What happened to Ian Leonard? Why no tie, and What’s up with his face?

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that meteorologists are just like us. Although everyone we watch on TV and in movies is human, news network employees who work as journalists, meteorologists, onsite reporters, and other roles are particularly recognizable. Now, a lot of intrusive questions concerning meteorologist Ian Leonard’s appearance are being asked.

The Fox 9 chief meteorologist has been seen not wearing a tie and with some red splotches on his face.

Viewers are curious about what happened to him and whether he is okay. While it’s none of your business, Ian graciously wrote a blog post about what he’s been going through.

He wrote, That’s it, the number one question lately…Why is there no tie? Some of the questions are a tad aggressive: What happened to your tie? Are you too cool to wear a tie?

Why are you so casual? To maintain a high level of professionalism for yourself and your peers, kindly put the tie back on. Yes, those are real emails I have received.

What’s up with your face? It was asked in a letter the other day.

Such a loaded question. I had no idea how to answer it. This is my face. Despite its modesty, it is a source of income. They were referring to the red blotches and sores on my forehead. The outcome of a second round of topical chemotherapy. I almost forgot how much that stuff hurts. Almost.

Scroll down to read why Ian is not wearing a tie.

What happened to Ian Leonard?

Ian Leonard has returned from skin cancer, so he has not been wearing a tie. Ian has spent more than seven years fighting skin cancer, which has come and gone, but it has returned for the third time in 2024, which is not good news for Ian. He says, “It hurts to wear a tie,” even though he would probably love to.

What happened to Ian Leonard
Ian Leonard

The knot is exactly where a few deep scars currently lie. In a short amount of time, it rubs the area raw.” Ian shared pictures of his treatment with the disease and wrote about his initial concerns about applying topical chemotherapy.

In the photos, his skin turns bright red in what appears to be a very painful process. But with skin cancer, that’s the most effective treatment.

Together with topical chemotherapy, Ian underwent surgery in 2017 that resulted in the loss of a third of his lower lip and more than 70 sutures.

Ian reminds us to ask questions with kindness. “Be a little more polite the next time you want to inquire about someone’s tie. You can never be sure of the response.” Ian is fighting cancer once more, and we are hoping for the best for him and his family.

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