Mario Lopez will soon be looking for another co-host now that Maria Menounos is leaving her job.
According to Us Weekly, the TV journalist is willingly stepping down as co-host of "Extra" to pursue other projects. Her decision comes two years after she joined the syndicated entertainment news show.
"Maria was 100 percent not fired," a source told the magazine. "The truth is, she decided months ago on her own to explore other options, as she knew her contract was coming up for renewal. She made this decision."
Rumor of Menounos' departure began after page six of the New York Post stated that there was a rift between Menounos and Lopez and the co-host were no longer willing to work with one another.
However, a source told Us Weekly that the rumors were false. The publication added that "everyone at "Extra's" production company Telepictures was "supportive" as she mulled her next move."
"There is no bad energy," the source told Us Weekly. "Maria has so much going on with her reality show, and she's happy that she has so many options to explore right now."
Her latest project is a reality show with her family on Oxygen titled "Chasing Maria Menounos". The show will document the 35-year-old's personal and professional life and features her boyfriend of more than 15 years, Kevin Undergaro, and her Greek parents, Costas and Litsa.
