July 13--Giuliana Rancic was not pushed out of "E! News," nor is she feuding with E! correspondent Maria Menounos, Rancic told People magazine last week.
"It was 100 percent my decision to leave. I brought up the idea to leave three years ago, but 'E! News' kept extending me because they wanted me to stay," Rancic said.
The E! network announced last week that Rancic would leave her longtime anchor post Aug. 10. She will still co-host "Fashion Police" and host E!'s "Live from the Red Carpet."
Rancic, 40, told People her departure "has nothing to do with" the criticism she endured earlier this year on "Fashion Police" when she suggested that teen singer Zendaya Coleman's red-carpet dreadlocks smelled of patchouli or weed.
After E! announcement, rumors circulated that Rancic was feuding with Menounos, who filled in for Rancic on E!'s red-carpet show for the SAG Awards this year.
"They're absurd," Rancic told People about the Menounos rumors. "I've never had a feud or drama with any of my E! News hosts or co-hosts, and there certainly isn't one now. There is no feud. It takes two to feud, and I'm not feuding!"
With her time off, Rancic said she plans to spend the summer in Chicago with her husband Chicago native and "Apprentice" winner Bill Rancic and son Duke, 2. For years, she has split time between Los Angeles and the Chicago suburbs. The Rancics co-own the RPM Steak and RPM Italian restaurants in the Near North neighborhood.
"I've worked day in and day out for 14 years. I'm looking forward to being able to stay in bed a little longer with Duke every morning and take him to school and on play dates," Rancic said.
