Paramount is under intense public scrutiny following the resignation of longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, who stepped down amid allegations that the media giant interfered with the show’s editorial independence, particularly on coverage related to Israel’s war on Gaza and Donald Trump’s administration.

During Sunday’s episode, 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley issued a rare on-air statement acknowledging Owens’ departure and suggesting that Paramount had begun supervising content in “new ways”, which conflicted with the show’s journalistic values.

“None of our stories have been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism required,” Pelley said. “He did it for us and for you.”

Corporate Pressure & Political Tensions

Critics have connected the interference to Paramount’s ongoing attempts to secure a merger requiring Trump administration approval. President Trump has publicly attacked 60 Minutes, alleging biased coverage and launching a lawsuit in 2024 over what he called “partisan and unlawful acts of election and voter interference.” That case is still ongoing.

Public Outcry

The situation has triggered widespread condemnation:

• Senator Bernie Sanders praised Owens and Pelley for defending journalistic freedom, warning that “Trump’s authoritarianism must be strongly resisted.”

• Social media users accused Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, of personally influencing editorial content, particularly around coverage of Gaza. Reports suggest she complained about a segment on Israel’s war, raising alarms about direct corporate censorship.

“We’re falling into fascism. Deeper and deeper,” one user wrote, echoing a common sentiment online.

Fallout Across Paramount Properties

The backlash extended beyond 60 Minutes:

• Comedian Nathan Fielder criticized Paramount+ for pulling an episode of Nathan for You in Germany, citing “sensitivities” around antisemitism post-October 7. Fielder, who is Jewish, lampooned the decision by comparing the platform to Nazi Germany in his latest show.

• Fielder’s narration noted: “On the Paramount app, there are 50 results for ‘Nazi’, 10 for ‘Hitler,’ and zero for ‘Judaism’. We’ve been erased.”

This double-barreled critique — from a respected news outlet and a popular satirist — has placed Paramount at the center of a First Amendment and censorship storm, with critics warning of a dangerous precedent for corporate media.

One viral post summed up the moment:

“60 Minutes AND Nathan Fielder both blasting Redstone… means they have both ends of the age demographic getting mad. Good luck, Shari.”