New England News Anchor Quits to…Join the Circus?

“This just in.” A key phrase if you’re breaking a major story…or entering yourself into a cannon flanked by clowns, to be fired across an arena.

This was the realization one local news anchor evidently came to when he decided to quit the circus that is the 24/7 news cycle and join the circus that is…the circus.

Jack Lepiarz, a reporter for Boston’s WBUR, has decided to assume full-time the persona of Jacques Ze Whipper. Lepiarz explained his decision on social media.

“A year without performing during the pandemic reminded me that, at heart, I am a circus kid. The first 6 years of my life were spent on a circus lot and I've been performing since before I knew how to tie my shoes.”

And now, he can expect those shoes to be large and red.

But the sudden change in career paths isn’t as crazy at it may seem. Jacques Ze Whipper (no relation to infamous English serial killer Jack The Ripper) has amassed 2.5 million followers on TikTok.

As for Jack Lepiarz, he isn’t the first Boston media personality to break from news and pursue entertainment. In the '90s, longtime WBZ-TV reporter and talk show host Tom Bergeron headed West to host Hollywood Squares before his long run as host of Dancing with the Stars.

His one-time colleague Scott Wahle pursued a prolific career in musical theater. And the late Carl Bean set aside his reporter duties to become the Red Sox’s public address announcer at Fenway Park.

To see if Jacques Ze Whipper is coming to a town near you, check out his tour schedule.