Wendy Williams

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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named Wendy Williams, see Wendy Williams (disambiguation).

Wendy Williams
Williams in 2018
Born
Wendy Joan Williams

(1964-07-18) July 18, 1964 (age 59)
Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Other namesWendy Williams Hunter[a]
EducationNortheastern University (BA)
Occupations
  • Broadcaster
  • media personality
  • writer
Years active1986–2023[1]
Television
Spouses
Bert Girigorie
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 1995)​
Kevin Hunter
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 2020)​
[b]
Children1

Wendy Williams Hunter[a] (née Wendy Joan Williams; born July 18, 1964) is an American former broadcaster, media personality, and writer. From 2008 to 2021, she hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show The Wendy Williams Show.

Prior to television, Williams was a

radio DJ and host and quickly became known in New York City as a shock jock. She gained notoriety for her on-air spats with celebrities and was the subject of the 2006 VH1 reality television series The Wendy Williams Experience
, which broadcast events surrounding her radio show.

Williams's other endeavors include authoring several books, appearances in various films and television shows, touring her comedy show,[5][6] and her own product lines, including a fashion line, a jewelry collection and a wig line. Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. On her 50th birthday, the council of Asbury Park, New Jersey, renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.

Early life

Wendy Joan Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in

candy striper.[13] Her parents believed she would become a nurse.[11]

Williams as a sophomore in Ocean Township High School's 1980 yearbook

Williams acted as an announcer at her younger brother's Little League Baseball games.[9] She graduated from Ocean Township High School in 1982 among four black students, ranking 360th in the class of 363.[7][11] Her academic performance contrasted with that of her older sister, who received a university scholarship at the age of 16.[15] As she was able to use "white" diction instead of African-American Vernacular English, Williams's white classmates considered her one of their own and freely used the word nigger around her.[11][16] She did not get along with the other black students and said their only commonality was smoking cannabis.[9][11] According to Williams, she did not listen to hip hop music and instead listened to rock bands like AC/DC because they were popular with her classmates.[14] Due to her suburban upbringing, Williams considers herself "a multicultural woman who happens to be Black".[15]

Williams attended

date raped while in college.[20]

Media career

1986–1994: Career beginnings, WQHT, and WRKS

Two weeks after graduating from Northeastern, Williams began her career as a disc jockey working for the small,

urban contemporary station hired her full-time to work overnight shifts, she left WOL.[7][18]

Williams was fired from WQHT after two years[23] and briefly worked overnight shifts at WPLJ before being hired by WRKS.[24] Initially working as a fill-in, WRKS gave Williams a non-compete clause and permanent morning position in May 1990 after WBLS began poaching its employees.[21][25] She joined Jeff Foxx and Spider Webb as part of the station's "Wake-Up Club".[11][25] There, Williams began gossiping about rappers and celebrities during a segment called "Dish the Dirt". Those she talked about, such as Bill Cosby and Russell Simmons, called the station and (unsuccessfully) demanded she be fired.[11] As she grew into a popular radio personality, WRKS moved Williams to host the evening drive time slot in April 1991.[11][26] By 1993, she was the highest-rated host in her time slot in the New York City market[14][23] and received a Billboard Radio Award for R&B Major Market Radio Air Personality of the Year.[27]

Williams co-hosted

Emmis Broadcasting. In an effort to reverse the trend, WRKS moved Williams back to mornings on September 26, 1994, where she hosted a program titled "Wendy and Company".[30][31] However, Emmis purchased WRKS less than three months later and transferred Williams to WQHT, where she began hosting the evening drive time slot on December 12, 1994. As WRKS was reformatted into an urban adult contemporary outlet geared toward older audiences, they believed Williams would better reflect WQHT's younger demographic.[31][32]

1994–2001: WQHT, website, move to WUSL

By this time, Williams attended parties to gain information which she would report on air in addition to reading

homophobia in hip hop culture.[34]

