Ryan Seacrest Announces Sad News For E! Live Fans

It’s the end of an era on the E! Network. Everyone’s favorite professional host and face of award show interviews, Ryan Seacrest, has announced that he is leaving his longtime gig as co-host of E!’s Live from the Red Carpet. After over a decade of grilling celebs and Hollywood A-listers on the finer points of their fashion choices with Giuliana Rancic by his side, the 50-year-old announced in an Instagram post that he’s moving on.

Under a smiling photo donned in a tux with an E! emblazoned microphone, the man who has made millions as a professional master of ceremonies broke the news to fans and followers, sharing, “After 14 years of hosting E!’s Live from the Red Carpet I’ve decided to move on to new adventures.”

With American Idol, the production of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, his radio show “On Air with Ryan Seacrest,” and his co-hosting duties on Live with Kelly and Ryan, it’s no wonder Seacrest might want to free up a little bit of time in his busy schedule. Especially after, as USA Today notes, the consummate entertainer gave everyone a scare last summer after (what was later diagnosed as) exhaustion caused him to stutter and slur his way through the American Idol virtual finale.

A replacement for Ryan Seacrest has not been named by E! yet

Although the announcement certainly came as a surprise to fans, it’s obvious Ryan Seacrest’s relationships with his co-workers and E! Network executives are intact and positive. His departure announcement concluded by thanking everyone from crew to fans for the wonderful experience, poignantly stating, “I’ll miss the whole crew that works so hard behind the scenes and of course my amazing partner Giuliana. Thanks to everyone for watching all these years.”

Amidst the messages from fans and well-wishers, many fellow E! employees joined in to send Seacrest off. Among them, Fashion Police‘s Brad Goreski who wrote, “You are a legend Ryan!” And E! News anchor Jason Kennedy who shared, “It was a pleasure brother.” Even an official statement by E! came with accolades for the longtime host, “E! has long enjoyed our relationship with Ryan over the years especially as co-host of E!’s signature red carpet series. He has been instrumental in giving viewers a front row seat to some of Hollywood’s biggest nights. We are extremely appreciative of his many contributions and he will always be part of the E! Family” (via TV Insider).

As the next major red carpet event quickly approaches with the Golden Globes slated to air on Feb. 28, the New York Post reported that no replacement host has been named by the network yet. It’s certainly hard to imagine anyone else filling those Ryan Seacrest shoes!