'60 Minutes' Host Scott Pelley Talks About Former Executive Producer Bill Owens Leaving the Show - Video

A quiet resignation turned into a bombshell revelation, as the "60 Minutes" host exposed the alleged corporate and political forces reshaping "60 Minutes" — and the principled stand that reportedly cost Bill Owens his role.

Scott Pelley, longtime host of "60 Minutes," stunned viewers on April 28, 2025, with a moment of candor during the program's broadcast.

Addressing the resignation of executive producer Bill Owens, Pelley explained that Owens's departure was not simply a personal decision, but rather the result of alleged growing corporate influence over the show's editorial independence.

"In tonight's last minute, a note on Bill Owens, who until this past week was executive producer of '60 Minutes,'" Pelley began. He highlighted Owens's nearly 40-year career at CBS News, the producer of "60 Minutes," including 26 years at the news program, noting his global coverage.

"His was a quest to open minds, not close them," Pelley said, reflecting on the admiration Owens earned from his staff. The host continued, revealing the underlying reasons for Owens's departure. "Bill resigned Tuesday. It was hard on him and hard on us, but he did it for us and you," he stated.

He pointed out that while the show has always pursued controversial stories — most recently about the Israel-Gaza war and the Trump administration — Owens had ensured that every report remained "accurate and fair."

However, Pelley noted that external pressures were reportedly mounting. "But our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways," he claimed.

While emphasizing that no story had been blocked, Pelley made it clear that Owens believed the show's independence had been compromised. "Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires," he stated.

"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 continued. The video of Pelley's remarks, posted to "60 Minutes''" official YouTube channel, quickly drew widespread attention and sparked debate online.

"Inappropriate," one netizen commented. Another shared, "He should be fired. The show was once the most respected show on television. Not anymore."

A third person typed, "So dishonest," while another wrote, "I can smell the totally clueless and self-important 'smug' from here. Tone deaf!" Someone else added, "Pelley has always been one sided."

Some viewers reacted with humor to the segment, finding the situation amusing. Critics questioned Pelley's characterization of "60 Minutes" as "accurate and fair," suggesting that both he and the program have become increasingly disconnected from the public.

However, others praised the move, applauding the importance of standing firm on one's principles. Other supporters also expressed approval, saying it was the right time to speak out when something seemed wrong.

Amid the growing controversy, more information about Owens's departure emerged. In a memo obtained by New York Post, he wrote, "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. 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 added.

Owens also addressed his staff in an emotional meeting held across the street from CBS News headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. According to a recording obtained by The New York Times, his voice was raw as he struggled through his remarks, even reportedly tearing up at times.

"It's clear the company is done with me," he reportedly told the room, which included correspondents Lesley Stahl and Pelley. Stahl, visibly moved, praised Owens and noted that he had "taken a hell of a beating."

During the meeting, Owens voiced his frustration with the additional oversight imposed by CBS executives. "In a million years, the corporation didn't know what was coming up — they trusted '60 Minutes' to report the stories and program the broadcast the way '60 Minutes' saw fit," he said.

He warned that any change to that traditional arrangement represented "a really slippery slope." However, despite his resignation, he encouraged his staff to stay.

"I do think this will be a moment for the corporation to take a hard look at itself and its relationship with us," he said, urging the team to continue producing the kind of journalism "60 Minutes" was known for.

The situation unfolds amid an increasingly hostile relationship between the show and President Donald Trump. In 2024, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, accusing the network and "60 Minutes" of election interference.

The lawsuit alleged that the program's interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris had been unlawfully edited to favor her 2024 presidential campaign, labeling the conduct as "partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference."

In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Trump's legal counsel claimed CBS's coverage was designed to "mislead the public and attempt to tip the scales" of the election. The lawsuit demanded that CBS release the full, unedited transcript of the interview.

Notably, cases filed in the Amarillo Division of the Northern District of Texas are automatically assigned to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, raising questions about possible "judge shopping."

CBS firmly rejected Trump's claims, stating, "The Interview was not doctored; and '60 Minutes' did not hide any part of the Vice President's answer to the question at issue. '60 Minutes' fairly presented the interview to inform the viewing audience, and not to mislead it."

Prominent First Amendment attorneys also dismissed the lawsuit as meritless. Charles Tobin, representing CNN in several cases, described it as "a frivolous and dangerous attempt by a politician to control the news media."

Floyd Abrams, famed for defending the Pentagon Papers, echoed this sentiment. Harvard law professor Rebecca Tushnet called the lawsuit "ridiculous junk" that "should be mocked."

Trump also criticized "60 Minutes" on his social media platform, Truth Social, on April 14, 2025, writing in part, "Almost every week, '60 Minutes,' which is being sued for billions of dollars [...] mentions the name 'TRUMP' in a derogatory and defamatory way."

In the post, the President accused the program of misrepresenting stories related to Ukraine and Greenland, claiming "60 Minutes" was no longer a legitimate news program but a "dishonest Political Operative."

He called for CBS and the show to face heavy fines and for the network's license to be revoked, urging action from the Federal Communications Commission. The tensions between Donald Trump and CBS have only added fuel to the fire surrounding Owens's departure.

As "60 Minutes" grapples with internal upheaval and external political attacks, the future of the storied television news program remains uncertain.