Journalist Scott Pelley faced everything from widespread mockery to stolen valor accusations after insisting he was "in combat" while covering war zones for CBS News. Pelley was fired from the long-running CBS News show on Tuesday following a bitter clash with the network's editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and new "60 Minutes" executive producer Nick Bilton.Pelley, who first joined CBS News in 1989 and did not serve in the military, quickly raised eyebrows with a statement he gave following his termination. "I have been in combat in Afghanistan.
I have been in combat in Iraq.I have been in the war zone in Ukraine multiple times, risking my life and the happiness of my family because of my devotion to the broadcast," Pelley, who has reported from several war zones in his career, told The New York Times. SCOTT PELLEY FIRED AT CBS NEWS AFTER BLOWUPS WITH BARI WEISS, NEW '60 MINUTES' PRODUCERFormer '60 Minutes' correspondent Scott Pelley.
(David M.Russell/CBS via Getty Images)Pelley also told the Times that CBS News had pressured him to insert bias into stories for "60 Minutes" since Weiss took control of the network.CBS News did not immediately respond to the accusation he was asked to "insert bias," but the combat claims struck a nerve on social media.Podcaster Jim Treacher responded, "Stolen valor it is, then."NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck responded, "Oh FFS the GALL of this guy.
He thinks he's on par with American troops.""This no talent a--clown hasn't been ‘in combat’ anywhere, ever.He's observed others in combat.
That he doesn't know the difference is entirely on brand for him though," Buck Sexton reacted. Clay Travis added, "These ‘journalists’ really think they have the most important jobs in the world.The sanctimony is incredible.
You got paid tens of millions of dollars to be on a TV show people only watched because it came on after the NFL, dude."SCOTT PELLEY HAS HEATED CONFRONTATION WITH NEW ‘60 MINUTES’ BOSS, ACCUSES BARI WEISS OF...