CBS News Shelves Peter Attia Segment Following Epstein Email Revelations
CBS News has made the decision to pull a segment featuring contributor Peter Attia from an upcoming repeat broadcast of 60 Minutes. This action comes in direct response to the recent disclosure of extensive and crude email correspondence between Attia and the deceased convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The segment, originally aired on October 25th, featured correspondent Norah O'Donnell discussing Attia's "Medicine 3.0" health plan and was scheduled to be re-aired this Sunday. The network has confirmed it will replace the segment with alternative content.
Internal Pressure Mounts on Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss
Despite the network's move to distance itself from the segment, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss is reportedly resisting significant internal pressure to sever ties with Peter Attia as a contributor. Weiss, a prominent critic of so-called "cancel culture," is said to be reluctant to dismiss Attia, fearing it would be perceived as capitulating to public pressure. This stance has ignited considerable controversy within the news organisation, with staffers expressing concern over the editorial judgment being displayed.
A CBS News staffer, speaking to The Independent, characterised the situation as "yet another damning indictment of Bari Weiss' judgment as editor in chief." The staffer further stated that Weiss "has allowed this to metastasize into a public embarrassment" that now reflects more critically on her leadership than on Attia himself.
Details of the Epstein Correspondence Emerge
The controversy stems from documents released by the Justice Department last week, which revealed Attia's name appeared over 1,700 times. The emails, dating from 2015 and 2016, show exchanges that Attia has since described as "embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible." In one 2016 email, Attia told Epstein, years after his conviction for soliciting underage prostitutes, that he had "confirmed" that "P***y is, indeed, low carb."
Another exchange from June 2015 included Epstein replying "me too" to an email from Attia with the subject line "Got a fresh shipment," accompanied by a redacted photo. Attia responded in another email, writing, "You [know] the biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can't tell a soul."
Furthermore, the documents suggest that in 2017, Attia—who is married with three children—ignored his wife's requests to visit their sick infant son in hospital for several days in order to spend time with Epstein.
Attia's Apology and Weiss's Editorial Stand
In a lengthy apology posted on social media platform X this week, Peter Attia maintained he was "not involved in any criminal activity" related to Epstein. He stated he "never witnessed illegal behavior and never saw anyone who appeared underage" in Epstein's presence, adding he was never on Epstein's plane, island, or at any sex parties. However, he accepted accountability for the email exchanges, calling them juvenile and indefensible.
While Attia has already parted ways with the wellness brand David Protein over the controversy, Bari Weiss's position remains firm for now. Reports from outlets including the New York Post and TheWrap indicate tensions are simmering within parent company Paramount, as Weiss pushes back against executives who desire to fire Attia. Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison—to whom Weiss directly reports—is said to be deferring the decision to her.
Broader Scrutiny of Weiss's Leadership
This episode adds to a series of recent challenges for Weiss's editorial leadership at CBS News. Her tenure has already faced scrutiny over the spiked "Inside CECOT" segment for 60 Minutes and the rocky rollout of Tony Dokoupil as the new CBS Evening News anchor. The current handling of the Attia situation has intensified criticism of her judgment.
The CBS staffer elaborated, "By clinging to Attia, Bari has effectively argued that association with a convicted sex offender is a tolerable liability if it complicates her preferred narrative about so-called cancel culture. That is an astonishing position for the editor in chief of a major news organization." The staffer added that Weiss "consistently confuses personal ideology with editorial stewardship," noting that running a newsroom requires restraint and an instinct to protect the institution.
Another public relations professional told Status News that Weiss appears "naive," suggesting she is trying to outmaneuver negative news cycles rather than getting ahead of them, allowing situations to snowball.
Defenders and the Debate Over Fairness
Despite the internal and external criticism, Bari Weiss does have some defenders in media circles regarding her handling of the situation. Mediaite founder Dan Abrams argued in an op-ed that Weiss is "modeling a standard that is different from, and arguably fairer than, what a mob immediately demands." He suggested her restraint is challenging and that if she decides to keep Attia, it would be a brave decision reflective of the principles that brought her to the role.
The unfolding saga presents a significant test for CBS News, balancing editorial independence, public perception, and the ethical implications of associations with disgraced figures like Jeffrey Epstein. The network's next steps regarding Peter Attia's contributor status, and the internal resolution of leadership tensions, remain closely watched developments in broadcast journalism.
