The drama continues behind the scenes at CBS…
Anderson Cooper reportedly infuriated CBS boss Bari Weiss when he signed off from 60 Minutes and pleaded for the storied news magazine show to remain independent.
During a subsequent appearance on the now-cancelled Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the out anchor called out “very meek, boldface names” in big business and media who have capitulated to the Tr*mp administration’s authoritarian whims.
Now, with Paramount of the precipice of merging with Time Warner, the MAGA-friendly takeover of mainstream broadcast media will be even more pronounced. CNN, the most recognizable cable news outlet in the world, will soon be under Paramount head and Tr*mp ally David Ellison’s control.
How about we take this to the next level?
Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Anchors at CNN fear that Ellison will install Weiss at the network, and are unhappy about the prospect of working for the Free Press founder, reports the New York Times.
Perhaps nobody is more perturbed than Cooper. He’s reportedly told colleagues he doesn’t want to work for Weiss. A spokesperson for Cooper didn’t return the Times‘ request for comment.
“Chaos came from CBS News. What’s next for CNN?” asks the paper of record.
The face of CNN, losing Cooper would be a colossal blow to the network. But it’s clear he feels that working for Weiss would compromise his integrity.
Weiss’ shambolic record at CBS backs him up. As a long-time anchor at 60 Minutes, Cooper witnessed her destruction and interference first hand…
Related
Stephen Colbert gives Bari Weiss one final magnificent middle finger with this $2.5 million move
He had the last laugh
“Murdering 60 Minutes”
Weiss cleaned house at 60 Minutes this spring, firing correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Alfonsi found herself in Weiss’ crosshairs last year for producing a story on CECOT, the notorious El Salvador prison where the Tr*mp admin deported undocumented immigrants, violating their due process rights. Weiss initially spiked the segment before it aired weeks later.
In addition to Alfonsi and Vega, Weiss ousted executive producer Tanya Simon, despite ratings increasing by 9%. Weiss replaced Simon with Nick Bilton, a former tech reporter and documentarian. Much like Weiss, Bilton is a TV novice.
His first meeting with 60 Minutes staffers this month was an outright calamity. In it, iconic anchor Scott Pelley, accused Weiss, who wasn’t present, of “murdering 60 Minutes.”
In an interview with the Times, Pelley recounted how Weiss tried to interfere with his stories. Following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, he says she asked if there was a way to make the demonstrators “look more violent.”
After his blowup with Bilton, Pelley was fired.
Close to the White House
When David Ellison first took over CBS, Pelley says the tech scion introduced himself to 60 Minutes vets and pledged the show would remain independent.
But Weiss’ well-publicized meddling appears to show that was a lie.
Since taking over Paramount, David Ellison has cultivated a cozy relationship with the White House. He’s hosted a dinner for the president in Washington and attended the recent UFC monstrosity on the White House lawn. To watch the garish event, viewers had to pony up $8.99 for Paramount’s streaming service, Paramount+.
The son of Larry Ellison, who’s the billionaire co-founder of the cloud computing giant Oracle and a major Tr*mp donor, it’s apparent where David’s politics lie. At this year’s State of the Union, he was Lindsey Graham’s guest.
Given Weiss’ modest audience at the Free Press and lack of TV experience, it seemed puzzling that Elision would purchase the outlet for $150 million and install Weiss as the EIC of CBS News. But this project is about more than his bottom line.
A self-described “Zionist fanatic,” Weiss has steered CBS News in a visibly more MAGA-friendly and pro-Israeli direction. One of her newest hires, Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips, has made several Islamophobic remarks in the past.
Weiss’ handpicked evening news anchor, Tony Dokoupil, signed off a broadcast early this year by “saluting” Marco Rubio.
Reportedly, Weiss wanted Cooper to anchor CBS Evening News, but he wasn’t interested.
An “F-you” to Weiss
Cooper didn’t hold back in his final sign-off from 60 Minutes. “I hope 60 Minutes remains 60 Minutes,” he said. “I think the independence of 60 Minutes has been critical. And I think the trust it has with viewers is critical to the success of 60 Minutes.”
A network insider later said that Cooper’s message was an “F-you” to Weiss. But that’s nothing compared to the statement Cooper would make if he quits CNN.
Kara Swisher, the renowned tech journo and podcasting maven, told the Times she would stop appearing on the network if Ellison removed its current leader.
While Cooper hasn’t gone that far–at least publicly–his disregard for Weiss is clear. David Ellison may soon have a big decision on his hands.
Related
Bari Weiss continues MAGA news takeover with yet another hiring scandal
Is Bari Weiss about to pull a Debra Messing?
Sign up for the Queerty newsletter to stay on top of the hottest stories in LGBTQ+ entertainment, politics, and culture.
