Anderson Cooper recently announced that he was exiting 60 Minutes. At the time, he shared a statement explaining his reasons. However, inside sources have been claiming that the situation might be more complicated than it appears.
Anderson Cooper Had Spent Around Two Decades With 60 Minutes Before Announcing His Exit
Cooper is known for his work with a variety of outlets. Many know him best as the anchor of his own namesake CNN news broadcast program, Anderson Cooper 360°.
Cooper has also worked with ABC News and even hosted his own syndicated talk show. In 2006, he also joined CBS News’ 60 Minutes as a contributor.
However, Cooper recently announced that he was exiting 60 Minutes after around two decades with the program. In a statement at the time, he claimed he wanted to have more time to spend with family He shared, “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.”
This notably came out as CBS News faced a shakeup at the network following Bari Weiss’ being made editor-in-chief. Since this time, viewers have seen a number of changes at the network, such as Tony Dokoupil becoming an anchor on CBS Evening News, following the departure of Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson.
Inside Sources Tried To Paint A Picture Of What Things Are Currently Like At The Network
Following the news, however, some inside sources have claimed that Cooper’s recent move might not have been entirely voluntary on his end. Speaking with Rob Shuter on his “Naughty But Nice” substack, a source claimed that Cooper “didn’t quit.” Claiming “he was pushed,” the source noted, “When management makes it that uncomfortable, walking away is the only option left.”
One insider claimed, “Anderson is thoughtful and precise. That suddenly became a liability.” They noted that Cooper brought about a different “presence” than what was currently wanted at the network.
Another source also described the current atmosphere at the network. According to them, Weiss “made it clear she wanted a different tone” at the network. They continued, “Every script was scrutinized. Every edit questioned,” comparing things to taking a “test.”
Speaking with Deadline, Cooper previously expressed his gratitude for being part of the show. “Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business.”
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.