Drama At CBS News: "You Can't Fire Me...I Quit!"

Wendy McMahon, CEO of CBS News, resigned Monday amid tensions with Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, and the company’s board. Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks requested McMahon’s resignation during a Saturday discussion, and the board was informed Sunday, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously. McMahon, Cheeks, Paramount, and CBS News declined to comment.

In her resignation letter, McMahon cited disagreements with the company’s direction, stating, “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward. It’s time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.”

Recent board pressure on Cheeks and McMahon to oversee “60 Minutes” content before airing marked a shift from past practices, sources said. This scrutiny led to the resignation of “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens last month, who cited interference with journalistic independence. Scott Pelley, a “60 Minutes” correspondent, noted on-air that Paramount’s oversight stemmed from its merger efforts, which require Trump administration approval. McMahon reportedly fought to keep “60 Minutes” on air amid board resistance to certain stories. The show aired its season finale Sunday and will return in September.

McMahon, appointed CEO in August 2023, clashed with Redstone over CBS’s Israeli-Palestinian coverage and a potential “60 Minutes” settlement with the Trump administration regarding an edited October interview with Kamala Harris. Redstone privately criticized McMahon’s “fairness and balance” and was dissatisfied with CBS News’ business performance, per sources.

 McMahon’s exit — comes one day after the season finale of “60 Minutes,” and employees are feeling “like a purge is underway,” as one CBS correspondent told CNN on Monday. The correspondent spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak publicly.

McMahon’s departure also stirred speculation that a Paramount settlement with Trump is imminent. The company has not commented.

Paramount is seeking FCC approval for a merger with Skydance Media, which would pay Redstone over $1.5 billion for her controlling stake. The merger faces delays due to FCC negotiations over the “60 Minutes” interview and corporate diversity initiatives. Paramount ended its DEI policies in February, following a Trump executive order. Redstone also publicly criticized McMahon’s reprimand of CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil for an interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates, calling it a “bad mistake” in October.