Janice Dean is saying goodbye to Fox & Friends.
The longtime Fox News meteorologist, 56, announced in a video shared on social media Thursday, June 25, that she is stepping away from the morning show as her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS) continues.
Dean, who joined Fox News in 2004 and was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease in 2005, addressed viewers on X, saying she knew many had been wondering about her absence. She previously revealed in November that she was taking a break from work to focus on her family while dealing with unspecified health issues.
“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. “Getting up at 2:30 in the morning and performing anything is hard, but especially for someone who has multiple sclerosis.”
She continued, “For those living with MS, the war is inside of us. We may look fine, but our immune system is attacking the brain, the spinal cord and sometimes, the optic nerve. We’re left with permanent scars, but ones you can only see on MRI imaging.”
Dean said she was fortunate to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis early and has spent the past 20 years managing the disease with various treatments. But as her symptoms gradually worsened—causing sleep problems and increasing stress—she and her doctors agreed it was time to step away from her role for the sake of her health.