Maria Menounos and E! said Monday that she will step down as co-anchor of E! News amid a battle with a brain tumor.
She has held the position since 2015 after joining the network in 2014.
“Our thoughts and support go out to Maria and her family and we wish them all the best knowing that Maria will tackle this with the same fierce dedication she is known for,” said Adam Stotsky, president of E! Entertainment. “We are grateful for Maria’s many contributions to E! over the past three years.”
“I am so grateful for the past three years at E!, I had such an amazing time co-hosting with Jason Kennedy and working everyday with the wonderful roster of talent on the show including producers, staff and crew,” said Menounos.
“It was such a special, good-hearted group and one I’ll always consider family,” she added. “A special thank you to Frances Berwick and Adam Stotsky for all the support they have shown me through the years especially during these tough times. I will truly miss everyone and looking forward to this next chapter in my life.”
The news comes as Menounos revealed in this week’s People magazine that she was diagnosed with a golf-ball-size brain tumor and underwent a seven-hour surgery in June to remove the benign tumor. Menounos is recovering at home and spending time with her mother, who has stage 4 brain cancer.
“I don’t have my balance fully yet but as long as I’m holding on to [my fiance], I’m sturdy and fine,” Menounos told People. “My face is still numb. This is something that takes at least a month of healing, but I’m getting stronger and stronger every day and I’ll be back to normal very soon.”
Menounos is leaving E! News to focus on her health and well-being, a story posted to E! Online added.
“I am going to take some time and focus on some passion projects and see what’s next. I’ve always been so proud of being a hard worker, but there’s so much more out there,” Menounos said. “I just want to be still for a bit and see what I’m supposed to be in this world. For me, sharing this story is important on so many levels. I hate secrets. I also want to help women realize that they have to put themselves first. I wouldn’t have ever known or imagined that this was going on if I hadn’t seen the symptoms in my mom. I want to encourage people to find some stillness in their life so they can listen to their bodies — and hear what’s going on.”
Menounos took to social media later Monday to thank those who supported and helped her.
“I’m recovering well and should be as good as new very very soon! Luckily I don’t need any further treatments but I can’t say the same about my mom. So please keep her in your prayers,” Menounos captioned an Instagram photo of her kissing her mom, adding, “I’ve never been more excited about life. I see so much so clearly. Will share more with all of you soon!”
Want to thank @enews and @SIRIUSXM for giving me the time I needed to prep for surgery and of course to heal.
— maria menounos (@mariamenounos) July 3, 2017
A HUGE HUGE thank you to someone who didn’t get mentioned but literally saved my life @DrRyanAronin. You were so thorough&thank u for…
— maria menounos (@mariamenounos) July 3, 2017
For not making me feel like I was crazy to think I had a Brain tumor. You are an outstanding dr & I’m so thankful 4 u sending me 4 the MRI
— maria menounos (@mariamenounos) July 3, 2017
