'Has to sting': Insiders say CBS News got an unmistakable message with star's exit

"60 Minutes" star Anderson Cooper delivered a stunning rebuke to CBS News's new MAGA-friendly boss Bari Weiss — and the message was unmistakable, insiders say.

Months after Weiss desperately courted the veteran broadcaster to helm "CBS Evening News," Cooper chose to walk away from his two-decade tenure as correspondent entirely, effectively rejecting the network altogether.

“It really has to sting for Bari,” a senior CBS News staffer told Zeteo's Justin Baragona. “The person she wanted for the Evening News anchor chair is choosing to leave CBS altogether because of her.”

The insider called it an unambiguous middle finger to Weiss.

"In fact, according to the same staffer, Cooper’s decision not to return to ‘60 Minutes’ after this season ends was akin to 'a 'f--- you' to Bari.'

His exit comes after the primetime CNN fixture recently inked a fresh deal with his cable news home. Cooper also released a carefully worded statement about his exit.

“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. 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.”