In an exclusive interview with People, Wendy Williams’ family is revealing the talkshow host’s struggles are as bad as it seems.
“We’ve all seen the images over the last few months — and, really, few years — of what has seemed like a spiral for my aunt,” Williams’ niece Alex Finnie told People. “It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state.”
It’s believed by doctors that her cognitive issues are the direct result of her struggle with alcohol abuse, Wendy’s son revealed. However, while Wendy has been institutionalized, Wendy’s sister, Wanda, tells People the only person who has full access to the host is her court-appointed legal guardian.
“The people who love her cannot see her. I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here?”
And while those questions still haven’t been answered, Wanda said only one thing is for sure. “There is not a person in this family who doesn’t want the same thing for Wendy, and that is her health. She can’t wait to start the next chapter of her life,” Alex added.
It’s been years since the public received a reputable health update on longtime talk show host Wendy Williams. Now the talk show host is speaking out herself.
In a new documentary set to debut this year called Where Is Wendy Williams? Williams herself and several people closest to her are speaking out and diving deep into the health issues that took nearly everything away from her.
In the trailer shared by Lifetime, her family alleges that her court-appointed guardian took Wendy away from them as video clips show Wendy struggling to stand and walk. Wendy is then heard saying, “I have no money. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you.”
The show will seemingly discuss her known battle with Graves’ disease, but also her secret battle with alcohol addiction and reportedly her struggles with “swollen feet caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system, saying, ‘I can only feel, now, 2%. There’s no cure for this.’”
“My mom has always wanted to work. But I feel like she has worked enough,” her son can be seen saying. “Right now, she’s weak and vulnerable and she needs to be around people who aren’t going to take advantage of that.”
The family has grown wary of the people around Wendy, calling them “yes men,” and worrying if Wendy may be losing her memory. “Any body could look at her and know there is more going on,” a person can be heard telling the cameras.
“I miss my family,” Wendy said tearfully as loved ones always assured they would be there.
Back in 2022, amid reports of health issues, Wendy Williams stepped away from her self-named talk show. According to E! News, Williams has made the decision to focus on her own wellbeing for the remainder of this season, which means her show needs to find a new cohost.
According to a source, The Wendy Williams Show will be hosted by a woman who needs no introduction to daytime television. And she has guest-hosted the show already before.
Over the last several months, Williams’ show has used guests hosts to fill in for Wendy while she focuses on her health. Now it is being reported that one of those guest hosts may hold a more permeant place as host, at least until Williams is better.
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The source revealed to E! News that the show was in talks with Sherri Shepherd to regularly fill in for Williams. However, when asked about that specific news, a representative for Shepherd made this comment:
“Sherri Shepherd is thrilled to be invited back to guest host the Wendy Williams Show the week of February 21st. No comment on these rumors.” According to Shepherd’s rep, they only confirmed that she will be guest hosting from February 21 through February 25. In the end, Sherri Shepherd did take on the role full time.
At the time TMZ reported, producers were still holding off to see if their host’s health improves.
Over the last several years, Williams has also been vocal about her struggle with Graves’ disease, especially after she passed out during the filming of her talk show in 2017. Graves’ disease is caused by having an overactive thyroid.
In October, Wendy wrote on Instagram that, in terms of her health, she is “making progress but it’s just one of those things that are taking longer than expected. I’m a woman of a certain age, and I know enough to listen to my doctors and will return to my purple chair as soon as we all agree I’m ready.”
Because it is an autoimmune disorder, William would have been considered high risk after contracting COVID-19. However, another Instagram statement read, according to E! News, suggested that COVID is no longer the issue for her.
“[Wendy] has been and continues to be under a doctor’s care and is still not ready to return to work. Her breakthrough COVID case is no longer an issue and she has tested negative but she is still dealing with some ongoing medical issues.”
