Anderson Cooper confirmed Monday that he is leaving “60 Minutes” after nearly two decades, marking another shakeup at CBS News under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
Cooper confirmed the news after Breaker Media first revealed that he had informed the network he would not renew his contract to return for the fall season, though his remaining segments are expected to air through the end of the current run.
“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career,” Cooper said in a statement Monday.
“I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business.”
Anderson Cooper is leaving CBS News’ “60 Minutes.” 60 Minutes“For nearly twenty 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.”
Cooper’s departure removes one of the program’s most recognizable figures during a period of internal tension surrounding editorial decisions and leadership changes.
The show has faced turmoil under Weiss, who sparked anger among staffers after she delayed the airing of a segment about a notorious El Salvador prison.
The Post has sought comment from CBS News.
Weiss took over as editor-in-chief of CBS News in October following the Paramount Skydance takeover, promising to remake the division and restore trust in the network’s journalism. Her tenure has instead been marked by internal friction and high-profile editorial disputes.
Cooper’s exit is the latest sign of upheaval since Bari Weiss took over as CBS News’ editor-in-chief. APOne early clash came after a “60 Minutes” segment on El Salvador’s CECOT prison was pulled from the broadcast shortly before airtime, prompting backlash inside the newsroom before it eventually aired and straining relations between veteran staff and new leadership.
The shakeups soon extended beyond the newsmagazine.
Weiss weighed broader changes to the on-air lineup — at one point pursuing Cooper for the “CBS Evening News” anchor role — before the broadcast was ultimately reorganized around Tony Dokoupil, drawing scrutiny within the network.
CBS News later carried out layoffs affecting dozens of employees, followed by buyouts that led 11 staffers, including multiple producers, to leave the “CBS Evening News.” The network is now preparing deeper cuts expected to impact about 15% of its workforce while also confronting internal criticism over editorial direction and newsroom morale.
