Dan Wakeford leaves his position as editor-in-chief of Us Weekly

Dan Wakeford Resigns from Us Weekly

Dan Wakeford has stepped down as editor-in-chief of Us Weekly, a well-known gossip magazine, according to a memo that has surfaced. This news was reported by The Post.

The 50-year-old, who previously held a senior position at People magazine, informed his team of his resignation via email on Friday.

In his message, he shared, “After much consideration, I have chosen to leave my position as Us Weekly editor-in-chief to develop my own creative projects in film and books.” He plans to finish his tenure on January 9, 2026.

Interestingly, Wakeford hinted at the possibility of contributing to a special project for the magazine next year. Us Weekly reported a combined print and digital circulation of about 2 million copies last year.

He expressed his anticipation by stating, “I look forward to writing for Us Weekly on a special project in 2026.”

However, sources within Us Weekly revealed that Wakeford might have been pressured to leave after not securing high-profile exclusives with major celebrities. One insider commented, “He promised big names like Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston, but ended up with Sandra Lee and Countess Luann instead.”

On the day of his resignation, the leading story on Us Weekly’s website featured “Love Is Blind” star Alexa Lemieux responding to claims from her husband’s divorce filings.

Another anonymous source claimed Wakeford preferred working remotely and rarely visited the office, which might have affected his leadership.

Reportedly, Wakeford’s most recent magazine covers lacked the star appeal seen in previous editions, a concern reminiscent of challenges the publication faced in the past.

Critics noted, “He wasn’t very hands-on,” suggesting that his absence was felt. This echoes sentiments shared during another stint when he worked at the now-defunct media startup Messenger. Although he was earning a hefty salary of $900,000 a year there, that venture ended after just nine months.

Wakeford had played a significant role in the outlet’s recent attempts to maintain relevance, but in March, he wrapped up his latest project.

The New York City-based publication started as a biweekly magazine called Us, launched by the New York Times Company in 1977. Over the years, it has changed ownership multiple times and became a part of McClatchy Media Company in 2024.