Janice Dean says she was ‘muzzled’ before leaving network

Janice Dean has claimed she was "muzzled" by the network before her departure, alleging she was barred from discussing former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo despite years of publicly criticizing his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dean made the claims in a series of posts on X, saying she plans to eventually reveal more about her experience now that she is no longer under contract.

"Someday I'll tell you all the story of how I was banned to talk about Andrew Cuomo after I spent years speaking out about what he did to seniors during COVID," she wrote. 

She later replied "Yes. Muzzled." to a user who suggested the network had limited her commentary.

According to People, the broadcaster became one of Cuomo's most outspoken critics after both of her parents-in-law died from COVID-19 complications in a New York assisted living facility during the pandemic. 

Dean has repeatedly blamed the former governor's nursing home policies for the tragedy and testified before Congress on the issue.

Moreover, Dean left Fox & Friends in June after more than two decades with the network, citing worsening symptoms from multiple sclerosis that made the programme's demanding early-morning schedule increasingly difficult. 

At the time, Fox News thanked her for her years of service and expressed support for her decision to step away.

Fox News has not publicly responded to Dean's latest allegations. 

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Cuomo has previously defended the former governor's pandemic response, noting that legal challenges related to the nursing home controversy were dismissed by the courts.