CBS News has dismissed ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley following a newsroom conflict. Pelley accused Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of severely damaging the broadcast’s quality and critiqued the credentials of new executive producer Nick Bilton.
In a separate development, former ABC News producer Samira Said filed a lawsuit against CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman, ABC News, and The Walt Disney Co. Said claims Gutman made inappropriate workplace comments, leading to her dismissal after ABC denied medical accommodations due to trauma from the Uvalde school shooting coverage.
According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Gutman reportedly commented on a female correspondent’s appearance while working with a male team, reducing the colleague’s professional merit to mere physical evaluation. Said objected to this conduct, highlighting its inappropriateness.
The lawsuit additionally reports a confrontation during a film event, where Gutman allegedly insinuated sexual stereotypes about Said’s professional decisions in front of coworkers.
“The remark demeaned Said and reduced her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype,” the complaint stated.
Said’s allegations form part of a broader lawsuit against ABC and Disney for discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She worked for ABC’s Los Angeles bureau from May 2021 until her dismissal in March 2025.
She alleged that ABC insisted on covering the May 2022 Uvalde school shooting despite experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. After the traumatic events, Said faced psychological issues which required medical leave and accommodations.
Upon returning, bureau chief David Herndon allegedly refused a limited work schedule. ‘You won’t resume your role without full availability,’ Said claimed Herndon conveyed. Consequently, she was moved to weekend shifts and later injured during wildfire coverage.
Said’s contract was terminated in March 2025. She seeks compensatory damages and a jury trial. The allegations remain unresolved.
Gutman, recently transferred to CBS after 17 years at ABC, serves as a significant hire under Weiss. He contributes to ‘CBS Mornings’, ‘CBS Evening News’, ’48 Hours’, and appears on ’60 Minutes’.
In response, Weiss endorsed Gutman’s fearless and relentless journalistic style.
Disney and CBS have yet to respond to the inquiry regarding Said’s complaint.