CBS forced to deny wild accusations over new '60 Minutes' cast picture

The revamped CBS network is denying allegations from social media critics that it altered or AI generated a “60 Minutes” Season 59 cast photo with what looks like floating fingers and other image inconsistencies.

“Acclaimed photographer Mark Seliger captured the Season 59 cast posing in Grand Central Station’s Oyster Bar. In response, online users have pointed out several inconsistencies in the photograph, especially involving reporter Lesley Stahl leaning against what appears to be only air,” the Daily Beast reports.

“They took a picture of [Lesley Stahl] leaning back against a desk or table and just photoshopped her in,” one heckler on X complained.

“Nah. Hard pass on watching this far-right takeover of this legendary franchise,” complained another.

“There’s a table behind her,” Jeremy Adler, the SVP of Communications for CBS News, told the Daily Beast, in contrast to what online hecklers described as empty air. But other online comics did not hold back the heckling.

“I'm excited to see Ross Douthat's 0 years of journalistic experience be put to good use,” posted National Press Photographers Association journalist Alexander Heller.

Others described the alleged AI art-barf as characteristic of the network since it got commandeered by right-leaning editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

“… just another propaganda arm for a corrupt regime,” complained one commenter.

“A fake ‘photo’ from fake news organization,” intoned another.

“I hope they’ll be telling the truth and not what doesn’t hurt the president’s feelings!” quipped another critic with snark.

“The acclaimed CBS show is about to premiere its first full season under Bari Weiss’ MAGA-curious leadership,” reports Daily Beast. “Since firing longtime executive producer Tanya Simon in May, Weiss has garnered accusations of censorship and of leveraging the platform to suck up to MAGA officials. CBS announced that the new season’s first big segment will include an interview with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.”

“The photoshoot’s location was meant as an homage to CBS veterans like Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and Douglas Edwards, who recorded in Grand Central when the terminal still housed CBS’ studios, from 1939 until 1964,” DB added. “According to CBS, the studio where Murrow recorded See It Now and Person to Person was right above the Oyster Bar.”

Other critics suggested Stahl was too liberal to pose with her new co-workers, that the philosophical differences made a group shot difficult.

“Now ask yourself; why couldn't they get together for an actual group photo?” said another critic.