Giuliana Rancic Leaving Anchor Gig On ‘E! News’

E! said today that longtime anchor Giuliana Rancic “will be officially transitioning out of her day-to-day role” on E! News next month. The network offered no specifics about the move but said Rancic will continue as a co-host on Fashion Police and Live From The Red Carpet.

“During her time here, Giuliana played an instrumental role in building E! News into a global entertainment news powerhouse and … we will miss seeing her on set every day,’” E! general manager Adam Stotsky said.

Rancic made headlines and raised eyebrows in February when she made a comment during Fashion Police that K.C. Undercover star Zendaya Coleman’s new dreadlocks revealed at the Oscars probably smelled like “patchouli or weed.” Rancic apologized on Twitter for what many considered a racially insensitive comment and again on E! the next day. But during an interview on NBC’s Today several weeks later, Rancic blamed the comment on an editor.

Of today’s news about her leaving the anchor chair, Rancic said in a statement: “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. At the same time … this is such a thrilling time for me, and I thank the gang at E! for understanding my desire to embark on this next chapter in my life.”