As I delve into the life story of Wendy Williams, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy for this woman who once ruled the airwaves with her unapologetic and fiery spirit. From her early days as a radio host to her reign on daytime television, she was a force to be reckoned with, never shying away from controversy or speaking her mind.
Wendy Williams carved out a reputation as an unflinching broadcast personality, both on radio and television, who wasn’t afraid to speak candidly about fellow celebrities. Over time, she engaged in numerous public disputes with well-known musicians and actors, employing her distinctive gossip-sharing approach. Despite this, she was equally open about her own imperfections, which endeared her to many viewers.
If you’re one of Wendy’s devoted followers (which she calls Wendy Watchers), then you’re aware that her life has been marked by numerous challenges and hardships over the years. The media has detailed her recent health struggles, but it’s important to remember that Wendy has faced many personal tragedies throughout her lifetime. Her journey, from her school days up until the recent controversies surrounding her Lifetime docuseries, is a testament to her resilience and strength – this is the real-life account of Wendy Williams.
Wendy Williams had to overcome a lot during her rise to stardom
During Wendy Williams’ journey to success, she faced numerous challenges. Growing up in New Jersey, her parents made her believe she was overweight and put her on a restrictive diet which affected her psychologically in the long run. Additionally, during her high school years, she encountered racism. As she recounted, “I never went to the prom because it wasn’t common to ask a Black girl to the prom back then, but I could see the boys looking” (as shared by The New Yorker).
In an interview during the promotion of her biopic “Wendy Williams: The Movie,” Wendy Williams disclosed that she was date raped by the late R&B artist Sherrick while in college. She emphasized that such incidents are unfortunately common, stating, “Experiences like these happen to young women frequently.” She further pointed out that such occurrences have been a part of many generations, affecting not just their contemporaries, but also their mothers, grandmothers, and even the women of generations before them.
Williams struggled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse well before her rise to fame, and these issues persisted even as her radio show grew successful. However, at the age of 29, she was able to overcome her addiction, an accomplishment she later described as the most significant event in her life. “I believe my greatest achievement has been quitting cocaine,” Williams shared with The New York Times in 2003. “Despite all the other positive aspects of my life now, it would have been a disaster if I had continued using.
She was body shamed by Tupac Shakur
Wendy Williams worked her way to the morning talk slot on WRKS in New York City. She instantly began to attract attention for her gossip segments, which drew the ire of multiple celebrities — both Bill Cosby and Russell Simmons tried to get her fired. As she moved between stations, Williams often drew attention to her gossip by claiming certain rappers were gay, including Q-Tip, who was the then-boyfriend of station colleague Angie Martinez. “I lost my f*****g mind,” Martinez later recalled (via Essence). “Before I knew it I was swinging at her. It was a quick scuffle. It took only a few seconds for me to realize that she wasn’t really hitting me back — she was just trying to get me off of her.”
As a devoted fan, I can share an interesting account where Wendy Williams was mentioned in one of Tupac Shakur’s songs. According to her, Tupac spread rumors about her being raped in prison, which led to his harsh lyrics in the song “Why U Turn on Me.” The song, released following Tupac’s murder in 1996, contained these lines: “Anybody ever seen Wendy Williams’s fat ass? Why you always wearin’ Spandex, you fat bitch?
Williams went through several miscarriages before welcoming her son
Wendy Williams has always been candid about her life experiences, and this includes discussing her battles with alcohol and drug abuse during her time on the air. She has also spoken openly about the miscarriages she experienced before she and her former husband, Kevin Hunter, were able to conceive and give birth to their son. In an interview for “American Masters: The Women’s List” (as reported by Essence), Williams said, “I worked tirelessly to become a mother. I went through multiple miscarriages, even losing two babies at five months – that’s when you have the baby clothes picked out and the nursery already decorated.
