Wendy Williams is one of the most iconic talk show hosts in the world, but in recent years we haven’t really heard much of her. For much of the past decade, Wendy has been getting into controversies, personal troubles, and a lot of health issues. The Wendy we once knew is no more, and here’s how it all went down.
1. A Young Wendy
Wendy Williams was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1964. She grew up in a middle-class family. She graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in communications. Wendy started her career in radio, quickly earning a reputation as a bold and outspoken DJ. Her unique approach to celebrity gossip and candid style made her a standout in the competitive world of radio.
2. Becoming A Radio Success
Wendy’s big break came in the 90s when she worked at major radio stations in New York, including WBLS. Her show, “The Wendy Williams Experience,” became a massive success, earning her a loyal fanbase. Wendy’s willingness to tackle controversial topics and openly discuss her own life set her apart from other radio personalities.
3. Moving On To TV
In 2008, Wendy transitioned to television with “The Wendy Williams Show.” The show’s combination of celebrity gossip, interviews, and audience interaction quickly made it a hit. Wendy’s unconventional sense of humor was one of the key reasons for the show’s success.
4. A Unique Approach to Talk Shows
Wendy’s talk show was definitely different from the rest. Its style can only be described as “unhinged”. Some of her personal opinions were considered wild and inappropriate, but they only endeared her more to her gossip-loving fans. Her signature catchphrase, “How you doin’?” also became a relatively iconic line.
5. Career Challenges
Wendy’s path to success wasn’t without challenges. Early in her career, she faced criticism for her blunt approach and was often at odds with celebrities she discussed on her show. A lot of A-list celebrities often refused to appear on her show because she had dissed almost all of them. Despite all that, she never really changed her style or conformed to any sort of norm.
6. Health Struggles Begin
In 2017, Wendy fainted on live TV during a Halloween episode. She later explained that the incident was caused by dehydration and overheating, but it raised concerns about her health. This event marked the beginning of public scrutiny over her well-being.
7. Graves’ Disease Diagnosis
Wendy revealed in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. Symptoms like fatigue, bulging eyes, and mood swings began to impact her performance on the show, worrying fans and colleagues.
8. Personal Life Turmoil
Wendy’s personal life became a major topic of discussion in 2019 when news broke about her husband Kevin Hunter’s infidelity. Kevin, who was also her manager, had been in a long-term affair and fathered a child with another woman. Wendy filed for divorce, ending their 22-year marriage.
9. Coping with Addiction
During her marital struggles, Wendy admitted to living in a sober house to deal with her addiction issues. She had previously spoken about her history of substance abuse, but this really showed the extent of her struggles during that difficult time.
10. Decline in Show Ratings
As Wendy’s personal and health problems became more visible, “The Wendy Williams Show” began to lose viewers. Fans expressed concerns about her behavior on the show, which sometimes seemed erratic or distracted.
11. Legal Battles
Wendy faced legal issues involving her financial accounts. Wells Fargo froze her accounts, citing concerns about her mental health and the potential for financial exploitation. Wendy disputed these claims, but the legal battle took a toll on her.
12. Repeated Absences
Wendy’s frequent absences from her show became a major issue. Guest hosts, including Sherri Shepherd, filled in for her, but fans missed Wendy’s unique energy and personality.
13. Cancellation Of The Show
In 2022, it was announced that “The Wendy Williams Show” would not return for another season. The show’s time slot was replaced by “Sherri,” hosted by Sherri Shepherd. This marked the end of an era for Wendy’s iconic program.
14. Public Concerns Over Health
Reports about Wendy’s declining health continued to surface. Fans and the media speculated about possible dementia and other serious conditions, though details remained unclear.
15. Public Appearances Raise Questions
Wendy’s occasional public appearances during this time often drew attention. Her frail appearance and sometimes disoriented behavior fueled speculation about her health and well-being.
16. More Family Struggles
Wendy’s relationship with her family became strained. Reports of disputes with her son Kevin Jr. over finances and her care made headlines. These personal issues added even more to her public decline.
17. The Media
Wendy’s challenges were often magnified by intense media coverage. Paparazzi photos and sensational headlines painted a picture of decline, sometimes overshadowing her accomplishments.
18. Attempts at a Comeback
Despite her struggles, Wendy expressed interest in returning to work. In 2022, she announced plans for a podcast and hinted at other projects. Fans were hopeful, but these plans never really materialized. It was slowly becoming clear that the problems Wendy was dealing with were more serious than any of her fans thought.
19. Dementia Diagnosis
In 2023, after years of speculation, Wendy Williams was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. These diseases affect her cognitive functions, language, and memory.
20. Where Is Wendy Williams?
Around the same time, Lifetime started filming the two-part docuseries called “Where Is Wendy Williams?”. It was initially supposed to be a show about Wendy starting her podcast, but as she was diagnosed with dementia and faced numerous other health problems, it took another approach.
21. Being Cared For
Wendy’s family, including her son and brother, have been heavily involved in taking care of her since the diagnosis. The New York Supreme Court, however, appointed a legal financial guardian named Sabrina Morrissey to make legal decisions on her behalf, since she was incapable of doing so herself.
22. Exploitation?
Many of Wendy’s fans believe that Lifetime was exploiting her diagnosis with the docu-series, which initially didn’t even plan on addressing her health issues. Wendy’s legal guardian even filed a motion to have the show blocked, although she lost. Meanwhile, Lifetime claims that everything that was filmed was done with Wendy’s consent. Whether or not she’s able to give consent is another question.
23. No Hopes For Improvement
For now, there is no hope that Wendy will ever improve enough to restart her show or make progress. Her condition is only going to get worse with time, and the docuseries might be the last we ever see of Wendy as a public figure as she starts to focus more on her health.
24. The Queen Of Talk Shows
Whether or not we see Wendy as a public figure again, it’s clear that she’s left her mark on pop culture for good. She’ll forever be remembered for her catchphrases and absolutely unhinged moments over the years. Let’s just hope she gets the help she deserves and has a stable life from this point onwards.