‘60 Minutes’ host Scott Pelley calls out Paramount in shocking on-air attack on CBS’ parent company

Legendary “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley launched an astonishing on-air attack on his Paramount bosses for interfering with their coverage.

Pelley went rogue at the end of Sunday night’s episode during what appeared to be a simple tribute to Bill Owens, the longtime “60 Minutes” executive producer who quit last week over the company’s heavy-handed interference.

“60 Minutes” host Scott Pelley rebukes CBS during broadcast.

Bill Owens announced his resignation last week. Variety via Getty Images

“Bill resigned Tuesday — it was hard on him and hard on us,” Pelley said in his closing remarks on the show he has worked on for more than 20 years.

“But he did it for us — and you,” he told viewers– then unexpectedly suggesting that Owens’ exit could end the era of coverage being “accurate and fair.”

“Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger,” he said, noting that it needs approval from the Trump administration.

“Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways,” he said.

Pelley said that while “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 the program of “unlawful and illegal behavior” for what the president claims was deceptive editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last October.

Bill Owens speaks at a conference in June 2022. Sportsfile via 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 last 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 suggested CBS’ broadcast license be revoked.

The Post previously reported that Paramount controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, who is involved in settlement talks between Trump and her company, had wanted Owens gone.

Owens, who is the 57-year-old show’s third executive producer, was replaced by interim Tanya Simon, executive editor and daughter of the late “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Simon.

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