Scott Pelley, the esteemed anchor of the popular news program 60 Minutes, has been making headlines recently, but not for the reasons he may have hoped for. His recent commencement address has been met with widespread ridicule, with many calling it “self-important” and “unhinged.”
The speech, which was delivered last week, was meant to inspire and motivate graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. However, it seems that Pelley’s words had the opposite effect, with many students and audience members left unimpressed and even mocking the anchor for his delivery.
One of the main criticisms of Pelley’s speech was its length. Clocking in at nearly an hour long, many found it to be too long and, as a result, lost interest. Some even took to social media to express their frustration, with one Twitter user saying, “Scott Pelley’s speech was longer than my entire college career.”
But it wasn’t just the length that had people rolling their eyes. Pelley’s speech was also called “self-important” and “unhinged” by those who were in attendance. Some pointed out that the anchor seemed to be more focused on promoting himself and his accomplishments, rather than offering advice and guidance to the graduates.
In his speech, Pelley recounted his journey to becoming a successful journalist, highlighting his coverage of major events such as the 9/11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan. While these experiences are certainly impressive, many felt that Pelley was using them to boost his own ego rather than inspiring the graduates.
Another element that sparked criticism was Pelley’s mention of a recent controversy involving his former employer, CBS. The network had recently faced allegations of sexual harassment and a toxic work environment. Pelley used this as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of ethics in journalism, but some felt that it was an inappropriate and self-serving topic to bring up during a commencement speech.
The backlash to Pelley’s speech was not limited to just social media. Alex Griswold, a writer for Breitbart, wrote an opinion piece titled “Nolte: Scott Pelley Mocked for ‘Unhinged,’ ‘Self-important’ Commencement Speech” where he shared his thoughts on the address. In the article, Griswold expressed his disappointment in Pelley’s speech, stating that “it was meant to be a celebration of the graduates’ accomplishments, not an opportunity for Pelley to pat himself on the back.”
Despite the criticisms, Pelley has remained silent on the matter, choosing not to address the backlash. However, this incident has shed light on the importance of delivering a well-crafted commencement speech.
A commencement address is not just a platform for the speaker to talk about their achievements. It is a chance to impart wisdom, share experiences, and motivate the graduates as they embark on the next phase of their lives. It is a responsibility that should be taken seriously and not used as an opportunity for self-promotion.
In conclusion, while Scott Pelley may have had good intentions with his commencement address, it unfortunately missed the mark. Instead of being remembered as a source of inspiration for the class of 2021, Pelley’s speech will now be remembered as “unhinged” and “self-important”. Let this be a lesson for future commencement speakers – the focus should always be on the graduates, not themselves.