Williams expressed that she yearned for a larger family, yet fate didn’t allow it. The difficult times only strengthened her affection for her son Kevin Jr., whom she referred to as a cherished prize. “Kevin is a precious gift I fought hard to obtain,” she stated. “I might have wished for more children, but I don’t want to challenge my fortune. Motherhood suits me. It’s not for everyone; it’s meant for me.” This public figure further disclosed that motherhood came with its fair share of trials, such as trying to prevent her son from abusing drugs – Kevin struggled with a dependency on synthetic marijuana during his teenage years and needed rehabilitation. However, by the time she was interviewed for the PBS special, he had successfully overcome his addiction and was “on the right side of good,” according to her.
A private investigator discovered the truth about her husband’s love child
Following years of dissecting the romantic entanglements of famous hip-hop artists and celebrities for a living, Wendy Williams herself encountered a personal relationship catastrophe. Her second husband, Kevin Hunter, was unfaithful, having an affair with another woman that resulted in a child. This betrayal, which Williams could not pardon, led her to state: “Kevin made a grave mistake that he will have to bear the consequences of for the rest of his life. A mistake I will not tolerate.” Williams, known for her forgiving nature, admitted, “I’m a very understanding person, but there’s one thing I could never condone, and unfortunately, that occurred.
After growing suspicious of his actions, Williams decided to hire a private investigator to keep tabs on Hunter. Through this investigation, she discovered that he had been unfaithful and his mistress was carrying his child. The private investigator accompanied the mistress to her gynecologist appointments, as revealed by Williams to E! News. This revelation ultimately led to the demise of their 20-year marriage, resulting in Williams filing for divorce. She also chose to end her professional relationship with Hunter, who had served as her manager for a long time. Consequently, he was dismissed from his position as executive producer on “The Wendy Williams Show”, and the joint non-profit organization they managed was disbanded without ceremony.
At approximately that time, Williams made the decision to relocate to a sober living facility as a proactive measure. In an interview with The New York Times Magazine regarding the scandal, she explained: “I could see what was coming next, and I thought, ‘Let me find a place where you can’t have an entire bottle of wine.’ When your spouse’s mistress is visibly pregnant and you’re prone to talking too much on TV with a popular show, you know what’s about to happen. I needed to go someplace peaceful.
Williams fainted live on her talk show
During a Halloween episode of her show in 2017, Wendy Williams alarmed both her staff and audience when she unexpectedly fainted while dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Her movements started to tremble, and then she put her hand on her head and collapsed, prompting her crew to rush to assist her. The broadcast was interrupted by a commercial break. Upon returning from the ads, Williams reappeared on stage and clarified the incident: “That wasn’t part of the act,” she explained (via the Independent). “I got too hot in my costume and I did lose consciousness.
During that time, supporters expressed their admiration for Williams on Twitter following the incident, with one post saying, “Wendy Williams collapsed on her show due to overheating in her costume, but she quickly regained her composure like a true champion!” Later, Williams disclosed that the emotional strain of her personal issues contributed significantly to the surprising event. She explained to The New Yorker, “I was in the early stages of my divorce. My son had just left for college, so I was now free to sort out our family home and defend myself.
Wendy Williams was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2018
In 2018, Wendy Williams disclosed through conversations with “Good Morning America” and People that she has Graves’ disease, and as a result, she would be taking a three-week break from her show to recuperate. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder which triggers your thyroid to overwork due to excessive activity, according to WebMD. It is one of the most prevalent thyroid issues and is the primary cause of hyperthyroidism, a condition characterized by the thyroid gland generating too many hormones.
Williams was well-versed in her thyroid problems, but the Graves disease diagnosis came as a surprise to her. She shared with People that Graves causes the muscles behind the eyes to contract, and indeed, this seemed accurate since many of her followers had observed something unusual about her eyes before her diagnosis. In typical Williams’ style, she resisted the medical recommendation to take a three-week break from work, arguing that she couldn’t afford such a lengthy absence. “I’m not an heiress,” she said, “who will pay my bills? Are you serious? I come from a working-class background.
Williams disappeared from her talk show in 2021
2021 marked Wendy Williams’ absence from our television screens. Initially, it was assumed that her disappearance was due to contracting COVID-19, but later, representatives disclosed that she was managing some persistent health issues, promising a return for the premiere of her show’s thirteenth season. However, paparazzi photos emerged of Williams exiting a black car in hospital attire and being escorted to her apartment building by her manager. Subsequent reports surfaced about Williams undergoing psychiatric evaluation, indicating that her return to the show would be delayed.
