Photo: Getty Images
Anderson Cooper confirmed that he's leaving 60 Minutes after two decades, becoming the latest departure since CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss' takeover.
Cooper, 58, who also works as an anchor for CNN, confirmed his departure after Breaker Media initially reported that he informed the network that he didn't intend to renew his contract for the fall season, though his segments are expected to air through the conclusion of his current run.
“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career,” Cooper said in a statement obtained by the New York Post on Monday (February 16). “I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business.
“For nearly 20 years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me.”
Weiss took over as CBS News' editor-in-chief following the Paramount Skydance takeover in October, vowing to remake the division and restore trust in the network's journalism, however, her tenure has included internal friction and high-profile editorial disputes after abruptly pulling a 60 Minutes segment on El Salvador's maximum security prison, CECOT, and President Donald Trump's administration's deportation drive in December. A reported 11 CBS Evening News producers were reported to have already opted for buyout packages initially offered last month and CBS News is also reportedly considering cutting an estimated 15% of its staff with a decision expected between March and May, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Variety last week.