Maria Menounos, Giuliana Rancic Feud? Maria Steps Into ‘E News’ Anchor Chair As Giuliana Exits Amid Battle [Video]
Maria Menounos is set to replace E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic. Even as the viewers of the popular entertainment show still felt stunned by the revelation that Giuliana was departing, insiders say that many factors had been brewing in the explosion that caused Rancic’s abrupt departure, reported SF Gate.
Why did Giuliana leave? Those within the situation revealed that although she succeeded for a decade in the high-pressure, red-carpet job, Rancic struggled with her self-esteem as well as her inability to make decisions.
As for Maria, as soon as the official news broke, E! executives began orchestrating the arrangement for Menounos to replace Giuliana as the anchor.
“They’re negotiating titles and it’s down to the finer details,” said a behind-the-scenes source. “Maria will appear on E! News within weeks.”
And as Menounos moves into Giuliana’s cushy chair, the staff feels fine about the swap, revealed the insider.
“No one’s crying,” commented the source.
During Rancic’s years both at Fashion Police and E! News, reports emerged of various feuds. And now, although executives asked her to provide a graceful, public farewell and greeting to Maria, she’s continuing the battle between Menounos and Giuliana, according to the New York Daily News.
“E! are begging Giuliana to have a public meeting with Maria — to hand the baton; give her her blessing,” revealed an insider. “Giuliana has said, ‘No way.’ She wishes Maria the best, but there’s no way she’ll do it.”
However, Rancic is not completely gone. Although she’ll reside in Chicago, she will work on specials and Fashion Police.
Representatives at the network denied reports that Rancic had been asked to provide a public farewell to Maria.
“That’s absolutely not true — this is completely inaccurate,” said a spokesperson.
https://youtu.be/vNh92LZMNR0
In addition to continuing her work on E!’s Live From the Red Carpet and Fashion Police, Giuliana will executive produce a new show, reported E! Online.
“For more than a decade, I was fortunate enough to play a role in the success of E! News and will miss my family at the show,” said Rancic. “At the same time, I am excited to not only continue as host of two major franchises on E! but also executive produce the aspirational new show Rich in Faith for Oxygen.”
As the Inquisitr reported, Giuliana was the center of controversy at Fashion Police when she criticized Zendaya’s dreadlocks in a way that many found racist. The backlash resulted in the departure of first Kelly Osbourne and then Kathy Griffin.
[Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for Le Vian]
