Life After Scripps

Great news for a former Scripps employee, who left the struggling company, under difficult circumstances.

Bree Smith's high-profile promotion to chief meteorologist at WSMV in Nashville represents a dramatic career pivot following a turbulent and contentious exit from her long-time home at rival station WTVF. For over a decade, Smith was a trusted face on the Scripps station, but her time there ultimately unraveled amid growing workplace friction and a subsequent federal lawsuit. In her legal complaint, Smith detailed a difficult newsroom environment where she faced discriminatory remarks and retaliation from management after speaking up about harassment.

The friction at WTVF was further compounded by a disturbing personal ordeal when Smith became the target of malicious online harassment involving sexually explicit deepfake images created with her face. According to court filings,station leadership largely minimized the situation when she sought institutional backing, telling her the images were not easily recognizable and that she was letting stress amplify the issue. While WTVF and its parent company defended their handling of the situation and maintained that her departure stemmed from unsuccessful contract talks, the public fallout highlighted the severe pressures facing on-air talent, particularly regarding digital safety and workplace support.

Rather than stepping away from the market, Smith quickly rebounded by crossing the street to Gray Media's WSMV,where she now takes the helm of the First Alert Weather team. By integrating this complex backdrop into her new leadership role, Smith's transition underscores the fierce competitive nature of local television news and the enduring drawing power of established meteorologists who command deep viewer loyalty even after navigating high-stakes industry battles.