Alex Witt, a longtime anchor at MS NOW, announced on Friday that she will be departing the network later this year after a 27-year tenure. The announcement comes as a former colleague has described Witt's on-air behavior as high-handed, claiming she would frequently yell at newsroom staff who were performing their duties.
The source, who worked in the 30 Rockefeller Plaza newsroom for a decade, stated that Witt, 65, would film her weekend show on the third floor, with the NBCNews.com newsroom visible behind her set. This visual setup was reportedly intended to capture the "hustle and bustle" of the news environment.
However, the source alleged that Witt would regularly approach the computers of newsroom employees and shout at them for talking or being on the phone. "She didn’t seem to grasp that we weren’t props and also had a job to do, which was running a national news website," the source told the Daily Mail. This behavior contrasted with other network stars like Joe Scarborough and Rachel Maddow, who filmed in the same space without incident.
According to the source, Witt's producers and staff often appeared "mortified" by her outbursts but were accustomed to them. The audio from Witt's show, they claimed, would not have picked up the background noise, yet Witt would assert that the staff were distracting her.
Witt's weekend program, "Alex Witt Reports," which she launched in 2011, is being canceled as part of broader programming changes. Antonia Hylton, co-anchor of "The Weekend: Primetime," will take over the 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekend slots. Additionally, weekend shows airing after 6 p.m. will be replaced by video podcasts.
MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, was rebranded last summer after being spun off from NBCUniversal. The network has experienced a ratings increase since the rebranding, with network president Rebecca Kutler credited for its recent success.
Network officials acknowledged Witt's departure, with Kutler stating in a release, "After nearly three decades, Alex Witt has shared with us her plans to conclude her tenure with the company later this year, following an extraordinary career." Kutler praised Witt as "a beloved longtime member of our MS NOW family" and thanked her for her "endless contributions."
Industry colleagues have also shared positive remarks. CBS Senior White House Correspondent Ed O'Keefe described Witt as "a generous, straight-shooting survivor" and thanked her for her encouragement. Axios communications director Jake Wilkins hailed her as "a legend."
A network source, speaking anonymously, stated that no HR complaints have been filed against Witt during her 27 years at the network and called the allegations "wildly unfortunate" given the timing of her announced departure. Mage: