For some time now, the Chrisley family has been aiming to make a TV comeback years after the cancellation of their USA Network show, Chrisley Knows Best. Their new project is truly coming together now, though, as Lifetime has ordered the Chrisleys’ new show to series. Since that announcement though, there’s been a major development – the heads of the family, Todd and Julie, have been released from prison after being pardoned. An insider dished on how this affects the show, and they name-dropped Wendy Williams in the process.

The currently untitled Chrisley TV project was announced near the end of May. It was confirmed at the time that the reality series would be headlined by Savannah Chrisley and her siblings, Chase, Gryason and Chloe as well as their grandmother, Nanny Faye. A synopsis was also released, which teased how the show would focus on the kids’ personal lives and their struggles to deal with the absences of their imprisoned parents.

Considering that Julie and Todd Chrisley are now free, it goes without saying that a portion of the series’ synopsis is essentially moot now. However, if the aforementioned source’s comments to People are be believed, the producers behind the show are now taking a fluid approach amid the changes in the brood’s situation:

As challenging as this all may sound, it would seem that the creative team isn’t really sweating it. The insider cites the previously mentioned talk show host as a key reason for that:

In 2024, Lifetime released Where is Wendy Williams?, a four-part docuseries that focuses on the former media personality in the aftermath of her eponymous show’s cancellation. The show also covers Williams’ health struggles and her placement under guardianship. Reports have since indicated that production on that series changed as time went on. Ultimately, the doc sparked controversy, with some viewers calling it exploitative and hard to watch. One of Williams’ former producers expressed their misgivings about it, while the EPs behind the docuseries claimed Williams was fine with the way it turned out.

Todd and Julie Chrisley’s situation is, of course, much different. News of their pardons broke in late May, at which point daughter Savannah expressed excitement. The couple was found guilty of bank fraud, tax evasion and more in 2022, with Julie and Todd subsequently receiving seven and 12-year prison sentences, respectively. Savannah advocated for them over the last several years and eventually worked with presidential “pardon czar” Alice Marie Johnson to have her parents released.

Well ahead of the Chrisleys’ release, there was uncertainty regarding whether Todd and Julie would be involved with the show. That doesn’t seem to be a question at this point. Still, Alice Marie Johnson advised that the married pair take some time to collect themselves as they reintegrate themselves into society. Regardless of whether Julie and Todd take that advice, their family is returning to the small screen at some point amid the 2025 TV schedule and, given how things have changed, it’s very possible that they’ll be on the series.

It’s been an uncharacteristically quiet year from Wendy Williams, after it was revealed that the former talk show host had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and was living in a memory care facility. She’s certainly been talking recently, though, as she returned to the 2025 TV schedule to speak with her friends at The View, and she had some strong words for her guardian as she begged to regain control of her life and her money.

Wendy Williams has been planning a return to The View for years, and she finally got that chance, as a pre-record phone call aired March 14 between the co-hosts and the beloved media personality. Williams, speaking with her advocate Ginalisa Monterroso, first addressed reports that she was taken to the hospital for cognitive tests, confirming that she went to get bloodwork done for her thyroid condition and said she requested the cognitive tests. Williams said during a segment on the talk show:

The former host of The Wendy Williams Show went on to describe the assisted living facility where she's lived for almost a year and previously referred to as a “luxury prison.” She said she is not allowed to leave the floor or have visitors, so she generally just stays in her room. In Williams’ words:

At this point in the phone call, Sunny Anderson read a statement from the lawyer of Wendy Williams’ guardian, Sabrina Morrisey, saying the guardianship was established after a judge declared her “legally incapacitated” following the dementia diagnosis. The statement refuted Williams’ claims that she has been kept from her family and said the former talk show host is “receiving excellent medical care.”

Wendy Williams then said she wanted to be freed from Sabrina Morrisey’s care, referencing her guardian and the judge as she said:

Wendy Williams said it’s been over three years since the court-appointed guardianship began, and she wants to be given control of her life and her money.

Advocate Ginalisa Monterroso said this week that the 60-year-old was undergoing testing in hopes of getting her into a “less restricted environment.” We’ll have to see what happens after the test results come back, but for fans, it was certainly good to hear that familiar voice again, and we just hope the decisions that are made are in Wendy Williams’ best interest.

Former talk show queen Wendy Williams has had the opportunity to do a lot of talking lately, and she’s been doing so in a bid to end the guardianship that she’s been under since April 2022. What originally began as a financial guardianship has turned into Williams living in the memory ward of an assisted living facility, which she previously agreed is basically a “luxury prison.” Now, the situation has taken another turn, as the star is undergoing cognitive tests while the NYPD and others investigate, and her guardian’s lawyer has issued a statement.

What’s Happening With Wendy Williams, The NYPD And Cognitive Tests?

There has been a lot of movement where Wendy Williams and her guardianship are concerned over, roughly, the past month. It was in mid-February that TMZ released a documentary, Saving Wendy, on the 2025 TV schedule and featured Harvey Levin in conversation with Williams over the phone (and with a camera following her part of the interview from outside the window of her room). That was quickly followed by the Hot Topics host being able to sign an affidavit asking to be released from her guardianship because she had "regained capacity" and could now live without that court order.

While she underwent some cognitive tests shortly after, the Ask Wendy author was still being held at the assisted living facility. It was then on Monday, March 10 that her caregiver, Ginalisa Monterroso (who is not associated with the guardianship) was able to get the NYPD to do a wellness check on Williams and determine if she was, essentially, imprisoned. Officers on the scene then escorted her to Lenox Hill Hospital to get additional tests to determine whether or not she can be released from the guardianship.

At the time of this writing, she is still there and waiting on additional tests (she passed the one administered by a psychiatrist on Monday), and Monterroso spoke with TMZ about what’s going on right now, saying:

As you may recall, amid numerous other health issues such as Graves’ disease and alcohol addiction, Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, the same condition that prompted actor Bruce Willis to retire. But, in every recent phone interview, Williams can be heard with, seemingly, her full powers of cognition intact. This appears to mean that she’s gotten a lot better from when she was seen in the 2024 Lifetime docuseries, Where is Wendy Williams?. However, that condition is degenerative, meaning that she would be getting worse and not better, and could have been misdiagnosed.

What Has Wendy Williams' Guardian Said Through Her Lawyer?

In the midst of Williams being escorted to the hospital by police, the woman in charge of her guardianship, Sabrina E. Morrissey, had her lawyer send a letter to TMZ stating that their media coverage of the situation has been "untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading." It also refutes a number of the claims that Williams, her family and Monterroso have made about the state of her care, saying that she hasn’t been kept from seeing or speaking to family and friends.

The letter also alleges that the famed talk show host is getting "excellent medical care" from a facility where she can access a "spa, a workout room, excellent food, a dining room, and outside terraces." But, Williams has also previously claimed that she’s not allowed to use most of those amenities because she can only leave her room and floor with permission.

Morrissey’s attorney also made it clear in their letter that the guardian isn’t the one who ordered the guardianship, a judge did that, and alleged that Morrissey isn’t even being paid to act as guardian, noting:

It’s clear that this situation is still developing, and all we can hope for is that Williams’ treatment gets a thorough evaluation and the best decision is made for her care.

Former talk show queen Wendy Williams has had an incredibly rough run over the past several years. In addition to numerous health problems and personal issues, she was placed under a conservatorship in spring 2022 and has since been deemed “legally incapacitated by her court appointed conservator, Sabrina E. Morrissey. However, Williams and a family member recently spoke out about the conservatorship and the woman who runs it, saying it’s left the public figure in a “luxury prison.”

What Did Wendy Williams And Her Family Say About The Conservatorship Leaving Her In A “Luxury Prison”?

While some of Wendy Williams' health struggles have been confirmed by the star herself, like her Graves’ disease and lymphedema diagnosis, the big question for a lot of fans has been whether or not her mental state actually requires her to have a conservatorship. The early 2024 Lifetime documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams?, explored many issues facing the star in the wake of her daytime talk show ending without her, to the point that many fans saw it as exploitative.

Now, Williams and her niece, Alex, have spoken out about how she’s been treated under the conservatorship, during an interview on The Breakfast Club. As the star explained:

She then went on to say that she basically does everything from her room (which she says only has one window), and noted that she can’t even leave that space without someone unlocking the door for her. In addition, she’s not allowed to have her cell phone, or any computers, tablets, etc, and is only able to watch TV or listen to the radio.

Williams called in for the interview, so there is a phone in her room, but both she and Alex describe the difficulty of getting and staying in touch with her. Additionally, family and friends have not been allowed to see her. Alex added that her aunt has been in a “luxury prison” and said:

The show’s host then had an associate, Loren Lorosa, describe the difficulty she had when trying to visit Williams just a few days before the interview. Apparently, she was on the phone with Williams when she arrived and was allowed to sign in with everyone at the front desk being aware of who Williams was. They called her conservator, Morrissey, who didn’t answer, but Lorosa says that’s when the atmosphere changed:

There is a lot more that was revealed by the nearly 40 minute interview, including the fact that her family has set up a Go Fund Me to support Wendy Williams’ fight for independence. Hopefully, the many issues that appear to have come out of this conservatorship can be resolved sooner rather than later.

Despite being a widely popular queen of daytime TV, talk show host and former Masked Singer contestant Wendy Williams went into an unfortunate spiral involving health concerns, rehab for addictions, financial problams, and a hiatus from her eponymous series. Things became more complicated in the aftermath, with Williams’ talk show ending without her returning, and rumors about a career resurgence were hindered by a dementia diagnosis in early 2024 ahead of the docuseries Where Is Wendy Williams?

Wendy Williams' Legal Guardian Provides Health Update With Lawsuit Filing

After months of relative silence that followed the initial flurry of reports and family member reactions to the somewhat unfinished TV project, Wendy Williams’ court-appointed guardians Sabrina E. Morrissey filed new court documents that sadly aren’t so positive regarding her current state of health. According to paperwork that requested producers of the docuseries edit out each moment with non-public details mentioned, Morrissey says:

Wendy Williams was first given a court-ordered guardianship back in April 2022, at a point when her publicized health concerns included lymphedema and Graves' disease, as well as alcohol abuse that reportedly became more of an issue following her divorce from Kevin Hunter in 2019. She was temporarily put into a care facility and later released, though several of her family members claim they've been unable to contact her under Morrissey's care.

Morrissey first hit A&E with a lawsuit in February 2024 on the same day her medical team released the dementia diagosis (which she'd received in 2023). At the time, the goal was to prevent the network from airing Where Is Wendy Williams? But that attempt was denied by an appeals court, and A&E aired it as planned.

Why Is A&E Countersuing?

A&E execs did not just sit back and let Morrissey's lawsuit drive them into hiding. Instead, the company's legal team is fighting back against the legal guardian's initial suit with the claims that she was infringing, or attempting to, on the org's First Amendment rights. With the proof being the first lawsuit that tried to block the docuseries from airing.

One of the arguments here has A&E blaming Morrissey for forcing its execs to focus their efforts on defending the company in court against what they feel are bunk accusations. To that end, A&E's legal docs point out that documentaries focusing on subjects with dementia aren't illegal to film, and that her signing the talent agreement makes that point moot anyway.

Pointing the finger of blame back at Sabrina E. Morrissey, the A&E paperwork states:

Wendy Williams and others reportedly weren't too happy with the final cut of the docuseries showing her out of sorts and not always mentally present, among other things. And it's not likely that she would have returned (or will return) to film more of the docuseries, or even if she'd be able to at this point. But until we're allowed to hear it straight from her, it's unclear where things truly stand.

Over the last few years, we’ve learned a lot about all the health issues Wendy Williams has faced alongside professional challenges, like The Wendy Williams Show ending. Now, there’s a Lifetime docuseries, Where Is Wendy Williams?, that dives into a lot of those sensitive topics. Following its premiere, the talk show vet’s project was met with backlash, with some claiming it was exploitative. However, now two of the producers of the series are opening up about how Williams reportedly feels about it. 

Erica Hanson, a producer on the docuseries, told ET that Williams and her son Kevin Hunter Jr. were producers on the project, and they wanted to “be able to tell her story so honestly and truthfully.” The producer went on to say that making this wasn’t easy, and the story they were telling was one full of hard moments. To that point, she said:

Where Is Wendy Williams? covers topics like Williams' financial struggles and her health troubles, which include memory loss, addiction, Graves disease and lymphedema. The docuseries was filmed between August 2022 and April 2023, per Today, and also addresses things like Williams being put under the control of a court-appointed guardian and the end of her show. Right before the documentary’s premiere, it was confirmed that she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, and her family opened up about her health struggles. 

Despite the project facing backlash regarding how it portrayed Williams’ health issues, with some calling it exploitative the article noted, producer Mark Ford said she “appreciates” the “love and attention” she’s received from fans since its release on the 2024 TV schedule in February. He said:

Along with this claim, Ford noted that he hasn’t spoken with her since the documentary premiered. However, he has kept in touch with the Williams family, and he noted that they are “supportive of the project." He said he’s also met with people close to the talk show host, and they reportedly said:

While they were making the documentary, Hanson explained that Wendy Williams didn’t put many “limitations” on them. She said the TV personality was “very direct” about what she would and would not do, but overall, there wasn’t a lot off limits. To that point, Ford explained:

Overall, this docuseries covers a lot of very personal challenges Wendy Williams has faced. Viewers weren’t sure what to make of it, as many thought it might have dived too deep. However, the producers claimed that the former host wanted to go to those places and talk about them. 

As we learn more about the response to Where Is Wendy Williams?, and if the beloved talk show host directly speaks up about the project, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. 

Former talk show host Wendy Williams has had a host of troublesome problems over the past several years that appear to just be getting worse. Not only has she faced drug and alcohol abuse and other serious health issues, but the recent Lifetime docuseries, Where is Wendy Williams?, has seen her family opening up about her health struggles as fans were able to take a look at the many challenges facing the star today. Now, after it’s been revealed that she received a diagnosis of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (similar to Bruce Willis, which caused him to retire), the celebrated talker is facing even more struggles, as she allegedly owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes.

What Is Being Said About How Much Money Wendy Williams Owes In Taxes?

According to TMZ, which obtained the legal documents related to Wendy Williams’ alleged tax problems, a lien has now been put on her $4.5 million condo in New York City, because she’s said to owe taxes for 2019 and 2021, to the tune of $568,451.57. Apparently, court records indicate that the tax lien was generated this January, while the NYC Department of Finance recorded the filing not long after, in early February 2024.

Unfortunately, this is far from the first time that the TV personality has faced serious issues surrounding her finances. It was in January 2022 that Williams began fighting with her bank, after they received notice that she might be “of unsound mind” from her former financial advisor and they locked the star out of all her accounts. It was that May when the courts appointed a financial guardian to her case, meaning that she now has to go through that person to access any of her money.

It was around that time that the Ask Wendy author said in an interview that she was getting money from friends for “essential things” because she only had access to “two dollars and nothing else.” Last summer, her son, Kevin Hunter, Jr., claimed that she was being taken advantage of amid her health and money woes. Hunter himself saw some consequences from the situation, as he was sued for back rent in August 2022 on the luxury apartment his mom was paying for, and eventually evicted from that Miami home.

The docuseries, which was filmed from August 2022 through April 2023, featured a lot of Williams’ daily life and her speaking for herself when it came to the realities of her health and money problems. In it, the former DJ told the crew “I have no money,” which would definitely seem to track with everything she’s been going through. 

TMZ notes that it’s possible that the situation with the lien and her back taxes could already be in the process of being taken care of by her financial guardian (whom they name as Sabrina Morrissey), who was appointed after the alleged tax violations took place. Let’s all hope that this is the case, as at least one problem for the talk show host would be cleared up for now.

No one behind the scenes of Lifetime’s much-discussed docuseries Where Is Wendy Williams? could have fully known everything that would transpire with the former talk show queen’s health and personal life when filming. Especially considering the doc’ origins were centered on Williams’ unrealized plans to start a podcast in the wake of The Wendy Williams Show’s final episode airing after a full season without her in the purple chair. With all four parts of the cable project having aired, one of Williams’ former talk show producers has spoken out about how pained she felt while watching.

Yazmin Ramos rose up the ranks behind the scenes at The Wendy Williams Show, not only in going from production assistant to senior producer, but also going from a dutiful employee to a trusted colleague who spent a ton of time with Williams on a regular basis. As such, Ramos found it very difficult to watch a friend she knew so well become someone entirely unfamiliar during the course of Where Is Wendy Williams?, which she opened up about in a self-authored article for Business Insider. 

In Ramos’ heart and mind, Williams will always be the same woman who won over millions of fans with her long-running, Hot Topic-filled show, someone who told it like it she saw it, experiencing the world without many filters. But with the camera crew beginning filming just as the public was starting to learn she was facing a number of health problems amidst a reportedly heavy addiction to alcohol. According to Ramos:

In her years on the show, Yazmin Ramos says she always worked hard and went the extra mile for Williams, who acknowledged and rewarded it at times. The woman she knew was warm and embracing. She continued:

While Ramos didn't directly indicate that the docuseries offered up any false information about her former boss, she did stress the hope that at least some people come away from watching it with positive mindsets about Wendy Williams still intact. As well, that the former host knows the impact she's made on those she worked with and entertained, even if Where Is Wendy Williams? didn't always hone in on positive vibes.

Yazmin Ramos isn't the only former Wendy Williams Show vet to have spoken out about the celeb's sudden downswing. DJ Poof said that it wasn't obvious to those on the show that Williams was suffering from any problems, though he personally had an inkling something was amiss because he'd "been around it."

In the docuseries, Williams’ niece Alex Finnie told the producers that after the news broke that The Wendy Williams Show was canceled, it didn’t truly take hold in her aunt’s mind for an unexpectedly long time. Finnie claimed it took “weeks, months” to convince Williams from going out and saying that she was returning to the show, which painted a very troublesome picture, with her memory coming into question at several points in the Lifetime project.

Ahead of the docuseries' airing, representatives for Williams went public with her medical diagnoses, revealing she suffered from primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, and that both had already "presented significant hurdles" in her life.

Though filming stopped in April 2023 as things grew more serious, it wouldn’t be surprising if network execs are already planning on a follow-up for down the road. For now, Where Is Wendy Williams? can be streamed on Lifetime.

Last week we learned that former talk show host Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. The announcement comes after years of struggles for the host which included Williams losing her popular daytime talk show. Now one member of that show is speaking out about Williams’ battles, saying that while people on the show knew she was having problems, nobody understood the extent of the situation.

Before the aphasia diagnosis, Wendy Williams had been battling alcohol addiction and having conflicts with people on The Wendy Williams Show this ultimately led to the cancellation of Williams’ show, with the time slot taken by Sherri Shepard. The recent diagnosis would seem to at least explain part of what was going on. Friend and co-worker of Williams DJ Boof recently told TMZ that while people certainly knew Williams was dealing with something, nobody understood what was going on. Boof explained…

The drama surrounding The Wendy Williams Show lasted for years before the show was eventually canceled. Williams was reportedly having financial issues for some time, and the final season of her show was handled almost entirely without her, as the host dealt with unspecified health problems.

Wendy Williams is dealing with the same frontotemporal dementia that forced Bruce Willis to retire from acting. It requires constant supervision, but even there we find controversy. Williams' family is taking issue with just who is providing that care.

Williams’ family says they have not been able to see her, and they are seemingly not being updated on her condition. Her son accused the guardianship that is overseeing Williams of taking advantage of her. DJ Boof doesn’t know why they are being kept at a distance, but he does believe Williams’ family should be there for her. He continued…

A new documentary which premiered Lifetime takes a look inside Wendy Williams’ life as it is today. It may provide some answers that explain everything that has been going on in Williams' life. Her family will be included, so fans will at least be able to see both sides of this fight.

Fans hoping that Wendy Williams would someday recover enough to return to the airwaves in one form or another following the cancellation of her talk show were dealt a heart-wrenching blow, when representatives for the media personality confirmed she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. The news came just ahead of the premiere of Lifetime’s docuseries Where is Wendy Williams?, and now more details are coming to light about what she and her family have been through — including how she reacted when her niece broke the news that The Wendy Williams Show had been canceled.

The famed host did not return to her talk show when its 13th season premiered in 2021, citing myriad health concerns. A series of guest hosts filled in, with Sherri Shepherd ultimately becoming a permanent replacement with her own eponymous show. Wendy Williams insisted several times that she would return to TV, but according to her niece Alex Finnie, those statements weren’t just the result of a bruised ego or strong work ethic — Williams really didn’t understand what had happened. Finnie said (via THR): 

It sounds like Wendy Williams’ niece was the one who had to break the news that her 13-year run had come to an end, with Sherri taking over the time slot officially in Fall 2022. However, Williams allegedly wasn’t able to comprehend such news right away, Alex Finnie said in Where is Wendy Williams?, as she continued: 

There was a lot of conflicting information regarding Wendy Williams’ health at the time, with reports that she was “on the mend” and almost back “to her old self” coming alongside continued concerns that she was unfit to handle her own finances and reports that she was struggling with simple tasks like eating and getting out of bed.

Fans likely felt encouraged by Wendy Williams’ motivated attitude to get back in front of an audience — which previously included plans for a podcast rather than another talk show — and it’s terrible to think that any of that was caused by a lack of understanding her situation — be that professionally or health-wise.

Wendy Williams’ family recently spoke out, wondering, “How the hell did we get here?” in regards to the former talk show host, who has allegedly been living in a healthcare facility since April 2023, estranged from everyone except a court-appointed guardian. We’ll have to see what other questions get answered in Parts 3 and 4 of Where is Wendy Williams?, which airs at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, February 25, on Lifetime. 

With the upcoming documentary Where is Wendy Williams? debuting on the 2024 TV schedule this weekend, the life and career of the former talk show host has been in the spotlight more than ever. Williams’ family recently opened up about Wendy’s health struggles ahead of the Lifetime network debut, and sadly even more details have broken about those challenges.

In a press release issued by Williams’ representatives (via PR Newswire), it has been confirmed that The Wendy Williams Show host has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. The same condition that saw Bruce Willis’ retirement from acting, reps confirmed her diagnosis through a statement that partially explained the situation as follows:

The timing of that diagnosis could line up with the previous rumors speculating Wendy Williams’ supposed hospitalization last year. Speaking of timing, it’s interesting that Wendy and her team would announce her frontotemporal dementia diagnosis prior to the airing of Where is Wendy Williams? Which could mean that larger revelations about Williams' life, or a more detailed dive into how this condition has affected her everyday routine, might be in the wings. 

Wendy Williams' claims of financial hardship might be discussed as well, which is another topic that's made it into the media personality's news orbit as of late. Which means that the heated debate between Williams’ son and her manager might also be brought into focus as a result of what Where is Wendy Williams? intends to share with the world. While that's not confirmed, one does wonder if that will be touched upon during the two night event airing this weekend. 

That just ties back to the fact that Ms. Williams and her reps are, as usual, being upfront with the public in a time of personal challenges. Surely that sort of candor will only be presented all the stronger after Where is Wendy Williams? makes its broadcast debut. A woman who embodies the title of “media personality," she's never been afraid to use the spotlight to share her truth. 

One can assume that Wendy will continue being Wendy every chance she gets, if only to continue upholding that reputation of frankness. At a time where such heartbreaking news has been released, Williams and her personal determination help ease what has to be a difficult announcement. 

We here at CinemaBlend send our best wishes to Wendy Williams, as well as her family and friends. Meanwhile, both halves of Lifetime’s Where is Wendy Williams documentary is set to air this weekend, on February 24th and 25th at 8 PM ET.

Daytime TV doesn’t look quite the same as it did just a few years ago, due in part to the headline-making fall from the spotlight suffered by Wendy Williams. The longtime talk show host, celebrated and derided for her behavior while on the air (from live TV farts to seemingly disrespectful death announcements), has been almost completely absent from public life more than two years after her eponymous series was ended, though a new Lifetime docuseries aims to tackle the myriad rumors that have surfaced regarding her alcohol abuse,rehab stints, health issues, financial struggles, family strife, and more. 

Despite being one of the most popular daytime TV hosts for years on end, Williams’ personal ups and downs began garnering more attention over time, with her 2017 on-air collapse as one of the first attention-grabbing red flags, leading into her later publicly revealing her Graves’ disease diagnosis. Williams entered a healthcare facility in April 2023 as treatment for mental issues reportedly caused by alcohol use (per her son in the documentary), at which point the Lifetime docuseries filmmakers wrapped filming. She’s apparently been in that facility ever since, and her family has raised concerns about being unable to directly contact or communicate with Williams themselves. At this time, reportedly the only person allowed to reach out to her at any given time is a court-appointed guardian.

Here’s how Wendy Williams’ sister Wanda Finnie put it, per People:

That’s precisely one of the questions that the docuseries, which will air four installments across two days, will attempt to answer with the months’ worth of footage filmed between August 2022 and April 2023. The project features moments that will no doubt shock and dismay viewers, such as a segment where Williams is being driven around in her car, and she asks her driver to swing by the studio where The Wendy Williams Show was filmed, not remembering that they’d already just done so. CinemaBlend previously reported on her alleged memory problems.

Williams’ driver was also interviewed for the documentary series, and it seems like he was just as out of the loop and concerned as anyone else in her life. As he put it:

It’s no doubt a troublesome time for Williams’ family and friends who aren’t always fully aware of what she’s up to or how she’s feeling. Not that things were always going smoothly beforehand, as the talk show vet was prone to suspicions and accusations in recent years. In the documentary, for instance, she calls out her financial guardian, whose identity hasn’t been publicized, for stealing money from her. However, no evidence of such crimes was made available, and no one else backed her claims. 

It was in the fall of 2021 when Wendy Williams’ TV troubles first arose, with Season 13’s start being delayed on multiple occasions due to behind-the-scenes issues. The show later began filming with guest hosts taking her spot, which remained the case for the rest of the season, one that now stands as the final year of The Wendy Williams Show, even though she wasn’t part of it. It doesn’t seem like she’ll ever get back to the job that made her a household name, but hopefully some answers will come out of this docuseries.

Check out the trailer for the new project below!

Where Is Wendy Williams? will make its debut with back-to-back episodes on Lifetime on Saturday, February 24, at 8:00 p.m. Episodes will also be streaming with a Philo subscription or Sling subscription.

It was just about a year ago, in late February 2023, that it really seemed that things were finally looking up for former daytime talk show host Wendy Williams. After over a year of health struggles, financial issues and having her long-running show canceled, she declared she was “formerly retired” and set about making plans for a comeback in the form of a podcast. However, not only has that project not yet come to pass, but a new documentary has Williams claiming “I have no money,” while explaining some of her recent struggles.

What Does The Wendy Williams Documentary Show?

Page Six notes that Lifetime released a trailer for its documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams, but then quickly removed it. In the clip, which is a little over two minutes long, we get not only interviews from Williams’ family, like her sister, Wanda, her father, and her son, Kevin Hunter, Jr. (who was evicted from his apartment because of her troubled finances), but lots of the Hot Topics talker herself explaining what things have been like for her. 

It looks like a lot of the focus will be on the fact that she’s been under a court mandated conservatorship since May 2022, which led to her being appointed a financial guardian. It seems that she and her family have decided to get their story on the record about that guardian not actually working to her benefit, because, as Williams says in the footage:

The problems with Williams and her bank, Wells Fargo, began in January 2022, when officials there blocked her access to her accounts after her former financial advisor reported to them that she was “of unsound mind.” This led to several months of fighting between the Ask Wendy author, who denied she wasn’t healthy enough to manage her own money, and her bank. But, when it came down it, a New York court decided there was some merit to the claim and appointed the guardian.

At the time, it was hoped that the decision would ease her money woes, seeing as how she would work with the guardian to access her accounts and pay for whatever was needed, so she’d be able to stop getting money from friends for “essential things.” From what she and her family say in the footage, however, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Unfortunately, the health issues that plagued the beloved host were also a major concern during this time, and one of those problems has been her long battle with substance abuse. She’s spoken openly about several of her rehab stints, and was admitted to another wellness facility for about a month from September 2022 through that October. But, the documentary, which seems to have largely been shot in 2023, shows that she’s still struggling with addiction. This was reported in late March of that year, when a source who saw her out on the town claimed Williams said she was out to “get drunk.”

Right now, there’s no word on when this documentary will air or what else it will show, but it’s sure to get her fans talking.

A lot has been said about former talk show host Wendy Williams over the past couple of years, and it’s been hard for fans to tell what of that supposed information is true or simply rumor. We do know that the beloved host has been beset with a number of health and financial issues, and while the early months of 2023 saw her do things like step out and speak positively about her weight, and talk about being “formerly retired” and getting back to work, it seems that progress has been slow going. Now, after her son said that she’s being taken advantage of, her manager has clapped back at the claim.

What Did Wendy Williams’ Manager Say About The Claim That She’s Being Taken Advantage Of?

It was just on June 5 that The U.S. Sun released an interview with Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter, Jr., who told the outlet that he felt his mother was being taken advantage of by her inner circle. He claimed that they were only concerned with getting her back to work, instead of getting his mother’s health on track, and alleged that her various representatives/friends were “enabling” her alcoholism, among many other claims. Now, the Ask Wendy author’s manager, Will Selby, has responded to his allegations, and told Entertainment Tonight:

Williams’ financial troubles really started in early 2022, when her bank denied her access to her accounts and information about them, after her former financial advisor claimed to the institution that she was “of unsound mind.” By mid-February, the bank had petitioned a New York court to hold a hearing and see whether or not she was an “incapacitated person” and needed a court appointed advisor to manage her money. Though she and her attorney fought the claims and denied the need for a financial guardianship, as Selby noted, Williams had such a guardian appointed to her in May 2022.

This should mean, as he also said, that it would be basically impossible for anyone who works with her to take advantage of her resources, though it’s also pretty easy to see how her son wouldn’t necessarily be so sure of that, considering everything he’s watched his mom go through. Speaking of which, Williams’ manager also had some strong words for Hunter’s willingness to open up to the media in this way, and said:

Aside from watching as his mother deal with addiction, other health problems, her money struggles, and how she’s still trying to rebound professionally from the loss of her daytime talker, her son has also had his life changed by her troubles. In August 2022, Hunter was sued for back rent on his Miami apartment, and was eventually evicted. This was a direct result of her being put under a financial guardianship, as she had previously been paying his rent. He had also been accused of being partially to blame for Williams’ money problems, and had to publicly deny using her credit card without being authorized to do so.

Selby had more to say about Hunter, adding:

Williams has been attempting to get a podcast off of the ground for several months, but that appears to be on hold, at least for a time, as her manager did confirm that she’s back in a wellness facility and getting treatment (despite her lawyer denying hospitalization a few weeks ago), likely for her addiction issues. All we can really hope is that things go better for her after this stint, and that she’ll be able to better manage her life going forward.

Wendy Williams has seen her fair share of ups and downs during the last several years. Much has been said about the bevy of health issues she’s faced over the years, and there’s continued speculation regarding whether she’ll ever make a full-time return to TV or radio. More recently, it was alleged that she had recently been admitted to a hospital in New York, with a source also saying that her family was keeping tabs on the situation. However, Williams’ rep is now speaking out on reports that she’s been hospitalized. 

That initial piece of news broke on Friday, with insiders saying that the media personality had entered the hospital weeks ago. They also claimed that she was “briefly released” last weekend before she went “right back in.” Around this same time, it’s also been confirmed that Wendy Williams will not appear as a speaker at the Atlanta Women's Expo as planned. However, it would seem that news of her hospitalization isn’t quite accurate. Her publicist, Shawn Zanotti, shared a statement with Page Six, which reads as follows: 

Shawn Zanotti did not provide any details on her client’s health status or location when responding to the rumors. One can’t help but wonder what’s really going on with the Think Like a Man alum. Concrete updates on her well-being have been few and far between as of late. And based on the most recent piece of information from the 58-year-old herself, she seems somewhat pleased with the progress she’s been making health-wise.

Wendy Williams has been battling Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that negatively impacts the thyroid, as well as a tissue-swelling disorder known as lymphedema. Back in February, Williams was approached by photographers and opened up about her weight and other topics. At the time, she said she weighed in at 138 lbs. and considered that to be a good number. What we don’t know for sure, though, is whether that bodes for her amid her continued health struggles, which caused her to miss the entirety of the 13th and final season of her eponymous show. All the while, Williams has also been dealing with sobriety issues and, in March, it was alleged that she went out to “get drunk” shortly after a rehab stint.

As far as her professional endeavors go, she’s also seen some stars and stops. It was previously announced that she would headline a podcast called The Wendy Williams  Experience, with the host saying that she was “happy” as she prepared to get to work again. By March, the podcast was rumored to have been cancelled, though Williams’ rep shot down that claim. Though she says she’s “formally retired” at the moment, the star still says that she’d love to appear on TV again at some point down the road.

Before such a thing were to happen though, one would think that she would need to be healthy enough to do it. It’s hard to say what might lie ahead for Wendy Williams, as she continues to navigate this period in her life. The best we can probably do at this point is wish her the best and hope that she’s doing well.

A question that has been ever-present in the minds, and on the lips, of celeb watchers over the past year and a half or so is: What’s going on with Wendy Williams? Since the early 2022 cancellation of her eponymous talk show, the star has continued to battle a number of health problems, shocking claims about her mental well-being, and complicated financial struggles, all while attempting to launch a career comeback. Now, her rep has responded after rumors began about the host wanting to return to TV and her new podcast being canceled.

What Did Wendy Williams’ Rep Say About A Return To TV And Her Podcast?

It was last summer, amid a number of reports of the former Hot Topics talker being ready to get back to work, that her manager announced her plan to start a podcast. She opened up to fans about it on Instagram in December, by promoting products from The Wendy Experience, but it was just a few weeks later that her brother called her out for missing their dad’s birthday while the podcast hadn’t even premiered yet. Her rep, Shawn Zanotti, recently spoke with Entertainment Tonight about the podcast, with rumors swirling that it had already been canceled:

The lack of an “official” cancellation is good news for Wendy Fans who’ve been longing to hear more from the host since she had to step back from her beloved talk show in the late summer of 2021. However, representatives and PR spokespeople know how to word things to not quite give definitive answers, and the word “official” really sticks out to me. I’m not in PR, but could the use of that word indicate that the podcast is all but officially canceled, meaning that maybe progress on it stalled but no one is completely ready to say that publicly yet?

We’ll have to wait and see about that, but it’s intriguing to note that Zanotti also told ET that “Wendy does desire to return to TV,” which is actually the exact opposite of what was said about the how you doin’ host’s wants for her future career path when the podcast was first announced. Considering what’s been happening lately, it’s not impossible that Williams would prefer to be seen on a regular basis again.

For several months, it was rare to see or even hear from her as she battled various ailments, but that’s changed lately. In November of 2022, she spoke at the live Circle of Sisters event for WBLS, and has been stepping out in public more and more since, giving fans updates on her weight, and things like her relatively new “formerly retired” work status and simply going out to have a good time.

All fans can really hope for now is that Williams figures out her next move and stays happy and healthy enough to make it happen.

Former daytime queen Wendy Williams has dealt with a mountain of trouble over the past several years, with everything from a divorce, to the ending of her talk show, and many health and financial problems hitting the Hot Topics talent. She’s also been dealing with sobriety issues, with her having more than one stay in rehab facilities since 2019. But, fans will be wondering if she’s having trouble with alcohol now, after her most recent rehab stint, as a new report claims the star just went out to “get drunk.”

What Happened When Wendy Williams Was Supposedly Trying To Get Drunk?

According to Page Six, it was just on Friday night, March 17, when the host (who’s announced that her new podcast, The Wendy Experience, is on the way) spent her evening drinking at one of her favorite restaurants, Fresco by Scotto in New York City, and then hit up gay bar The Townhouse, indulging in alcoholic beverages for much of that time. According to a source:

The source also noted that the star told some other patrons that she was planning to move to Los Angeles in the next three weeks, and said to a different group that “she was looking for love — and like in Sex and the City, she’s willing to fuck.” 

While a sorta wild night on the town isn’t a big deal for a lot of people, anyone dealing with substance abuse issues probably has to be very careful with such things. It was in mid-March of 2019 (after an extended break from her talk show) that Williams announced on her daytime series that she’d been staying in a sober house “for some time now” in an effort to crack down on her struggles with addiction. 

Then, the late summer of 2021 saw a number of her health conditions be worsened by a bout of Covid, which led to both her absence from the entirety of her show’s last season, and a number of troubling rumors about her physical and mental well-being. While she’s also now under a financial guardianship (and has been since May 2022), many of the reports over the past year have also involved the potential restaurateur supposedly being spotted out and about while drunk, or drinking while trying to combat her long-term health conditions, with the thought being that even if she didn’t have addiction problems, drinking would still make her health worse. 

Some of these reports may have been true, as it was in September 2022 that Williams checked back into rehab, leaving at some point the next month. Rob Shuter, who had often appeared on Williams’ show, was one of the people the “formerly retired” media mogul hung out with last Friday, and he spoke more about what happened on his podcast, Naughty But Nice, when he and some friends arrived at the restaurant:

He also noted that she told patrons she was about to move to California, but added that she said she’d taken her ex-husband’s last name again, but wouldn’t confirm why or whether or not she was back with Kevin Hunter, Sr. If Williams was drinking, as it was claimed, the information about her moving and taking her ex’s surname might not be entirely accurate, but if she appeared to be doing well, all we can hope for is that she really is in a good place right now.

It would seem that those who are missing being able to see Wendy Williams on television most days of the week may be in for some good news soon. Even though the long-time daytime host had her show canceled in 2022 after her many health setbacks kept her out of her beloved purple chair for the entirety of what ended up being the last season, she’s not ready to give up the spotlight just yet. The star recently declared that she’s now in “formerly retired” mode, and The View is a part of her comeback plans.

What Did Wendy Williams Say About Her Comeback And The View?

The Hot Topics talker who’s been known to get in the middle of controversies that usually centered on celeb gossip saw her own life become the target of rumors in the fall of 2021, as physical troubles with a number of conditions kept her from returning to work. Aside from a few interviews and Instagram posts over the past year, she’s mostly been out of the public eye (with many rumors still swirling about her health issues), but is now planning her comeback. A photographer with NYCPAP recently caught up with Williams as she shopped for cat supplies, and she caught him up on her progress, saying:

If you know anything about what takes famous folk to shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers or The View, it’s that they typically go when they have something to promote. The former host of The Wendy Williams Show announced her upcoming podcast last summer, and even took to IG to tell fans about the already-on-sale merchandise for the show, which is now dubbed The Wendy Experience, in December 2022. 

However, we have yet to get a premiere date for the project, and her brother even took a dig at her recently for skipping their dad’s 92nd birthday celebration while still, apparently, not being fully back to work. So, maybe these plans of hers are a sign that things really are moving in the right direction, and fans can expect to hear her podcast sooner rather than later.

From the looks of the host in the video, she appears to be doing much better with her health. Over the past year and a half or so, there had been sad reports of everything from Williams not being able to properly clothe or feed herself on a regular basis, to her even being put under a financial guardianship after a money manager reported to her bank that she was an “incapacitated person” who couldn’t handle her own money anymore.

Now that the Ask Wendy author is looking to work the talk show circuit in a few weeks, here’s hoping that she’s truly on the mend and ready to give her fans more of the brutal honesty she’s known for in her new podcast.

All Wendy watchers (and pretty much anyone who pays attention to celebrity news) know that former talk show host Wendy Williams has been beset with a number of struggles over the past several years. From a very public cheating scandal with her now ex-husband and stints in rehab for addiction problems, to a myriad of other health issues like Graves’ disease, much of this culminated in the end of her daytime career in 2022. As the star continues to plan her comeback with a new podcast, however, she’s stepped out and opened up about her weight amid her many health concerns.

What Did Wendy Williams Say About Her Weight?

Though the one time “How you doin” host is still plotting her comeback with The Wendy Experience (which her brother recently took a shot at after she missed their dad’s 92nd birthday party for unknown reasons), she’s also continuing to deal with several troubling obstacles, especially surrounding her health. A new video from TMZ, though, shows Williams out and about, looking and sounding quite happy with life right now. 

The Wendy’s Got the Heat author was spotted just on Tuesday night as she headed to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants, Fresco by Scotto (the owner of which noted last year that Williams is interested in opening her own restaurant), smiling and gladly speaking to photographers outside, saying unprompted:

Awww. It’s good that she’s happy about where her weight is right now, and she was certainly feeling herself on this occasion. The ever-snazzy dresser was in fuzzy black boots, sheer tights that showed off her legs, denim short shorts, and a brown jacket with fluffy, furry sleeves, with those last two items being branded with the logo of luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton.

While the radio and TV veteran, who promoted her new podcast and its merchandise in late December, seemed thrilled about the report from her doctor, we don’t actually know what this particular weight means for her or her health right now. Along with battling addiction and having spent time in a sober house just a few years ago, Graves’ disease (an immune disorder that leads to hyperthyroidism) and lymphedema (a type of tissue swelling that usually affects the legs or arms) have been constant struggles for some time.

It was during the final season of The Wendy Williams Show that her health really took a turn, leading the famed talker to take the full season off as she concentrated on healing. Unfortunately, while that led to the end of her series, it also led to a number of rumors/concerns about her physical and mental wellbeing, including her eventually being put under a financial guardianship last May.

Hopefully, the Hot Topics guru’s weight is a great sign that she’s getting back to her old self, and that she’ll be able to return to the spotlight in the way she wants sooner rather than later.

Former daytime talk show host Wendy Williams has certainly seen her fair share of difficulties over the past several years, with her health being one of her main obstacles. But, she’s also done things that have led to some strife within her family, and now her brother has called her out again, this time for skipping their dad’s recent birthday bash, while also not having started her podcast yet.

What Did Wendy Williams’ Brother Say About Her Not Attending Their Father’s Birthday Party?

It was just this past weekend that the family had a party to celebrate the 92nd birthday of patriarch Thomas Williams, Sr., but the embattled host’s brother, Tommy, has now told The U.S. Sun that she was a no-show for the big day. Based on what he said to the outlet, he has some strong feelings about her not attending:

Williams’ brother is indeed correct that many fans and celeb watchers have been “caught up” in how her life is turning out, as 2022 was filled with setbacks for her. The Hot Topics talker’s many health issues led to her absence from the final season of her show, and the number of rumors surrounding her physical and mental state, added to the very real problems she was facing (including another stint in rehab over addiction struggles), caused her beloved series to be canceled and replaced in the fall of last year with a new one, Sherri. 

As she was dealing with her professional troubles, she also had to deal with another major impediment to her personal life, when she had to begin fighting her bank to get access to her money, as those in charge had been told she might not be in the right frame of mind to handle her finances. Unfortunately, the legal actions she took didn’t work, and she was placed under a financial guardianship in May 2022. In fact, early December saw her son’s eviction from his Miami apartment, and her complicated money situation was said to be the cause for that.

As her brother noted, Williams is supposed to be on the comeback trail with a new podcast, The Wendy Experience, which the star’s manager announced last June. However, while it’s been many months since that reveal, and though she promoted the podcast launch in late December by talking up merchandise for the new show, it has yet to air any episodes.

Hopefully, Williams will be able to mend the familial rift soon, and also present fans who’ve sorely missed her with the new podcast sooner rather than later.

2022 has been an eventful year for Wendy Williams, to say the very least. Her long-running talk show was cancelled and the time slot handed over to Sherri Shepherd, with Williams not even appearing in The Wendy Williams Show finale in the flesh. The former TV host and radio personality also spent some time in rehab, and it was just earlier in December that her son was evicted from his apartment, partially due to her complicated finances. Now, however, she has shared that she’s “happy to be here” while getting back to work with a fun new move.

Despite losing her TV show, news broke back in June that Wendy Williams was planning on kicking off the next stage of her career with a podcast, which has been moving forward after earlier rumors that she has a different project in mind. With the podcast, called The Wendy Experience, still in the works, the host herself took to Instagram to share a happy message with her fans. She posted:

The video is a perfect fit for the holidays with snow surrounding the house, so who can argue with Wendy Williams’ comment of “‘tis the season” to go along with her holiday wishes? She went on to tell fans that official merchandise for The Wendy Experience is now available, and she’s “just happy to be here.” She’s certainly all smiles in the quick video! 

The merch celebrates The Wendy Experience with sweaters, hoodies, and hats, of course in shades of pink, black, and white! Interestingly, the items – which range in price from $45 - $75 – are up for sale before the podcast has even premiered. In late November, Williams spoke at Circle Of Sisters 2022 and previewed that it was expected to launch within the “next few weeks,” but the first episode is not yet available. 

The merch rolling out may be a good sign that the podcast itself will debut sooner rather than later in 2023. According to the website for the upcoming project, The Wendy Experience will be a one-hour nationally syndicated podcast that covers hot topics and will feature celebrity interviews. The project already seems to be accumulating fans before premiering as well, with more than 105,000 followers after just 19 posts, one of which confirmed that the iconic purple chair from The Wendy Williams Show was one of the items saved for the host after the series’ cancellation. 

All things considered, Wendy Williams’ future is looking brighter than ever since her show's cancellation, after spending time in rehab starting in August, announcing her new project, and now releasing a line of merch. Hopefully her podcast will be available early in the new year, although there’s also plenty on the way in the 2023 TV premiere schedule to keep fans entertained while waiting for her first big project following the end of her TV show.

Former daytime queen Wendy Williams has been through quite a lot in the past year or so. A number of serious health concerns kept her off her popular daytime show last fall, to the point where she was replaced permanently with a new series hosted by Sherri Shepherd. There have continued to be reports and rumors about her health, even as she’s now left rehab again and is attempting to get a celebrity interview podcast started. But, the Hot Topics talker has also been embroiled in a battle with her bank, and now that her son has been evicted from his apartment, we know how her financial trouble ties into it.

Why Was Wendy Williams’ Son Evicted And How Are Her Finances Tied To It?

According to The U.S. Sun, Kevin Hunter, Jr., Williams’ 22-year-old son, was sued in August for back rent on his Florida apartment, to the whopping tune of $70,000. A copy of his lease was included in the filing, which shows that his famous mother had originally paid over $100,000 to rent the home for him for a year, starting in March 2021. That lease was up by the end of February 2022, and Hunter had previously agreed to continue paying on a monthly basis once the original term of the lease expired.

However, those who’ve been following all of the many twists and turns in Williams’ life over the past many months will know that her son’s original lease was up just a few weeks after she began fighting with her bank, Wells Fargo, which locked her out of her accounts in January. For a time, she said she had to borrow money from friends for “essential things,” meaning that she has been unable to offer enough financial support to her son in the intervening months that would allow him to be able to fulfill the new terms of his lease. 

In his response to the lawsuit, Hunter told the court that he’s now in school full time, after taking a year off to help his mother through her health issues and because of his concerns over COVID. He added:

As noted in his response, things have not gone well when it comes to the former daytime host and her banking institution. Despite her lawyer filing an emergency petition for a restraining order to stop the bank from freezing her money, the process went ahead, as those at Wells Fargo said her former financial advisor alerted them to the possibility that she was “of unsound mind” and being taken advantage of financially. Her accounts were locked so that an investigation could take place.

Unfortunately, in May, that investigation turned up enough evidence to suggest that Williams would need a financial guardian, and one was appointed to her. This means that she’s not in control of her money on her own, as all decisions about what is spent and where needs to go through that guardian for ultimate approval. 

It was just back in late August that Hunter publicly denied that he was the cause of Williams’ financial problems. There was an allegation stating that all of these issues came from his unauthorized use of her American Express card to the tune of $100,000. The two had later gone together to obtain information about her accounts with Wells Fargo, but when Williams wouldn’t allow her financial advisor at the time to speak to her alone, it seems that that is when a warning about her mental state was sent to bank officials, and the lockdown of her money began.

Hunter is said to have vacated the apartment willingly on September 7, but there’s no word on where he’s living now, or how that home is being paid for, seeing as how Williams is still working with her financial guardian. Hopefully, with her trying to return to media prominence with a new podcast, and possibly attempting to open a restaurant, she’ll be back in control of her money before much longer.

Wendy Williams may be out of rehab and on the hopeful path to her media career return, but apparently all is still not well with the former talk show host, at least when it comes to her relationships with her family. Since leaving a wellness center in October for an alcohol problem that reportedly had her “on death’s door,” Williams has apparently not been in contact with family members, and as the holidays approach, that silence is not OK with her brother. Tommy Williams called out his sister for causing pain to her elderly father by failing to reach out.

The media personality’s health has been the subject of much speculation, after she was unable to return to The Wendy Williams Show for its final season, due to COVID, Graves disease and other concerns. Apparently her addiction also became an issue, and Tommy Williams spoke with The Sun about his sister’s behavior since returning to rehab, saying her failure to reach out to her family has been particularly hard on her 91-year-old father. In his words: 

Wendy Williams’ mother died in 2020, and despite their father still being in good health months shy of his 92nd birthday, Tommy Williams is all too aware the time they have left with him is precious. He went on to say that he tries not to bring Wendy up to his father, because he can see the pain in his eyes when he says he hasn’t heard from her. 

If the former talk show host, who announced she’s making her return to media with a new podcast, The Wendy Experience, is planning a trip to Florida to spend the holidays with her family, she hasn’t made those plans known to her brother. And Tommy Williams said because it’s the holidays, he has no problem calling out Wendy, telling the trade: 

Tommy Williams has spoken out about his sister before, specifically in the months before she sought treatment for her addiction. In July he talked about the heartbreaking and frustrating situation he was in, where he wanted to help Wendy Williams, but she wouldn’t acknowledge anything was wrong. In August, Tommy said it was “unnerving” that Wendy said in an interview she’d gotten married the previous week, which was not true, and in September it was reported that she kept forgetting her show had been canceled.

Since leaving the wellness center, Wendy Williams decided that another TV show as not the road for her, and she announced plans to start the new podcast. While no projected premiere date has been announced for The Wendy Experience, she did tell her followers to “#StayTuned,” as she posted an Instagram photo from the comfort of her iconic purple chair.

Fans are hoping she remains well enough to return to the airwaves one way or another, after The Wendy Williams Show was replaced by the series’ guest host Sherri Shepherd with her own namesake show Sherri. Keep an eye on what’s coming up in the new year with our 2023 TV schedule. 

The Wendy Williams Show came to a somewhat unceremonious end this year, as its host battled health issues that prevented her from returning for the 13th season. As Sherri Shepherd closed out the series’ final episode — which featured a tribute to Wendy Williams, if not the TV personality in the flesh — and clips from the show were scrubbed from YouTube, there was some concern regarding the fate of the host’s iconic purple chair and other memorabilia. Well, Wendy fans, worry no longer, because the former host herself has provided us with an answer to what happened to the chair, along with an update about her next career move.

Wendy Williams returned to Instagram on November 3, telling her fans to “#StayTuned” on the official page for her upcoming podcast The Wendy Experience. While it’s great to see the host making moves to return to the media following a stint in rehab, many fans were also excited to see that the purple chair also lives on: 

After The Wendy Williams Show’s series finale — which her ex-husband Kevin Hunter called a “travesty” — it was reported that the chair was going to be “thrown out,” along with the host’s wigs, shoes, artwork and other belongings. However, her manager Will Selby seemed to refute those claims, saying he’d told Wendy Williams that they should go get them since they belonged to her and were iconic. Now we have the proof!

Listeners of The Wendy Experience will be able to rest assured that the professional gossiper will be sitting in her rightful place when she delivers whatever new content she’s got planned for the pod. While Wendy Williams had announced her pivot away from television earlier this summer, it was unknown what the status of her career path was after getting help for her alcohol addiction. Following her stay in rehab, it was even reported she might be interested in opening her own restaurant. Just imagine if all the chairs therein would be modeled after the talk show's.

The talk show host may be “home and healing” now, according to her representative, Shawn Zanotti, but some scary stories emerged about Wendy Williams amid this latest step in her recovery. Sources claimed she couldn’t stop drinking and kept having to be reminded that her show had been canceled, and another worrying claim emerged about her being “at death’s door” during a relapse in 2020.

Details have also come out about the confusion that surrounded The Wendy Williams Show’s 13th season. Insiders report that a Zoom staff meeting — intended to clarify the show’s situation after the premiere date was pushed back — went south after Wendy Williams became incoherent, and Debmar-Mercury’s co-presidents abruptly ended the call. In the end, Williams didn't return to the show for any of its final season installments, with a series of guest hosts filling in. The decision was made for Sherri Shepherd to permanently take over the time slot with her own show, Sherri, which debuted in September. 

It’s good to see Wendy Williams back in our news feeds, and particularly in her iconic purple chair. Hopefully her health is now in a place where she can tackle the new podcast and whatever else is next. In the meantime, check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming up. 

Wendy Williams has really not had a good year. A number of serious health problems kept the host off of her beloved talk show for the entirety of Season 13, which led to several rumors about her mental health and ability to care for herself. On top of that, her absence led to her series being canceled and replaced on the 2022 TV schedule. While the former daytime TV maven had seemed to be on the mend, it was about a month ago that news came out that she’d actually entered a rehab facility to help with her drinking. Now that she’s home, though, might the famed Hot Topics queen be changing up her post-talk show plans?

How Might Wendy Williams Change Her Post-Talk Show Plans Now That She’s Out Of Rehab?

No one would blame the former radio star if she’s a bit upset by the fact that her popular (if sometimes problematic) daytime hit was replaced by one hosted by Sherri Shepherd, who really came to prominence as a guest host who covered for Williams. However, any of that potential disappointment is likely eclipsed by the fact that she’s been able to recover from some of her health issues, including now completing a stay in rehab. Earlier this year, her manager said she was putting together a podcast to continue her career as a famous talker, but Page Six is now reporting that she might have a very different plan up her sleeve.

The outlet spoke with Fresco by Scotto owner and Good Day New York co-host Rosanna Scotto, who said about her “friend”: 

Opening a restaurant would, of course, be a big change from how the star has made a name for herself before. She came to fame as a radio personality in New York, which she turned into careers as a writer (she’s published several non-fiction and fiction titles), comedian, clothing and wig designer, and, obviously, television show host. If anything, though, all this proves that if anyone can make such an entrepreneurial leap, it’s Williams.

How Is Wendy Williams’ Health Post-Rehab?

It would take a lot of time and effort to open a restaurant, and, luckily, it sounds like the talent is now in a much better place to potentially undertake such work. After nearly two months in a wellness center to try and combat her problems with addiction once again, her representative, Shawn Zanotti, noted in a statement:

The rep also had some words said to come directly from the famous lady herself, and added “Thank you to my fans for your love, support and many prayers, I am back and better than ever.” So, hopefully we’ll see before much longer whether or not her “many projects” include both her planned podcast and a brand new restaurant.

Wendy Williams’ health continues to be a subject of speculation — especially when it comes to her history with substance abuse — after the former talk show reportedly checked back into rehab last week. The media personality had opened up to her viewers about staying in a sober living facility in 2019, years before COVID, Graves disease and other concerns prevented her from returning to The Wendy Williams Show. New reports, however, paint a much bleaker picture than we may have realized, as apparently Williams was “at death’s door” in May 2020 due to her alcohol addiction.

The spotlight is back on Wendy Williams’ struggles with addiction amid her entering a wellness facility, and it’s been reported that her habits had taken a toll to the point where she even forgets her talk show has been canceled. As scary as that sounds, a new and even scarier story has emerged, with a source for Page Six recalling a time they discovered the host in a life-or-death situation. The source was apparently among a group of friends who found her in a “catatonic” state in her New York City apartment in May 2020. The insider reports:

Wendy Williams’ former, manager Bernie Young, reportedly didn’t want to call 911 and thus alert the public to the star’s condition, but others present insisted Young contact her sober team and ex-husband Kevin Hunter. Young didn’t seem to understand how serious the situation was, the source explained: 

Kevin Hunter was apparently able to convince his ex-wife to accept the help of Ron Clinton, the head of her former sober team, and her friend DJ Boof drove her to the hospital, where the source said she received two blood transfusions because her iron was so low. A second Page Six source said “Boof was the savior of her fucking life,” as he also returned to her apartment afterward to throw out her alcohol. The first source said if they hadn’t intervened, Wendy Williams would likely not be alive today: 

That is pretty frightening to think about, especially considering she continues to fight those battles. Amid her return to rehab, reports suggested that the former talk show host “can’t stop drinking.” Her brother Tommy Williams previously said it’s “heart-wrenching,” because she wouldn’t acknowledge that she needed help. Hopefully now she has accepted the assistance, and we wish the best for Wendy Williams and hope to see her get back to work soon.

It’s been a whirlwind year for comedian/actress Sherri Shepherd. The former co-host of The View was one of many to step in last year to guest host when Wendy Williams found herself too beset with health problems to host her beloved, eponymous daytime talker, and soon became a favorite with viewers. Now that Sherri has taken over the timeslot previously owned by the “How you doin’” host’s show, though, there’s reported drama behind the scenes with some of Williams’ former employees. 

What’s Going On With Sherri Shepherd’s Show And Wendy Williams’ Former Staffers? 

When it became clear that the frequently controversial daytime host wouldn’t be able to return for Season 13 of her show at all, and there was also no word on whether or not she’d be up for a potential Season 14, Williams’ show was canceled and Sherri was set in its place. That new series hit the airwaves early this week, but according to The U.S. Sun, there are those who came to the freshman talker from The Wendy Williams Show who now worry they’ll be replaced. An anonymous source told the outlet:

If you’re wondering why supervising producer Norman Baker and co-executive producer Suzanne Bass were simply referred to by their first names in the above comment, it’s because fans of their former show knew the two well. For much of the time Williams was on the air, as long as Baker and Bass were present for a taping, both were seen on camera during episodes, with them usually interacting with the host either during the Hot Topics segment (Baker) or during the opening moments (Bass). 

However, when Sherri debuted, neither producer was seen on the series, which left fans missing them, and has possibly led to those staffers, especially, not feeling very secure in their positions with the new show. 

Obviously, there were a lot of moving pieces and quite a bit of confusion that surrounded the creation of this show, which could lead to a divide between new staffers and those who transferred from the previous series. Prior to her missing the final season, there had been increasing controversies over her on-camera behavior and rumors about how she acted behind the scenes. An executive behind the show even admitted recently that when they’d survey the audience about the host, they’d note that they watched daily, but also that Williams was “so mean to people.”

It makes sense that Shepherd would want to separate herself from Williams, particularly with regard to what viewers see on her show, but only time will tell if she continues to employ those who worked on the series she’s now replaced. 

Wendy Williams has lived through a tremendous amount of difficulties in the past several years that most people would consider deeply stressful. In early 2019 the now former host of The Wendy Williams Show told her fans that she’d been residing in a sober living facility, and shortly after, Williams divorced her husband after reports of him fathering a child with another woman went public. Her many health issues soon became too much, with Williams sitting out all of what would become the final season of her daytime talker. Now, there are more alleged worries coming from those who know Williams, as there are reports that her habits are taking a toll and she can’t remember that her show was canceled.

What Are Insiders Claiming About Wendy Williams’ Habits? 

Even before Wendy Williams admitted to fans on her talk show that she’d been battling with addiction and living in a sober house to fully recover, the former radio host had been open about her addiction to cocaine. While Williams is now attempting to find her way back into the spotlight with a podcast that she’s said to be working on, though, The U.S. Sun is reporting that some close to the star are now worried that her habits are making things worse for her. According to one anonymous source:

Basically, the source claims that Williams is still trying to live like someone who has her life fully together, possibly to the point of ignoring the severity of her health problems and all the consistent changes needed to her lifestyle to make things better for her in the short and long term. Another source got more specific, and noted that Williams’ use of alcohol is seen as an issue:

Williams has been struggling with the symptoms from Graves' disease, along with a number of other health conditions, for quite some time. But, those problems increased enough in the summer of 2021 that she was unable to return to her talk show, which is what led to its eventual cancellation, and one of her guest hosts, Sherri Shepherd, being given her own show in the former Wendy Williams Show timeslot this fall. With reports that Williams passed out next to a glass of champagne in a New York City storefront in early August, it’s obvious why those close to her might see her drinking as an issue.

Wendy Williams Seems To Be Forgetting That Her Show Was Canceled 

While fans were already very concerned about Williams’ health as a series of guest hosts kept her show going, it was in early 2022 that several troubling rumors surfaced about the state of Williams’ mental health, as well. Fans heard that she was having trouble eating and dressing herself on a regular basis without help, along with not being able to hold normal conversations and sometimes not recognizing people she’d known for many years. 

The early months of this year also saw Williams become embroiled in a fight with her bank after they denied her access to her money and information regarding her accounts, when those in charge became suspicious that she was an “incapacitated person” who was “of unsound mind.” And, though Williams and several who’ve been on her team or close to her over the course of this year have denied reports of her having trouble with her mental health, she’s also had at least one public instance where she appeared to have forgotten that her talk show had been canceled. 

In early May, while doing an Instagram Live (via THR) with rapper Fat Joe (who acted as one of the guest hosts during The Wendy Williams Show’s final season) Williams noted that she’d “absolutely” be back on her show, though she could have been referring to making an appearance in the finale, which didn’t end up happening. 

Hopefully, Wendy Williams will get the help she needs, and be able to make the comeback she and so many of her fans want.

The day is fast approaching for Sherri Shepherd to debut her new talk show, and she’s excited to finally be taking over the time slot previously held by Wendy Williams with her own show, rather than just serving as a guest host. The comedian/actress has some big ideas when it comes to what she wants Sherri to accomplish, and it sounds like she’s getting advice from the right person to make those things happen. Shepherd opened up about the wise words she was offered from none other than Oprah Winfrey about how to find success in the daytime TV realm.

Sherri is set to premiere on Monday, September 12, as a replacement for The Wendy Williams Show, which was canceled after its 13th season when the eponymous host was unable to appear for the final season due to health issues. Sherri Shepherd filled in for Williams as a guest host, but now that she’s set to call all her own shots, she took advantage of the opportunity to pick the brain of one of the most famous talk show hosts in TV history. Shepherd recalled to EW the advice she got from Oprah:

If Oprah says to bring the energy, you can bet that Sherri Shepherd will do just that. For one thing, I can imagine that following any advice “The Queen of All Media” sends your way would be a good idea. But also, Shepherd’s background in stand-up comedy proves that she already knows how to engage her audience. In fact, she’s said that with Ellen DeGeneres ending her show after 19 seasons, she has the opportunity to fill that void of a daytime talk show hosted by a comedian.

Sherri Shepherd was apparently able to glean a good bit of advice from Oprah Winfrey, as she said she took multiple pages of notes during her audience with the iconic host. She said:

I can only imagine the gems that Oprah Winfrey dropped, and Sherri Shepherd must feel pretty fortunate to have those words of wisdom. Shepherd already had some ideas about how her show will differ from Wendy Williams’. She wants a celebrity-friendly atmosphere, where her guests won’t have to worry about a “gotcha” moment. Audience feedback suggested that some people thought Williams was “mean,” but that is not something Shepherd plans to carry over to Sherri. Perhaps that will help her attract A-listers including Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep and, of course, Oprah Winfrey herself. 

Sherri is set to make its debut in syndication on Monday, September 12, so check your local listings for time and channel. You can also check out these movies and shows to watch if you love Oprah Winfrey.

While we’ve heard a lot about former daytime talk show host Wendy Williams lately, from her plans for returning to the spotlight to how her brother feels about Williams’ supposed marriage, it’s been a few months since we last heard what was going on with her financial issues. Williams has been locked in a battle with her bank since early this year after the institution froze her accounts, with her being appointed with a full time financial guardian in May. Now, Williams’ son has responded to claims that he’s partially to blame for his embattled mother’s money troubles.

What Did Wendy Williams' Son Say About His Part In Her Financial Problems?

It was back in February that we heard that Wendy Williams, who was already dealing with a number of health issues serious enough to keep her off of her beloved talk show for the entire season up to that point, was also involved in a fight with her bank, Wells Fargo, over her financial accounts. We’re now hearing that Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr., is allegedly partly to blame for her conflict with her bank, but Hunter recently responded to those claims in a statement to The U.S. Sun, which says:

So, you are likely wondering how this supposed unauthorized credit card use relates to Wells Fargo cutting Williams’ off from her money and eventually seeking a court order to have a financial guardian placed in control of the star’s accounts (which reportedly made Williams unhappy). There are a lot of pieces to this story, so let’s get into that now.

Why Is Wendy Williams’ Son Being Blamed For Her Financial Problems?

According to a source for The U.S. Sun, Hunter “spent around $100,000 on Wendy's personal American Express card” which was said to be unauthorized by Williams, and had been “demanding” that his mother's advisor pay the bill instead of Williams herself, which helped lead to her accounts being frozen. 

LaShawn Thomas, an attorney who was representing Williams at the start of her battle with Wells Fargo but who is no longer working with her, detailed an incident from January of this year to the outlet, which she believes helped lead to the conflict over Williams’ money. According to Thomas, she met Williams and her son at a Wells Fargo branch in Florida days before the bank officially denied her access to her accounts. 

They were there to get Williams’ bank statements, which had been sent to her home in New York instead of where she was staying in the sunshine state, while Hunter had also wanted to set up online banking for his mom for her time in Florida. They were told by the branch manager that they’d need to speak with a Wells Fargo advisor, so he called Lori Schiller, who had been Williams long-time financial advisor.

Thomas said that when the manager returned to them, he relayed Schiller’s message that she would talk to Williams, but only if she were alone in the room when speaking with her. When Williams said she would at least like to have Thomas, her lawyer, present for the conversation, Schiller wouldn’t talk to her and they had to leave the bank without the information they went there to get. Another source has confirmed what happened, and that it led to concern because Williams hadn’t ever been known to go into a Wells Fargo branch with others and seek details about her financials.

Now, it’s worth noting that when we first heard about Williams’ trouble with Wells Fargo, it was said that the bank took action because of Schiller telling officials there that Williams was “of unsound mind,” and it now sounds like that may have been the result of this incident at the bank branch. 

However, it’s also worth paying attention to the fact that Schiller had been fired by Williams at some point before her accounts were frozen, with the reported reason for that action being “malfeasance” from Schiller with regards to Williams money, along with “improper conduct in relation to their professional relationship.” 

Just a few days ago, Thomas took to Instagram to post about the situation with Williams, and alleged that she’s been “impeded in my attempts to communicate with Wendy by the court” because “the judge and Wells Fargo did not want me on the case because I couldn't be bought,” so they alleged that there was a conflict of interest with Thomas representing Williams, largely because she also represents her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter (who’s made his own claims regarding William’s poor treatment by her show’s producers).

It was once thought that Wendy Williams would be allowed full access of her money and American Express card by the end of July, but that hasn’t happened yet. Unfortunately, it seems that this situation will take a while longer to clear up, but all we can hope for is that all decisions made really do benefit Williams as she plans her career comeback.

Sherri Shepherd is mere weeks away from debuting her new daytime talk show Sherri, Debmar-Mercury’s replacement for The Wendy Williams Show, which was canceled after its 13th season amid the host’s health struggles. Shepherd served as one of many guest hosts in the outgoing series' final season, which ultimately won her the opportunity to lead her own chat-friendly project. Because not only did the company reportedly see good ratings for episodes with the comedic actress running thangs, but audience members’ feedback regarding Wendy Williams herself also played a part in Shepherd being named the official replacement.

As it became increasingly obvious that Wendy Williams would not be able to return to work while dealing with medical issues, Debmar-Mercury co-president Ira Bernstein told THR that he and others began looking at their longer-term options. Along with needing a host who could bring their own style and personality, they wanted to be sure to retain as much of the impressively large crowds who already tuned in for The Wendy Williams Show as possible. Feedback from her hardcore fans and critics helped them do that, with Bernstein saying:

It was important to Debmar-Mercury that whoever take over for Wendy Williams “fill that niche about gossip and entertainment,” so her audience would continue to tune in, and Sherri Shepherd seemed the right fit to do that in a more celebrity-friendly way than Williams had, the co-president said.

While Wendy Williams’ strong opinions and fearless attitude was part of what attracted so many fans, apparently some of it came off as “mean” to some within her audience. (To be fair, that's also why another section of her fanbase liked her so much.) But “mean” is something Sherri Shepherd says she is not going to do. The former View co-host has said her guests will not have to worry about facing a “gotcha-moment” — which is pretty important if she hopes to attract the caliber of celebrity on her wish list, which includes Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep. 

Another aspect Sherri Shepherd hopes to bring to daytime TV is her comedy background. With Ellen DeGeneres ending her award-winning talk show after 19 seasons, an opening was created for hosts with stand-up comedy experience, and that’s a “void” Shepherd is excited to fill. Not that comedians aren't sometimes known for being mean themselves, even outside of Roast specials, but Shepherd has experience with speaking confrontationally without becoming disrespectful. 

Sherri is just one addition to the ever-changing landscape of daytime TV. The Jennifer Hudson Show will also make its debut in September, with the EGOT winner joining fellow American Idol veteran Kelly Clarkson in the talk show universe. Sherri Shepherd’s former colleagues on The View also added two conservative-leaning co-hosts for their 26th season in Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro.

With so much happening, be sure to stay tuned to our 2022 TV Schedule for all of the premiere dates, and check your local listings to see what time and on which channel you can find Sherri in syndication when it premieres Monday, September 12. 

Fans have had the opportunity to see a bit of what Sherri Shepherd will bring to the table with her new talk show through her stints as a co-host on The View and guest host on The Wendy Williams Show. But the comedian/actress insists we haven’t seen all she has to offer, saying she’s going to fill a void on daytime TV. As we inch closer to that September premiere date, we’re learning more about the tone Sherri is going to take in comparison to Wendy Williams’ show. We know Shepherd’s going to bring her standup background, but one thing she’s not going to be is mean.

While Wendy Williams was famous for giving her unfiltered opinions on all things pop culture, Sherri Shepherd told Daily Mail she plans to keep the vibes positive when she hopefully welcomes a number of big celebrity names to her show. She said:

Creating that safe space for celebrities is likely the first step to drawing the caliber of guest Sherri Shepherd hopes to attract. Her dream guest is former first lady Michelle Obama (Shepherd said she wouldn’t mind “the guy that she is married to” accompanying her either), but she’s already got a whole list in mind. She said: 

Sherri Shepherd is aiming high, and why shouldn’t she? The longtime comedian was named Wendy Williams’ official replacement in February, with Debmar-Mercury announcing TWWS’s 13th season would be its last. Shepherd has expressed her gratitude for the doors that guest-hosting on that show opened for her, but said that nobody can recreate what Williams did. 

Even while continuing to show her predecessor love, the new host admitted she has not talked to Wendy Williams and the two women are not friends. She did co-host The Wendy Williams Show’s series finale, which aired a video to honor its namesake host but did not feature Williams herself. There’s been much criticism that Williams did not get the tribute she deserved, with Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter speaking out to call the sendoff a “travesty.” 

It’s no wonder Sherri Shepherd wants to focus on positivity moving forward, and fans don’t have too much longer to wait. Sherri premieres on Monday, September 12, in syndication, so check your local listings to find the time and channel. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see when all of your favorite shows are returning. 

Even as Wendy Williams is allegedly forging ahead with her new plan to return to the airwaves, there remains quite a bit of concern about the state of her health. Rumors and questions have really circulated since Willliams collapsed on live television in 2017, but her condition has become particularly worrisome in the past year, with the daytime talk show host unable to return for what ended up being the final season of The Wendy Williams Show. Her former staff members have shined some light on what went down behind the scenes of the show during that stressful time, recalling a Zoom meeting that was held with the media personality ahead of the decision to cancel the show.

On September 30 of last year, Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein organized a Zoom call to update Wendy Williams’ staff after the start of Season 13 was pushed back from its original premiere date of September 20, per THR. However, with many of the 100 Wendy Williams Show employees gathered either in person or remotely, the meeting apparently went south rather quickly, with claims that Williams did not seem like herself, combined with her speech becoming muddled. One insider described the meeting as such: 

The co-presidents had apparently rehearsed with Wendy Williams what she was going to say during the meeting, and had been talking with the host for around two hours prior to it. But when they realized the staff was becoming increasingly concerned, rather than having their fears allayed, the Zoom session promptly ended, causing further confusion. 

Lonnie Burstein, Debmar-Mercury’s vice president, attended the aforementioned virtual meeting in the studio with about 50 members of the staff, and said the reality became clear to them all at that time. In his words:

Later that same day, it was announced on Instagram that The Wendy Williams Show would be delayed further, with new episodes returning October 18. But when Season 13 did premiere, the eponymous host remained absent, and guest hosts continued to fill in for Wendy Williams throughout the season. 

In February the decision was made to officially replace The Wendy Williams Show with Sherri, a new show hosted by Sherri Shepherd. The former View standout had been filling in frequently for Wendy Williams, and her episodes reportedly brought in the most impressive viewership and ratings stats, thus her landing the new gig. 

Close to a year later, the situation surrounding Williams' health isn’t any clearer. Early in August, she reportedly said she’d gotten married, which her brother Tommy Williams said was “very unnerving” because it wasn’t true. He'd also spoken out in the last few months about the “heart-wrenching” situation, as Wendy apparently does not think she needs any help.  

With this new information about the staff meeting that was held ahead of Season 13, it’s easy to see why there was so much confusion and worry surrounding that situation. It’s also disheartening that Wendy Williams’ loved ones continue in that same state today. As always, we hope the best for the iconic media personality.

The daytime TV landscape is going to look pretty different when the new and returning talk shows start premiering this fall. This year has seen a bevy of new host announcements, cancellations and, of course, Sherri Shepherd’s takeover of Wendy Williams' slot in the schedule. But as Sherri gets set to premiere, with hopes of filling what Shepherd thinks is a “void” in daytime TV, Jennifer Hudson is not to be overlooked, as a new promo for her talk show proves she’s got big aspirations.

Jennifer Hudson, who recently celebrated a major career milestone by completing her EGOT, is set to make her daytime talk show hosting premiere with The Jennifer Hudson Show this September. A first look at JHud’s show made it look like viewers are in for some singing (naturally) and plenty of fun, and in a new promo the host discusses her high hopes. According to Hudson herself: 

How better to help fans find their superpower than by displaying her own? We are definitely expecting to see some singing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, much in the same way that fellow American Idol veteran Kelly Clarkson does with her soon-to-be-revamped daytime talk show. We’ll have to wait and see just how much she shows off her pipes, but either way it sounds like JHud is ready to inspire her audience.

If Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson have the music side of daytime TV covered, Sherri Shepherd is looking to bring the laughs. The former View co-host said especially with Ellen DeGeneres ending her show after 19 seasons, she’s ready to show what she brings to the table as a host with her stand-up comedy background, rather than follow The Wendy Williams Show’s format, which she did as a frequent guest host for that series’ final season.

Wendy Williams did not appear for any of her final season’s tapings amid reports of health and financial struggles. A series of guest hosts took over for Williams, ultimately filming a series finale that paid tribute to the eponymous host but did not include her. This drew the ire of some fans, as well as her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, who called the sendoff “a travesty.”

Along with Wendy Williams’ show being canceled, The Real was not renewed for a ninth season, though Warner Bros. said that cancellation was unrelated to the announcement of Jennifer Hudson’s show. Other daytime TV moves included Nick Cannon being shut down after just one season and Maury Povich retiring after a 31-year talk show career. And not only will The View return for a 26th season, but two co-hosts, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro, were announced to be joining the table. Needless to say, daytime TV is entering a new era, and Hudson seems ready to help lead the charge.

The Jennifer Hudson Show is set to premiere Monday, September 12, which is also the date Sherri Shepherd will debut Sherri. Check your local listings to see when and on what channel you can find these new shows, and keep up with all of the upcoming premieres with our 2022 TV Schedule. 

As Sherri Shepherd started running The Wendy Williams Show last year, a spotlight was shined on Williams’ health troubles as it became apparent she would not be returning to her daytime show. While The Wendy Williams Show was canceled after a full season of missing its star on the air, in more recent weeks, reports have broken about new comments the star reportedly made about being married (she's not) and more. Now, Wendy Williams’ brother has spoken on the record about the situation, calling it “very unnerving.” 

Early in August, Hollywood Unlocked revealed a conversation that allegedly happened with Wendy involving news about her recent nuptials. Host Jason Lee noted when he’d talked to Wendy on the phone she’d told him she had gotten “married” in what would have been surprise news. The conversation was pretty straightforward, with the host recounting: 

That interview was quickly followed up by her rep, who said the marriage comment was “inaccurate,” and that the star “probably got carried away.” Now, her family is speaking out about the stories related to the daytime host that have broken in recent days, including the faux marriage comments.

What Wendy Williams’ Brother Had To Say After The Married Quotes Broke

To note, the comments Williams’ allegedly made on the podcast do not seem to be accurate to what is actually going on in her personal life. The former daytime host’s brother Tommy confirmed to Page Six that his sister had not married an LAPD officer, also sharing his feelings about his sibling's behavior. 

He also noted the two had been in touch recently and she hadn’t mentioned a husband before noting the family feels Williams may not be “healthy” enough after her myriad issues to be going out and making appearances already. Per the report, she may not be around people who have her best interests at heart. Tommy also said it’s been “really sad” to watch from the outside, also stating: 

I’ve been with Wendy since the very beginning and she’s never talked like this, but I don’t think it’s her fault. It’s a precarious situation.

The news comes a little over a month after Tommy spoke about his sister in a separate interview. She’s been doing press recently to talk about her daytime show’s cancellation as well as her health battles, including a struggle with lymphedema. Williams has also been going out in public more often, to events including an after party following this year’s Met Gala and more. 

Regardless, Tommy has been clear he feels Wendy Williams  is “struggling,” previously saying that it’s been hard because his sister doesn’t seem to recognize a need or want help. 

Wendy Williams’ Family Aren’t The Only Ones With Concerns

Her rep William Selby has even said that Wendy Williams is not yet 100%. He’s noted he’s “trying [his] best to make [his] client happy,” even when he doesn’t always agree with where she wants to take her career. 

Though her talk show has been canceled, Wendy Williams has plans to launch a podcast by mid-August. She’s been moving forward with certain interviews and more, but it sounds like there are concerns about what might happen if the former daytime personality goes into full gear too soon.

Her pals and fellow TV hosts are rooting for her, however, with Charlamagne tha God has shared his hopes Williams will make a comeback given her history of success in the TV business. Nick Cannon also allegedly sent support to Wendy after his daytime show was also cancelled this year. We'll be sure to keep you updated if any further news related to the host breaks.

We know Wendy Williams’ television days are behind her. After The Wendy Williams Show was canceled after 13 seasons amid ongoing battles with her health, she has said she’s turning away from TV, and Williams is now focusing on a new podcast. The outspoken media personality has lots of fans who are hoping she can finally make that comeback, and that includes her friend and ex-colleague Charlamagne Tha God, who weighed in on the former talk show host’s legacy and what he hopes to see from her in the future.

Charlamagne Tha God started working with Wendy Williams on her radio show The Wendy Williams Experience in 2006 and has called her his mentor. Though the relationship between the two has been rocky over the years, The Breakfast Club host told E! News’ Daily Pop he said it would be a shame for her not to make a comeback, given the huge mark she’s made as a Black woman in media. He said:

Charlamagne Tha God definitely thinks the potential is there for Wendy Williams to make a triumphant return to media, and it sounds like he has nothing but respect for her, despite any feuding that occurred in their past. Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter fired Charlamagne Tha God from The Wendy Williams Experience in 2008, and that — along with the fact that Charlamagne had introduced Hunter to his longtime mistress — caused a rift between the radio host and Williams that lasted over a decade.

The two have since ended their feud, though Charlamagne told Andy Cohen on Sirius XM in December that he hadn’t spoken to Wendy Williams since 2020. He still thinks, however, that the way things went down with her talk show — with fans saying The Wendy Williams Show finale wasn’t the tribute she deserved, and even Kevin Hunter calling it a “travesty” — shouldn’t be how the icon goes out. Charlamagne told Daily Pop:

The Wendy Williams Show aired its final episode in June, and though many had hoped to see Williams make one last appearance, she was not present for the finale, which featured only a video tribute to Williams. Sherri Shepherd and a number of other celebrities took over hosting duties for the show’s 13th season, with parent company Debmar-Mercury choosing to move forward with Shepherd hosting her own show, Sherri, which is set to premiere on Monday, September 12. Be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what other premieres are coming soon.

A lot of Wendy Williams' fans are probably still reeling a bit from the end of her eponymous talk show back in mid-June, after 13 years on the air. Williams was, of course, absent from the entire final season of her show because of a number of health and financial issues, but viewers figured the finale would feature the long-time host’s actual presence in some way. When it didn’t, lots of fans took their ire to social media, and now Williams ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, has shared his adamant thoughts about how the show allegedly treated her before cancellation.

What Did Kevin Hunter Say About How Wendy Williams Was Treated By Her Show?

Debmar-Mercury served as The Wendy Williams Show’s long-time producer and distributor, and while those behind the company had seemed supportive of Williams over the last several years as she dealt with personal problems ranging from her 2019 divorce from Kevin Hunter to addiction and other health challenges, Hunter has now claimed that that actually wasn’t the case. About Williams struggles with sobriety, Hunter recently told Page Six:

In late 2018, Williams started an extended break from her daytime talker, after suffering what was called “health complications” from a shoulder injury and her Graves’ disease. However, once she was back on the air, Williams announced on her show in March of 2019 that she’d actually been living in a sober house, and was continuing to do so until she could get her addiction problems under control. 

According to Hunter, those from Debmar-Mercury were not supportive when they and Williams’ family members sat down with her to attempt a sort of intervention for the famed host after she worked full time while living in that sober house. It was also shortly before Hunter welcomed a child with another woman and Williams filed for divorce, which Hunter alleges led to him being fired from the show (something he’s now suing the production over).

Though this is sad, if true, it may help to explain why The Wendy Williams Show’s producers decided that one season without the host amid her dealing with a myriad of health problems was enough. It was announced in February that Williams’ show wouldn’t return following Season 13, noting it would be replaced by guest host Sherri Shepherd’s new talk show, with the new host giving props to Williams for paving the way.

At the time of this writing, representatives for Wendy Williams and Debmar-Mercury haven’t commented on Kevin Hunter’s claims about how the show treated Williams amid her addiction recovery, but it’s little surprise that he’d go on the record with his allegations, seeing as how Hunter was also brutally honest about the “travesty” of the series ending without Williams’ involvement.

Wendy Williams is reportedly working on getting her career back on track with a supposedly celeb-fueled podcast now that she’s conquered some of her health woes, so, hopefully, that can arrive on a timeline that works best for Williams, and fans can hear, “How you doin’?” again in the near future.

It’s been an intense last few months in the world of daytime talk shows. The Ellen DeGeneres Show concluded after a 19-season run. Meanwhile, the likes of The Wendy Williams Show, The Real and Nick Cannon’s self-titled entry were all canceled. In the case of Williams, guest hosts had been temporarily filling in for some time as the namesake reportedly struggled with health and financial problems. The patience seemingly ran out from her production company, but the star allegedly got major support from fellow ouster and longtime friend Cannon in the wake of the cancellation.

The infamous “Hot Topics” talker is being replaced in her time slot by none other than Sherri Shepherd, who had been frequently filling in as a temp host. Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury company followed up the move by not featuring Wendy Williams in the finale of her show. (The producers used a tribute video instead.) Nick Cannon’s show had been fronted by the same company and, according to a source for Page Six, he supposedly didn’t appreciate how he and Williams were treated. In addition, the Wild ‘N Out alum is said to have taken a stand against Shepherd’s appointment:

The first season of Nick Cannon had been streaming on YouTube while also airing on TV after Wendy Williams’ time slot. The source claimed that Cannon felt “indebted” to Williams, whose faith in him reportedly led to the creation of his own talk show. Apparently, though, Debmar-Mercury was relying too much on bringing in leftover audiences from TWWS and The Real in order to “propel Nick’s numbers,” and as a result, “they failed miserably.”

However, another insider for the outlet refutes the insinuations about The Masked Singer host’s supposed loyalty to Wendy Williams. On the suggestion that he wouldn’t back Sherri Shepherd as the replacement, they say is entirely “not true.” In fact, he was evidently “always a pleasure and business professional” in his BTS dealings, according to them.

Initial reports had indicated that the syndicated talk show was only supposed to be on a five-week hiatus so Nick Cannon could attend to his other filming obligations (The Masked Singer and Wild ‘N Out). Eventually, though, there was talk of a sudden change of plans by Debmar-Mercury that led to the series getting shuttered entirely, with crew receiving severance pay. For his part, Cannon had reflected after the cancellation that he understood the “business” reasons behind the talk show getting cancelled after one season, adding that he was essentially just going with the flow of change.

The Drumline actor has a lot else on his plate anyway besides allegedly going to bat against Sherri Shepherd’s come up as a host, including the slew of babies he’s helped conceive with different women of late. (On the last count, his ninth child is on it way later this year.) In tandem, the media personality has been having to backpedal certain statements of his regarding wanting to win back ex-wife Mariah Carey.

But back to Wendy Williams. There was a lot of criticism from both the fanbase and Williams’ ex-husband that her show’s series finale handled things poorly by not including her in the plans. Williams weighed in herself in an interview with The New York Post. She told them that there was “nothing” she liked about the supposed tribute to her work on the show. What's more is that she confirmed the speculation that she hadn’t even received an invitation by Debmar-Mercury for a last appearance, saying her reaction to watching it play out from her living room was largely, “Eek!”

To add yet another insult to injury, as she prepares for her post-talk show future, Williams' fans got some bad news. Recently, her former show was scrubbed from the internet ethers almost entirely, as though it didn’t even really exist… Eek, indeed. Nevertheless, Nick Cannon and Sherri Shepherd are seemingly going to be just fine moving forward: Season 8 of The Masked Singer, and the freshman season of Sherri are slated for fall premieres on the 2022 TV schedule.

The Wendy Williams Show came to an end on June 17, after 13 seasons of celebrity gossip, strong opinions and, “How you doin’?” inquiries. However, the show went out with a whimper, rather than the bang you’d expect from anything bearing the longtime host’s name. Many fans took issue with the fact that Wendy Williams was not featured on her series finale, saying she didn’t get the tribute she deserved, considering what she contributed to the world of daytime television for 12 years. Norman Baker, Williams’ longtime producer on the show, was asked about those opinions and responded to the criticism.

Ahead of The Wendy Williams Show’s final episode, some wondered if the namesake host would make one final appearance before shutting off the lights. However, when the day came, there was no Wendy, but there were lots of kind words about the host from Sherri Shepherd and the guests, as well as a video tribute. Overall many fans were upset, and took to social media to air their grievances. Norman Baker told Carlos King on the Reality With the King podcast he was not a part of the decision-making that went into the finale. He said:

Norman Baker said he doesn’t know exactly what happened, or if anybody from the show reached out to Wendy Williams to make an appearance. Ahead of the finale, insiders reported that there were mixed feelings about her possibly coming back. While some apparently thought it would be weird to close the show without her, others were reportedly ready to move on under the stability of Sherri Shepherd, who inherited much of Williams’ staff for her upcoming talk show Sherri. 

Despite the criticisms, Norman Baker said he was “good” with how the series finale turned out, recognizing that no celebration would have actually been enough to honor Wendy Williams. In his words:

Not everybody felt that way. After The Wendy Williams Show finale aired, the host’s ex-husband Kevin Hunter called it a “travesty” that more was not done to honor the 12 years of work that Wendy Williams had put in. He absolutely ripped the production, saying it showed a “lack of professionalism,” and that there was no reason a celebration involving his ex-wife couldn’t have happened. He also blasted the higher-ups for not supporting Williams amid her health struggles.

One way or the other, everybody now appears to be trying to move on. Wendy Williams has announced she’s done with television but plans to return to media by way of podcast. Meanwhile, Sherri Shepherd plans to fill a void in the daytime TV realm with Sherri, which will take over the time slot previously held by The Wendy Williams Show in September. Be sure to check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what other premieres are coming soon.

The Wendy Williams Show aired its final episode on June 17, having wrapped after 13 seasons. The somewhat awkward affair was a rather fitting end to a final season during which its eponymous host never once returned. A montage recalled a number of memorable guests and moments from years past, and the host’s trademark, “How you doin’?” catchphrase was repeated quite a few times throughout the episode by guest host Sherri Shepherd, the audience, crew members, and assorted guests. But apparently Williams was not doin’ OK when she heard her famous purple chair and other memorabilia were headed for the trash after the finale, because she has apparently rescued the items. 

After reports that set pieces from The Wendy Williams Show — including the iconic purple chair and multiple wigs — were being “thrown in the trash,” The Sun reports that Wendy Williams’ manager Will Selby went with the former host to retrieve her belongings. Selby said: 

Along with Wendy Williams’ chair and “a couple of wigs,” Will Selby said they claimed some custom-made shoes and some artwork that was created for her. He said those items were important to the host, as well as her fans, and the purple chair will find a new home in a different studio, as the media personality spoke recently about starting a podcast. It was important to Williams that she reclaim what was hers, her manager said: 

Wendy Williams didn’t appear in any episodes from her talk show’s 13th season, amid health concerns from COVID and other ongoing issues, but with reports that she was “on the mend” and hoping to return to TV, some wondered if she’d make an appearance on the series finale. She didn’t, and while the host herself didn’t comment publicly on her show’s final episode, her ex-husband called it a “travesty.”  

Fans were dealt another blow when the show’s official YouTube channel was scrubbed, along with other domains that included clips and interviews from The Wendy Williams Show, and it sounds like that memorabilia was simply going to be discarded as well, as The Sun previously reported that a source said:   

I’m glad Wendy Williams was apparently save her items, because to simply get rid of them like that just doesn’t seem right. Regardless of the drama that surrounded The Wendy Williams Show's final season, or any before it, there’s no denying the media personality left her mark on daytime TV, and in the 12 seasons she did host, she was nominated for multiple Daytime Emmys.

Back in February, Debmar-Mercury announced The Wendy Williams Show would be officially replaced by a new talk show hosted by Sherri Shepherd, who was one of many guests to fill in for Williams in Season 13. While Shepherd has remained respectful and complimentary to her predecessor, she has clarified that the two women are not friends, and Wendy Williams previously threw some shade at her replacement, saying she would not be tuning in when Sherri premieres. So we can probably assume Shepherd wouldn't have been the one to step in and save the purple chair.

Even with reports of Wendy Williams trying to get back to work, her brother reports that It’s a sad situation overall. We hope she continues to take care of herself, and her fans will be excited if and when she makes her return to media. Until then, be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what new and returning shows are premiering soon.

Daytime TV viewers are seeing a huge shift in the landscape after a number of longtime talk shows came to an end this year. Ellen DeGeneres, for one, wrapped her show after 19 seasons, and The Wendy Williams Show was canceled after 13 seasons when its namesake host was unable to return for the final season amid health and financial struggles. To that end, Sherri Shepherd is stepping in with her own show, Sherri, and she sees a specific void in the daytime TV slate that she plans to fill.

Sherri Shepherd was one of many guest hosts who stepped in for Wendy Williams when she was unable to return for Season 13 of her show. The decision was eventually made to cancel The Wendy Williams Show and give the time slot permanently to Shepherd. However, the former co-host of The View told People, she’s going to put her own spin on her series, filling a hole that’s been left in the world of daytime TV, particularly since the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Shepherd said:

The Kelly Clarkson Show has been tapped to take over Ellen DeGeneres’ vacated time slot, and the American Idol winner is apparently putting her show through a complete overhaul in order to do that. Every host has their strengths, however, and where DeGeneres is known for her comedy, Kelly Clarkson is more musically inclined. Singing is and will likely remain a big part of the former Voice coach’s show, clearing the lane for Sherri Shepherd and comedy background.

The actress said as a guest host on The Wendy Williams Show, she stayed within the format that Wendy Williams had established, but with her own eponymous talk show, Sherri Shepherd looks forward to bringing her own flavor and finding “the lightness and the humor of a hot topic story.” She said:  

Sherri Shepherd seems excited about being able to call the shots on her own series, but when Sherri premieres, there’s one person who likely won’t be tuning in. Wendy Williams threw some shade at the woman who’s replacing her, saying that what Shepherd brings to the table is “really not my thing.” To each her own!

As well as Wendy Williams and Ellen DeGeneres, Maury Povich hung up his hat after a 31-year talk show career. NIck Cannon saw his talk show axed after just one season, and The Real was also canceled following the end of its eighth season. In the musical milieu, meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson will be joined by fellow American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, who’s set to debut her own show this fall.

Viewers who are excited to see Sherri Shepherd put her stamp on the world of daytime TV can do so this fall, with the premiere of Sherri coming September 12 (check your local listings for time and channel). You can also see what other premieres are coming soon with CinemaBlend's 2022 TV Schedule.

There have been lots of scary reports thrown around regarding Wendy Williams and the state of her health over the past year or so. The former talk show host was absent for the entirety of the final season of The Wendy Williams Show, with people around her at one point saying the media personality was struggling with simple tasks including eating and getting out of bed. Now, as she attempts to make a comeback — not to television, but rather podcasting — her brother has spoken out with some more troubling statements about her condition.

Tommy Williams spoke with Good Day DC about his sister following an interview she did with TMZ, in which she revealed she was done with TV following the cancellation of her talk show that is being replaced by Sherri Shepherd's Sherri. Wendy Williams also spoke about her battle with lymphedema, which she said has left her with just 5 percent feeling in her feet. Despite her claims that she’s not letting any of that hold her back, her brother described a “very heart-wrenching” situation that paints a bleak picture. He said: 

Wendy Williams has been getting out and about more in recent months, even making an appearance at the Met Gala afterparty. However, Tommy Williams makes it sound like his sister actually needs more help than she’s letting on and is reluctant to admit that to those around her. Wendy Williams is certainly headstrong, and that attitude is part of what’s attracted fans to her over her nearly four-decade career on TV and radio, but it sounds like the circumstances are quite frustrating and heart-breaking for her loved ones. 

The former talk show host has reportedly been “on the mend” for months, and she had been talking about a return to TV sooner rather than later, even amid the series finale of The Wendy Williams Show, which did not include the namesake host. In fact, Wendy Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter called the show’s final episode “a travesty.” Fans were dealt an additional blow when the show’s official YouTube channel was scrubbed, along with other domains that included clips and interviews from The Wendy Williams Show.

We, like her many fans, look forward to whatever project comes next for Wendy Williams, but her physical and mental health should definitely be the priority. We continue to hope that she is getting whatever help she needs. While we wait for updates — maybe about that podcast she mentioned — stay tuned to our 2022 TV schedule to see what new and returning shows are premiering soon.

Just a few weeks ago, talk show aficionados witnessed the end of an era, as The Wendy Williams Show aired its final episode. The fan-favorite series signed off after 13 years, without the titular host actually being there. Williams, who’d had a revolving door of guest hosts filling in for her since last year, is currently in the process of planning her post-talk show future. Meanwhile, Sherri Shepherd is set to take over the veteran host’s former timeslot with her own program. Avid fans are more than likely sorry to see Williams go and, unfortunately for them, they just got hit with some more bad news. 

It would seem that The Wendy Williams Show’s presence on the web is being scrubbed in the aftermath of its cancellation. The show’s official YouTube channel, which included a sizable number of clips from various interviews, has been deleted. In addition, domains for the show like “wendyshow.com” and “wendywilliamsproductions.com” no longer forward users to resources for the production. Variety notes that the former merely gives an error message, while the latter domain now appears under an auction at Go Daddy. 

The YouTube channel’s deletion is a serious blow for longtime followers of the program. There’s a chance that a number of people might’ve continued to visit the account in order to check out some of the sassy media personality’s most memorable moments. Considering the cancellation and the Sherri Shepherd rebrand, it was probably only a matter of time before said footage was made inaccessible, to be honest. Still, some are sure to find this disappointing, as the channel was the only public place where one could access the archived content. 

As time goes on, the reality of The Wendy Williams Show’s demise is really starting to settle in. Fans got a real shock just a few weeks ago when it was reported that Williams’ purple chair and other pieces of memorabilia were being “thrown in the trash.” This includes the former host’s famous wigs, which she reportedly never returned to claim. Though it’s not too surprising to hear that she didn’t pick up any momentos, especially since she’s apparently been very focused on the next steps in her career. 

With her health and financial problems apparently behind her, the star initially seemed to be eyeing a return to TV. The host said during an interview back in March that she was gearing up to head back to the old grind in a matter of months. And by April, a source alleged that she was “ready to work.” A recent report, however, suggests that her brand-new career plan involves a podcast, on which she’d interview an array of celebrities. Her manager even claimed that the star had already reached out to some high-profile celebrities about possibly appearing as guests.

Sherri Shepherd, on the other hand, is looking forward to headlining her own talk show, which premieres in September.  All the while, she’s been candid about Wendy Williams’ legacy, crediting her for blazing a trail for other TV personalities. Shepherd, who clarified that she and Williams are “not friends,” also helped pay tribute to her on the show’s final episode. While discussing her successor, Williams said that she liked Shepherd but threw a bit of shade when she “won’t be watching her” because “I know what she’s going to be doing and that’s really not my thing.”

It’s honestly weird knowing that we won’t be able to experience any of that signature snark via clips from past episodes of The Wendy Williams Show. I suppose fans do still have the memories, at the very least, and those could tide them over until the star is ready to return to the media landscape. 

Once upon a time, talk show host Wendy Williams and reality star NeNe Leakes were actually pretty good friends. They would even make appearances on each other’s shows – i.e. Williams’ now-defunct namesake on daytime TV and Leakes’ former broadcast home, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. However, the two have very different career situations nowadays, and that’s not the only thing that’s changed. Their friendship also happens to be over, thanks to a pretty wild falling out. According to Leakes, the beef supposedly saw her lose an entire TV series that was once in the works, too.

Why Wendy Williams And NeNe Leakes' Friendship Supposedly Ended

The bad blood between the two celebs seemingly dates back to an incident in 2014 concerning a pricey Birkin bag. NeNe Leakes famously jumped on the growing trend to “deface” the purse (meaning, to basically graffiti on it). The final result is still live on her Instagram, and one of the scrawled-on phrases seemingly was a pointed shot fired at Wendy Williams. More on that in a second. Take a look at the post here:

Per reporting by Page Six at the time, the host made a shady remark on her talk show that her supposed friend couldn’t afford to deface such an expensive item. The Real Housewives star then hit back later on that she was the “lowest of the low” for “spewing hate.” She also interestingly noted that the talk on the streets that she had allegedly “slept with” Williams’ then-husband perhaps played into the host’s commentary (the bag makes mention of closing one’s legs to “married men”), but the reality star was definite about the affair rumors being untrue. 

To make matters worse, though, the 54-year-old NeNe Leakes brought up how she was in early talks with Debmar-Mercury, the production company behind The Wendy Williams Show, to headline her own talk show alongside Tom Arnold. Namely, she'd written about Williams: “you’re scared I will take your place (I know you have heard! Ummhmm win wink) BE SCARED!”

NeNe Leakes Sheds Light On How She Lost Out On TV Gig

The perceived gloating was believed to be the real reason that the NeNe Leakes-led show never materialized. After all, with Wendy Williams being Debmar-Mercury’s biggest moneymaker for years, throwing darts at her didn’t seem wise. Yet Leakes is under the impression that it was one of her more innocent Birkin bag comebacks from the past that was the final nail in the coffin to her potential project. She told Page Six recently:

For his part, Tom Arnold attested to the outlet that Debmar-Mercury wanted his and NeNe Leakes’ endeavor to air in the time slot right after The Wendy Williams Show. But in the wake of the purse debacle, the plans suddenly went up in smoke. Arnold, a former star on Roseanne, supposedly spoke to a Debmar-Mercury producer about the rationale behind the decision, who allegedly said to him:

He continued that RHOA alum was “unrepentant” for her side of the situation but also thought that Wendy Williams was possibly feeling “competitive” with her former bosom buddy. Tom Arnold thinks it's somewhat understandable that the show got axed as a result because “the best way to get rid of your competition is to fire them.” Nevertheless, Arnold is “absolutely” still down to do the original TV show idea with his former collaborator if given the chance again.

What Are The Latest Controversies For Wendy Williams And NeNe Leakes?

Irony of ironies, Wendy Williams has obviously lost her own TV show in the intervening years since this reported feud first took place. Debmar-Mercury pulled the plug on The Wendy Williams Show back in February after months of guest hosts filling in for the namesake while she battled ongoing health issues. The company also decided to replace the 57-year-old with Sherri Shepherd in the same time slot for her own self-titled talk show (slated for release later this year on the 2022 TV schedule). The changing of the guard, to include only featuring Williams in the finale episode via tribute video, was viewed as bad form by her now-ex-husband.

The other irony at play here is that NeNe Leakes is still having controversial beef with her ex-friend and networks to this day. After the the former host appeared on Watch What Happens Live back in 2020, where she again shaded Leakes’ finances, the ex-Real Housewives star had her own words but mainly accused the Bravo network and Cohen himself of being racist. The drama seemed to die down for a time, with Leakes making hints that she was interested in returning to RHOA for another season. But in another sudden turn of events, she decided to file a lawsuit against Bravo and others in April over alleged discriminatory practices during her time on the reality series. (To boot, she herself is facing more accusations of affairs with married men -- this time in a lawsuit coming from her current boyfriend's wife.)

The Bravo lawsuit might be seeing a resolution sooner rather than later by some reports. However, it’s not looking like the feud between NeNe Leakes and Wendy Williams will be similarly repaired so easily or so soon.

