the preceding program was a paid advertisement for the nuwave brio digital air fryer. after he briefed the "60 minutes" staff. >> i can't talk to you guys about this today. >> reporter: in a statement today, rhodes said, "fager's dismissal is not directly related to the allegations surfaced in press reports, which continue to be investigated independently. however, he violated company policy, and it is our commitment to uphold those policies." through his attorney fager told cbs news, "they terminated my contract early because i sent a text message to one of our own cbs reporters demanding that she be fair in covering the story. my language was harsh. cbs did not like it." i am that reporter. since jeff fager publicly referred to our exchange today, i want to be transparent about it. first, here's some background. sunday evening i reached out to fager for comment on the articles alleging he groped or touched cbs employees at company parties. in addition to denying these charges, fager in a text said to me, "if you repeat these false accusations without any of your own