Peter Attia, a prominent figure in the field of longevity, has stepped down as a contributor for CBS News shortly after being appointed. This decision follows scrutiny related to his past associations, particularly his connections with the late Jeffrey Epstein, which have resurfaced due to the recent release of documents that include numerous references to their friendship.
Attia’s exit was communicated to CBS News bookers through an internal email, but the network has not provided any comments from its executives regarding the situation. He originally joined CBS as part of a group of new contributors under the leadership of Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of Paramount Skydance.
His departure comes amid ongoing changes at CBS, including the recent exit of well-known host Anderson Cooper from “60 Minutes” to focus on his commitments at CNN and his family. The network has also faced issues concerning content management, as highlighted by instances where Paramount attorneys pressured Stephen Colbert regarding political interviews, emphasizing compliance with the “equal time” rule for election candidates.
Attia’s recent troubles stemmed from findings demonstrating a close relationship with Epstein, even after the financier was charged with serious crimes. An email from Attia, where he expressed a profound sense of withdrawal from Epstein, ignited considerable backlash on social media platforms.
Despite the controversy, Attia had garnered attention for his expertise in longevity through his work on personalized health strategies and advancements in medical science. His contributions to CBS were anticipated to shed light on practices aimed at improving both lifespan and healthspan. He gained recognition as the founder of Outlive, an app focused on longevity science, and authored the bestselling book “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.” Moreover, he was featured in a segment on “60 Minutes,” discussing age-related quality of life, emphasizing nutrition and preventive health measures.
While CBS continues to navigate its evolving landscape, including attracting contributors who sometimes advocate non-mainstream health ideas, Attia’s exit underscores the complexities of public perception and professional conduct in high-profile media roles. The situation serves as a reminder that associations can heavily impact reputations in the public eye, and networks must often make quick decisions in response to emerging controversies.