Wendy Williams is officially off the TV circuit… for now. After 13 years on the air, her eponymous talk show signed off, without her being present for the final episode. Williams had been absent from the show since last fall amid a flurry of reports regarding her health and financial standing. Now, with the show over, her timeslot will be taken over by Sherri Shepherd, who had been filling in on the OG series (alongside a plethora of other guest hosts). There’s been much speculation about what Williams will do next, and it now appears that she’s devised a new plan for her career moving forward. 

Don’t worry, Wendy Williams is still going to be chatting, throwing shade and spilling tea. She just won’t be doing it on TV. The media personality is reportedly set to enter the world of podcasting. Her manager, Will Selby, shared the details with TMZ, saying that Williams currently has no interest in working in the television sphere full time. Selby will apparently serve as executive producer on the podcast, which Williams mostly hopes to use to highlight her favorite celebrities from the music industry. 

And it would seem that the host has already taken steps to line up some top-tier talent for the podcast. Per TMZ, Snoop Dogg and Fat Joe are among the stars that the former talk show staple has reached out to. The Kardashians and an unnamed member of the Trump family have also received invitations to appear. Based on this lineup, it’s clear that she’s looking to set up some spicy convos. 

This does seem like the perfect platform for a public figure like Wendy Williams. The market is a bit saturated at this time, as a number of celebrities have launched podcasts over the past several years. However, Williams’ unique voice and devoted fanbase do put her in a prime position to succeed. Add in some quality guests, and you’ve got entertainment gold. 

The career move is a bit surprising, though, given what’s been reported over the last few months. It was suggested, on multiple occasions, that the host was interested in returning to television. In March, she claimed that she’d be ready to return to her small-screen gig in “about three months.” Shortly after, a source alleged that she was “ready to work” and in “good form” after her reported medical and financial struggles. With all of that said, it’s totally possible the star simply changed her mind about the next steps in her professional life after some brainstorming and advice from her business partners. 

Despite this new development, I still wouldn’t throw out the idea of Wendy Williams making a return to TV. She’s still a widely popular pundit and, if she ever changes her mind down the line and seeks out another talk show, a studio could come knocking on her door. 

But whatever happens for her career-wise, it’s just good to hear that Wendy Williams is improving after what’s seemingly been a turbulent time in her life. A start date for the podcast has yet to be announced, though it’s probably a safe bet that when that first episode drops, her loyal fans will be listening in for that first “How you doin?”

Following a year of health concerns and financial issues for the namesake host and temporary guests filling in the interim, the decision was made to ultimately cancel The Wendy Williams Show after Season 13. There was some talk that Williams herself might return one last time on the show for the finale, but that was not to be. The final episode was instead handled with only a montage tribute video to the 57-year-old. And her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, shared some brutally honest thoughts on her absence.

The syndicated talk show has long been produced and distributed by the company of Debmar-Mercury, which presumably opted not to have Wendy Williams return for a last bow. Or so Kevin Hunter claimed in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight. Hunter was a co-creator and former executive producer on the series until his ouster by the company in 2019 after the couple’s divorce. As he tells it, his ex-wife might’ve wanted to be part of the finale, saying:

He claimed that the production company had shown a “lack of professionalism” behind the scenes toward his former spouse and to the process of phasing her out from her show. The ex continued that the higher-ups didn’t support her “health-wise” during this time. (The host has reportedly been struggling with her flare ups related to Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism of late.) Furthermore, in his view, they didn’t respect that their “personal relationship” had suffered for the sake of The Wendy Williams Show. He said:

Wendy Williams’ ex-husband filed a lawsuit against Debmar-Mercury this year for wrongful termination. He alleged in the court documents that his firing was illegal in the state of New York since it was based on marital status. And he stipulated that he wanted at least $7 million in the suit, along with “punitive damages, lost wages, commissions,” as well as compensation for his legal fees.

It isn’t clear if the lawsuit has been settled in court yet. However, Kevin Hunter maintained his side of things to the outlet, saying his firing was due to the divorce, not his “job performance.” He also stated that the company attempted to “divide and conquer” in their relationship so they would have total “access” to the fan-favorite host. In addition, he accuses them of “deplorable” practices over the years and alleged that the real reason for the show’s cancellation would “come out very soon.”

Whatever the case may really be, the June 17 episode did celebrate the TV personality, just not with her present. Per Deadline, along with the tribute video, The Wendy Williams Show brought back the first-ever guest on the show, Vanessa Williams, for the final lap. Williams commended how “real” the former host was over the years, adding that she would “miss her presence.”

Wendy Williams’ replacement in her time slot, Sherri Shepherd, echoed those same sentiments. She called her the “Queen of all Media” and proposed that Williams changed the face of daytime talk shows forever with her “unique” approach. Shepherd has stated in recent months that she is not actually friends with Williams but, in the finale, she gave her props again for being an “icon” and continued that she was still “loved by so many.” The show ended with the crew delivering Williams’ notorious “How you doin’?” line all together.

The new series, Sherri, is expected to take over sometime in the fall. Be on the look out for the official premiere date and everything else that's slated for release on the 2022 TV schedule.

The end of The Wendy Williams Show is officially upon us, as the popular daytime talk show will come to a close after a successful run that endeared audiences to the titular host's no-nonsense opinions and unapologetic personality. The final season has been clouded by rumors and concerns about the health and financial well-being of its star, who did not appear on any of the Season 13 episodes. We now have official word on how the show will wrap its impressive run, and how it will pay tribute to Williams in the final episode.

Wendy Williams did not return for the Season 13 premiere of her talk show in October 2021. The host was said to be struggling amid a breakthrough COVID-19 diagnosis early last fall and complications that arose from her many other on-going health issues, including Graves’ disease. A number of guest hosts came in to fill her chair, including Sherri Shepherd, Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Michael Rapaport and Terrence J, and the series will conclude without a final appearance from Williams, a spokesperson for the series confirmed to Deadline:  

There had been some questions about whether or not the media personality would make one last appearance on the show before she officially passed the torch to Sherri Shepherd, who Debmar-Mercury tapped to take over the time slot permanently with her own talk show, Sherri. The show’s staff — most of whom will reportedly continue working on Shepherd’s show — apparently had mixed feelings about how the former host should be included in the final episode. Some people apparently wanted her to come back, while others were ready to put the past behind them and focus on the new lead.

When Sherri Shepherd does return with her own show, Wendy Williams has said she will not be watching, and despite the former The View co-host saying she’s thankful for the opportunity Williams provided her, the two don't appear to be close, as Shepherd has clarified that they are not friends.

Wendy Williams seems hopeful about returning to television herself someday soon, and her more frequent public appearances are a promising sign that she really is feeling like “her old self” again. However, after Wells Fargo appointed her a full-time financial guardian, it appears she’s still got some battles to fight. 

She has “strenuously” denied claims of being “of unsound mind,” after troubling reports that the former talk show host could no longer dress or feed herself prompted Wells Fargo to cut off her access to her finances and bank statements. After an investigation by the bank, a guardian was put in charge of her money — a decision her lawyer has said she “definitely isn’t going to accept.”

As she continues to fight to regain full control of her finances and make a return to television, we can at least see how The Wendy Williams Show pays tribute to its host in its finale. The talk show’s final episode will air Friday, June 17, so check your local listings to for the time and channel in your area. Also be sure to check out our 2022 TV Schedule to see what shows are premiering and returning soon.

There’s a lot that’s been going on with Wendy Williams over the last several months, both on the financial and health-related fronts. Due to health issues, Williams has been off her daytime show for the whole season, and now the show will be moving on with Sherri Shepherd heading it up. Meanwhile, there have also been issues with her gaining access to her bank statements with Wells Fargo, with the latest update being that the former daytime host was appointed a financial guardian by a judge. Now, her lawyer is opening up about how she feels about everything that has gone down. 

When last this case came up, Wendy Williams had first been appointed a temporary guardian that had been in place since March but, hoping for access to her financial records, she had an attorney file an emergency petition with the hope of keeping the bank from continuing to deny her access to her funds. Instead, a full-time financial guardian was put into place, and according to Williams’ lawyer, that was not her wish at all. Speaking to THR, attorney La’Shawn Thomas openly stated: 

Well, that doesn't beat around the bush in regards to the star's feelings on the matter. Regardless, this whole situation with Williams' relationship with Wells Fargo and what's going on with her finances has been opaque for months, with Williams previously stating she feels the situation is "unfair." She also accused her former manager of taking over her credit card and appropriating $10,000 in funds in order to get the guardianship put into place. 

Regardless, first a temporary and now a more long-term financial guardian has been appointed by the court, though La’Shawn Thomas noted that she and her client feel there are irregularities behind why the guardianship was put into place. For months, Williams has “strenuously denie[d]” any rumors or allegations that she is mentally incompetent. Now, her lawyer is even claiming the bank may be attempting to “hide something.”   

While this has been going on, Williams had allegedly been dealing with health issues in the midst of taking what was then seen as an extended break from her daytime talk show. Meanwhile, reports about Wendy Williams have conflicted in recent months, with some saying she’d be fine to work and others citing concerns about her health. Obviously, the show is moving on without her, but the rest of what's going on is still very much in flux. 

We'll let you know if there are any more updates, but for now, the bank has not commented when contacted by The Hollywood Reporter. Wells Fargo had previously claimed Williams is an "incapacitated person" while working to get the guardianship in place. 

Fans of The Wendy Williams Show will know that the talk show host has had many difficulties to deal with over the past several months. While Williams was attempting to save her show and get healthier and back to her old self so that she could return, she found herself embroiled in a fight with her bank, which had locked her out of her accounts. Now, it sounds like her money troubles might be over after a recent court appointment, but Williams might not be happy about it.

What’s The Status Of Wendy Williams’ Fight With Her Bank?

Wendy Williams has been locked in a battle with her bank, Wells Fargo, since January, when the daytime queen says that they first locked her out of her accounts and denied her access to both her money and any information regarding it. In early February, Williams had her attorney file an emergency petition in New York and ask for a restraining order to keep the bank from denying access, and The U.S. Sun is now reporting that, after a court date, it appears that Williams might soon be able to access her money again.

The bank had frozen her accounts so an investigation could take place regarding whether or not Williams would need a guardian to monitor her finances for her, amid her health issues and a report from her former financial advisor that said Williams was “of unsound mind.” But, an anonymous source close to the situation now says:

Apparently, Wells Fargo isn’t even involved in the court proceedings anymore, and now it will be up to Williams and her financial guardian to make decisions about her money, with the bank now having to act in accordance with whatever they determine is the best course of action. Several of the outlet's sources also noted that there had been a temporary guardian in place since at least March, though we don’t know whether or not that person is the same one now appointed by the court. And, one source even noted that Williams could regain access to her money by this July.

Why Might Wendy Williams Not Be Happy About The Court’s Decision?

One of the things that plagued Williams as she tried to recover from a number of health issues, while guest hosts filled in for her on The Wendy Williams Show, was the large number of rumors surrounding her supposed worsening medical condition. Claims were made that Williams could no longer dress or feed herself on a regular basis, and that her mental state was in jeopardy, with her no longer being able to recognize those closest to her. 

But, after many months of there being no clear communication from Williams herself, she eventually began showing fans what was really going on with her. In late February, Williams posted a positive health update for fans, but just a few days later her show was cancelled, and it was announced that Sherri Shepherd (who’d become a favorite among the show’s guest hosts) would take over the timeslot with her own show in the fall.

Through it all, Williams has maintained that she is of sound mind, and can continue to manage her own money and should be allowed to do so without any sort of court appointed guardian. And, an Instagram post from her about two months ago saw Williams passionately speak out about how unfair her current financial situation is. So, while it sounds like she will soon be granted access to her accounts again, only being able to do so with the assistance of a financial guardian is probably going to sting, and quite a lot.

But, another source has also explained that this situation might not be permanent for Williams, and noted that this isn’t the same as what Britney Spears went through for so many years:

Wendy Williams has yet to speak out on this reported court appointed financial guardianship, but did say just a couple of weeks ago that because “everything is frozen,” she was getting money from friends for “essential things.” So, all we can hope is that the situation turns out as well for her as it can, and that Williams will be able to return to TV some day soon.

Season 13 of The Wendy Williams Show has been a strange one. The eponymous host has not appeared on her show this season, with guest hosts — including Sherri Shepherd — filling in as Wendy Williams reportedly battled health issues. Even as Williams denied some scary rumors and insisted that she was on the mend, the decision was made to officially end The Wendy Williams Show and replace it permanently with Sherri. As Debmar-Mercury, Shepherd, the crew, and everyone else involved continue turning over this new leaf, is there a chance Williams could make an appearance in her show’s series finale? 

Wendy Williams really does seem to be in better health these days, and she says she’s gearing up for a return to television after she regains control of her finances. Is there a chance, though, that she could get some closure on her current show before its last episode, which is reportedly slated to air June 17? According to Page Six, some staffers on The Wendy Williams Show are angling for her to return one last time, with an insider saying that many feel there should be a tribute to the host or a farewell: 

It certainly seems like a long shot, since Wendy Williams hasn’t been on the show all season, and she’s even thrown some shade in the direction of guest host Sherri Shepherd ahead of the official takeover. There seems to be no love lost for the new host, however, as Shepherd recently pointed out that she and Williams aren’t friends. Regardless of the relationship between the former and incoming hosts, another source told Page Six that the crew has no interest in looking back:

Sherri Shepherd will reportedly inherit most of Wendy Williams’ staff for Sherri. A third source seemed to agree that an appearance by the beloved entertainer is unlikely:

While it may be wishful thinking, it would make sense for The Wendy Williams Show to pay tribute to the woman whose name the show still carries. Even if this last season was a chaotic one for all involved, you don’t get to Season 13 by accident, and the show owes a lot to Wendy Williams, regardless of who is hosting its final episodes.

Earlier this year, a report claimed that the star wasn’t always “functioning” like she used to and needed “help eating, getting out of bed and getting dressed.” Around the same time, Williams’ bank, Wells Fargo, reportedly suggested that she needed guardianship when it came to financial matters. The former talk show host voiced frustrations with her bank, which she said had denied her access to her accounts. She also accused her ex-manager of spending $10,000 on one of her credit cards without permission. 

Within the past few weeks, the celebrity gossip maven publicly stated that she’d be ready to make her television return in a matter of months, after getting her financial affairs in order. In April, a source claimed that she was working with Wells Fargo to get access to her accounts again and that she’s ready to get back to work. 

We’re excited to see what’s next for Wendy Williams, whether that means a farewell appearance on her talk show or a new project altogether. While we wait for updates on that, check out our 2022 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering soon.