Minutes' interim executive producer since Bill Owens left back in April.
She has spent her entire 26-year career at 60 Minutes, and all seven of the show's correspondents stand behind her. Owens - as well as former CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon - resigned after coming out against Paramount's bid to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump claiming that an October 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris was 'deceptively edited.'60 Minutes
Paramount has been pursuing a multibillion-dollar media merger with Skydance that would require approval by the Trump administration. Paramount brass believes any large settlement between the company and Trump could be considered a bribe to get the Skydance deal approved. Paramount heiress Shari Redstone doesn't appear to be supportive of Simon's appointment, Status reported.
She remains frustrated with the show's coverage of Donald Trump and the Israel-Gaza war. Another 'likely' reason for Redstone's alleged hesitance is the looming deal with Skydance, staffers said.
Simon's appointment could convince them to stay with 60 Minutes, while bringing in an outsider would make their exits 'appear far more likely,' Statues reported. On Wednesday, sources told the New York Post that David Ellison, 41, had become confident the $8 billion deal would close by the end of the summer.
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