Janice Dean, the longtime “Fox & Friends” meteorologist, announced on Thursday that she is stepping away after 22 years, saying her multiple sclerosis has progressed to the point that she can no longer handle the punishing schedule.
“For a long time, I was able to handle the early mornings, the many hours on my feet, and the stress of broadcasting live,” Dean said in a video message posted to X, adding that “getting up at 2:30 in the morning” is hard “especially for someone who has multiple sclerosis.”
“Ultimately, my symptoms progressed to the point that I can no longer continue working in my role, and my doctors agreed that stepping away was necessary for my health,” she said.
“Thankfully, I was diagnosed early, and I’ve been on different therapies for over the last two decades,” Dean said.
“But there’s no cure for MS, and over time, my symptoms have progressed.”
She called the farewell her “mostly sunny goodbye,” adding: “For every goodbye, there’s always the next hello.”
“Throughout her 22-year career with Fox News Media, Janice Dean has inspired viewers with her warmth, resilience, and dedication,” a Fox News Media spokesperson told The Post.
“Her willingness to share her personal journeys has touched countless lives and served as a source of strength and encouragement to many.”
The network rep told The Post that “we fully support Janice’s courageous decision to step away from her role as senior meteorologist on Fox & Friends and are grateful for her many contributions.”
Dr. Saud Sadiq, chief research scientist at the Tisch MS Research Center of New York and founder and director of the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice, told The Post that MS “can affect cognition, fatigue, mobility, vision, and speech.”
“For some people, these symptoms are well-managed and have minimal impact on their work. For others, particularly as the disease progresses, the cumulative burden can become more significant,” he said.
“That calculus is deeply personal and depends on disease course, treatment response, and a host of other individual factors.”
Sadiq cautioned against drawing conclusions based solely on an MS diagnosis.
“What I would caution against is making assumptions in either direction — about what someone with MS can or cannot do — based on a diagnosis alone,” he said.
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