In 2022, Wendy Williams was very candid about her health struggles that have completely changed her life and career. She said goodbye to her long-time fans after airing the final episode of the famous The Wendy Williams Show on Friday, June 17, 2022.
Wendy Williams Hunter was born on July 18, 1964 and is an American broadcaster and writer who is known for her nationally syndicated television talk show The Wendy Williams Show. Before entering the television industry, Williams was known for her exceptional radio DJ and host career and also became known in New York as a shock jockette.
Williams began gaining recognition for her on-air spats with celebrities. Other than her radio career, Williams is also famous for authoring books, hosting a TV show in her name, appearing in various films and television shows, and owning her own product line. The broadcaster was born in Ashbury Park, New Jersey, U.S., and due to her fame, during her 50th birthday, the council of Ashbury Park, New Jersey, renamed the street on which she grew up to Wendy Williams Way.
How did Wendy Williams get so famous?
During her radio host career, she received her highest break by being hired to work at two stations in D.C. in NYC. After leaving her job at the first two stations, a few years later, she became a very popular local DJ and was offered a DJ job at an urban radio station in Philadelphia and began to reinvent how transparent a radio show could be on air. Her openness about discussing her past personal problems on-air helped her gain various listeners and she was deemed as a 'shock jock' in no time. Williams' most infamous and shocking interview was with Whitney Houston in 2003. The interview had left many shocked due to its wildness, blatant questions about Houston's drug use, and interview full of open profanities.
In 2008, Williams was then offered a TV deal which offered a syndicated talk show (The Wendy Williams Show) to initially air in only four cities. While there were many shows that took such a route, Williams' show managed to rank high and entertain her audience with a fresh format.
What happened to Wendy Williams and her show?
Since the start of her show in 2008, Williams was known for not missing a single episode until 2018. In that year she began making headlines for her health issues. The first major headline she made was when she fainted live on air during her Halloween 2017 show.
Over the years, Williams has also openly disclosed details about her ongoing health issues with her fans. Williams suffers from Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism, which she was diagnosed with in 2003. In 2019, the famous host was also hospitalized due to complications from Graves' disease. This led to her being absent from the show. She eventually did return back to the show however, for a brief period of time. In 2019, Williams also revealed she has been living in a sober house 'for some time' and that she has vertigo as she also suffered from substance abuse.
These health issues led to major changes in her career. In 2022, Williams bid adieu to 'The Wendy Williams Show'. Revealing the situation about the host, her representative Shawn Zanotti said to The U.S. Sun, "wellness facility seeking help to manage her overall health issues," he added, "She is taking some time to focus on her health and wellness as she prepares for a major comeback for the next level in her career with 'The Wendy Experience Podcast."
Zanotti concluded by saying, "Ms. Williams is being treated by a team of some of the best doctors in the world. We ask for your prayers and well wishes during this time."
FAQs
Q. What is Wendy Williams' age?
A. Wendy Williams was born on July 18, 1964, making her 58 years old as of 2022.
Q. Is Wendy Williams married?
A. Wendy Williams was married twice in her lifetime. First to Bret Girigorie (1994-1995) and next to Kevin Hunter (1999-2019).
Q. Where is Wendy Williams from?
A. Wendy Williams is from Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
