June Xie was a popular food video producer and on-air talent for Delish, the popular food website and YouTube channel owned by Hearst Magazines. She joined Delish in 2018 and quickly became a fan favorite, hosting various cooking segments and taste tests. However, in January 2022, it was announced that June would be leaving Delish. This news came as a shock to many of her fans and viewers.
Who is June Xie?
June Xie is a Chinese-Canadian food video producer, director, and on-air talent. She was born in China but grew up in Toronto, Canada. June graduated from Ryerson University’s Radio and Television Arts program in Toronto. She got her start working behind the scenes on various food shows before being discovered by Delish.
June joined Delish in 2018 as an associate producer and on-air talent. She quickly became one of the most popular hosts on the channel due to her bubbly personality, love of food, and cooking skills. June hosted various segments like “Big Fork Little Fork” where she cooked meals for both kids and adults. She also participated in viral food challenges and taste tests.
Why did June Xie leave Delish?
In January 2022, June announced via Instagram that she would be leaving her role at Delish. In the post she said:
“I couldn’t be more grateful for my time at Delish over the last few years. I’ve learned so much and have made friendships that will last a lifetime. Although bittersweet, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave Delish and pursue other opportunities.”
June did not provide any specific reasons for her departure from Delish. However, here are some potential factors that may have contributed to her decision to leave:
Desire for new challenges and opportunities
June had been with Delish for over 3 years. She may have felt ready to take on new challenges and opportunities in her career. As she mentioned in her announcement, she decided to pursue other ventures beyond Delish.
Creative differences
There is always a possibility of creative differences arising between talent and producers/executives. June may have wanted to take her on-camera persona or content in a different direction than Delish’s vision.
Burnout
Producing weekly food content and hosting segments can be grueling. June may have simply felt burnt out and in need of a break from the grind.
Problematic workplace culture
While not confirmed, there were some rumors of problematic workplace issues at Delish. If true, this could have motivated June to leave.
New opportunities
June likely left Delish to pursue new career opportunities. In March 2022, it was announced she would be hosting a new cooking show on Snapchat called “Easy-Bake.”
What has June done since leaving Delish?
Since announcing her departure from Delish in January 2022, June has continued her food content creation and on-camera work:
- She hosted season 2 of the Snapchat original series “Easy-Bake” which premiered in March 2022.
- June partnered with various brands like Walmart, Campbell’s Soup, and Lindt Chocolate for sponsored social media content.
- She launched a weekly recipe newsletter called “June’s Kitchen.”
- June has been active on Instagram, posting food photos, lifestyle content, and behind-the-scenes of shoots.
What are fans saying about June leaving Delish?
June’s departure from Delish was met with mixed reactions from fans:
Positive Reactions
- Many fans left supportive comments on her announcement post expressing thanks for the recipes and content over the years.
- Fans said they were excited to follow her next endeavors and supported her decision.
- Some noted they had observed June seeming less enthusiastic in recent videos and were happy she was moving on.
Negative Reactions
- Some fans were shocked, disappointed, and saddened that she was leaving.
- Many begged her not to leave Delish.
- Some blamed Delish and said they should have done more to retain June.
- Others expressed concerns that the quality of Delish videos would decline without June’s presence.
Overall, most reactions were a mix of sadness to see her go but also support for June pursuing new opportunities.
How did Delish respond to June’s departure?
Delish has continued producing videos and content without any observable changes since June’s departure. They did not make any formal announcement about her leaving. The only acknowledgment was a comment left on her Instagram post:
“We’re so grateful for June’s contributions to Delish over the years. She’ll always be part of the Delish family. We wish her the best and will miss her!”
Delish appears to have simply moved forward with their slate of video content and other hosts. They have not visibly replaced June with any new on-air talent.
Who are some of the current Delish on-air hosts?
Although June was a popular host, Delish has always had a number of on-air personalities. Here are some of the current hosts making videos for Delish:
Joanna Fantozzi
As an Associate Producer, Joanna frequently hosts taste tests and other challenge videos. She has been with Delish since 2019.
Lauren Miyashiro
Lauren is the Food Director at Delish. She regularly hosts baking videos and dessert content.
Samah Dada
Samah is a visiting host on Delish and creates content focused on chocolate-making and candy.
Madison Flager
Madison is an Associate Producer who hosts cooking videos and recipe tutorials.
Delish has always had a talented team of on-camera hosts in addition to June Xie. While she had many fans, the brand continues leveraging its other personalities.
What is June up to now?
Although no longer a regular face on Delish, June Xie continues to have a thriving career in food content creation. Here is what she is currently working on:
- June is the host of the Snapchat original show “Easy-Bake” which premiered its second season in March 2022. The show features simple recipes and cooking tips.
- She has an active presence on Instagram where she shares lifestyle content, food photos, and behind-the-scenes videos.
- June partners with various food and kitchen brands like OXO, Walmart, and Campbell’s for sponsored social media collaborations.
- She sends out a weekly recipe newsletter called “June’s Kitchen.”
- June serves as a freelance producer and director for food content in addition to on-camera work.
Although no longer hosting videos for Delish, June is staying very busy with a thriving career in the food and lifestyle space. She continues to nurture her passion for cooking through new projects and content creation.
Could June ever return to Delish?
Given how beloved June was among Delish fans, many have wondered if she would ever return to the brand in some capacity. Here is an analysis of the likelihood:
It’s unlikely in the near future
Since her departure in January 2022, June has not appeared in any Delish content. She seems focused on her own projects these days like “Easy-Bake.” Unless something changes behind-the-scenes at Delish, her return in the near future seems improbable.
Never say never long term
While a return to regular hosting duties is unlikely at this point, June could potentially collaborate with Delish again down the road. She could film a one-off video or appear as a guest host. Delish may also want to tap back into her fanbase for a ratings boost one day.
A special or guest appearance is possible
The most plausible scenario would be June agreeing to a special guest appearance or collaboration. This would allow her to engage with fans without the full commitment of rejoining regularly.
Overall, June returning as a main Delish host seems unlikely right now. But fans holding out hope may get to see her collaborate with the brand again someday!
Conclusion
June Xie’s departure from Delish in early 2022 came as a shock to her many fans. But the decision seems to be an amicable one that has allowed June to pursue new endeavors within the food world. She continues to thrive as a content creator and host outside of her past role at Delish.
While June’s unique effervescent presence is missed by many, Delish marches on with their usual programming and array of other talented hosts. Only time will tell if fans get to see June collaborate again with the brand that helped launch her career. Her future in food media continues to look bright regardless.