During the show’s challenging period, various celebrities temporarily took over for Wendy Williams, providing strong support throughout season thirteen. Producers initially believed that Wendy would return after a short absence, but she never did. Guests like Leah Remini, Michelle Visage, Whitney Cummings, Michelle Buteau, Michael Rapaport, Kym Whitley, Jerry Springer, and Sherri Shepherd stepped in to help during the first few weeks. Eventually, Sherri Shepherd was given a permanent role when “The Wendy Williams Show” was officially cancelled in 2022.
Bernstein shared with The Hollywood Reporter that replacing Williams on the show was challenging due to her reputation for causing trouble. She explained that numerous individuals declined guest hosting invitations, stating, “‘Wendy’ carries an unpleasant odor. This is why we faced difficulties in booking guests for 12 years prior. Williams was known for being tough with many celebrities, and many celebrities disliked her. It’s the same reason she achieved success, as she was blunt and straightforward. However, even those intrigued by talk shows were reluctant to take on [hosting it].
Williams was exploited following her dementia and aphasia diagnosis according to her guardian
2024 saw the revelation that Wendy Williams was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia and Aphasia, similar to the health issue that prompted Bruce Willis’ retirement from acting. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, this condition causes damage to nerve cells in the brain, affecting behavior, personality, and language abilities. The miniseries “Where Is Wendy Williams?” on Lifetime in 2024 depicted the health tribulations of the retired TV host, highlighting the impact of her conditions through scenes showing unpredictable behavior, which troubled her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey.
Morrissey claims that the producers of the documentary took advantage of Williams by labeling her an executive producer while actually using this title for their own gain. In a statement submitted to the New York State Supreme Court (as reported by NPR), Morrissey condemned this exploitation of a woman with a serious medical condition who is admired by many, saying it was “disgusting” and should not be tolerated. However, despite Morrissey’s attempts to halt its release, Lifetime went ahead and broadcast the documentary.
It’s a messy, sad situation, and no one came away from it smelling like roses except for Williams herself. Shawn Zanotti, who was working as Williams’ publicist when the show was filmed, defended her role in the controversial doc after she was shown taking Williams out for a drink, despite her past issues with alcohol. Zanotti claims that she only ever had Williams’ best interests at heart and was rarely paid for her work due to the TV star’s accounts being frozen over questions about her mental state. “I just regret ever being a part of the documentary or getting Wendy involved,” she told People.
Wendy Williams is now permanently incapacitated according to a court filing
Regrettably, it seems Wendy Williams’ days in the public eye have come to an end. In 2024, a court document made available by TMZ revealed that she is now legally considered “permanently incapacitated” due to health issues. Her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, filed papers stating that Wendy Williams has been affected by early-onset dementia and as a result, her cognitive abilities have deteriorated permanently. TMZ pointed out that certain sections of the filing were masked to safeguard Williams’ privacy and that of her family.
Despite her absence from public view, Williams hasn’t been leading a secluded life. She’s been spotted out shopping and has even found time for interviews, including one with the Daily Mail in October 2024. The media outlet reached out to Williams following the Sean “Diddy” Combs scandal, given her past criticisms of his behavior. “It’s strange that so many people have told me, ‘Wendy, you were right,'” Williams commented. “This includes some members of my own family who have made similar observations.
Though Auntie Wendy Williams may no longer grace our TV screens, her ability to dish the gossip remains undimmed, and her followers believe she would have had even more insightful commentary had she continued on air. One fan lamented, “I sincerely miss Wendy Williams on days like today,” expressing that “no one handled hot topics as skillfully as she did.” Another fan imagined, “It’s almost as if she’s still going off on Puffy (Diddy) and confirming her predictions.” Yet another fan added, “She always knew what was up, and she tried to warn us many times,” expressing hope for Williams’ well-being. Regardless of one’s feelings towards Williams’ show, this sentiment – that she possessed unique insights – is universally shared.
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2024-11-27 21:00