Williams created a website, www.gowendy.com, as an offshoot of her radio program. Featuring photos and rumors of celebrities, it received up to 100,000 views per day.[33] In April 1997, WQHT suspended Williams for one week after mentioning her website on air, which displayed a doctored image of Bad Boy Records executive Sean Combs naked from the waist down having sex with another man.[33][35][36] The station suspended Williams again in September 1997 for online comments insinuating that her colleague Angie Martinez's boyfriend Q-Tip was gay.[11][33] Upon her return after deleting the post a month later, Williams called the Bad Boy Records girl group Total "broke hoes" after their comments favoring her suspension. WQHT permanently removed Williams and her fans protested outside of their offices. By this time, Williams had received more than 50 letters from the station regarding her "lack of good judgment". She speculated her removal was due to pressure from music industry executives and stood by her comments, stating: "I stopped caring about artists when I realized it's more lucrative to talk about them than with them."[33]

She was fired from Hot 97 in 1998.[9] Williams was hired by a Philadelphia urban station, WUSL ("Power 99FM"). She was very open about her personal life on air, discussing her miscarriages, breast enhancement surgery,[9] and former drug addiction.[37] She helped the station move from 14th place in the ratings to 2nd.[9]

2001–2008: WBLS

Williams in 2005

In 2001, Williams returned to the New York airwaves when

syndicated in Redondo Beach, California; Shreveport, Louisiana; Wilmington, Delaware; Toledo, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina; Emporia, Virginia; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Tyler, Texas; and Alexandria, Louisiana, among other markets.[citation needed
] Williams left her radio show in 2009 to focus on her television program and spend more time with her family.

Media outlets have described Williams's 2003 interview with Whitney Houston as her most infamous. After Williams asked Houston about her marriage and breast implants, they began a shouting match and Houston said she would have fought Williams if she were younger.[13][39][15] In a later interview with Williams, Houston's confidant Robyn Crawford said they planned to confront her years earlier after she talked about Houston on air.[40] Wu-Tang Clan performer Method Man had a personal and publicized conflict with Williams in 2006 after she revealed details about his wife's cancer diagnosis.[41][42]

2008–2016: International breakthrough with The Wendy Williams Show, television and film projects

In 2008, Debmar-Mercury offered Williams a six-week television trial of her own talk show. A syndicated daytime talk show hosted by Williams titled Wendy's World was poised to debut in fall 1997, but never aired.[43] On July 14, 2008, Williams debuted her daytime talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, in four cities during the summer of 2008. During the tryout, The New York Times remarked that the show created a "breakthrough in daytime" by introducing the genre of the "backtalk show".[44] After a successful run, Fox signed a deal with Debmar-Mercury to broadcast the show nationally on their stations beginning in July 2009. In addition, BET picked up cable rights to broadcast the show at night. In 2010, BET started airing the show internationally in 54 countries through BET International.[45] The show attracted 2.4 million daily viewers on average, with Williams trading off daily with Ellen DeGeneres as the number one female host on daytime television.[46]

Williams on The Wendy Williams Show in 2011

Williams hosted a game show for

Dancing with the Stars; she was eliminated second. Williams later alleged the show's producers portrayed her as an angry black woman, a racial stereotype.[49] Williams appeared in the film adaptation of Steve Harvey's book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, titled Think Like a Man (2012), and its sequel, Think Like a Man Too (2014). In 2012, it was announced Williams would enter into a "production alliance" with producers Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones to create movies and television shows aimed at multicultural audiences.[50][51] These projects will appear under the heading "Wendy Williams presents"[51] and their first project will be VH1 adaptation of a Star Jones novel.[50]

In February 2013, it was announced that Williams and her husband and manager, Kevin, were launching a reality television production company, Wendy Williams Productions.[52] that will produce unscripted content, including reality television and game shows.[53] Williams was an executive producer on the show Celebrities Undercover (2014).[48] Williams also executive produced a biographical film for Lifetime, Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B, which premiered on November 15, 2014.[54] The film attracted controversy due to its casting and depiction of Aaliyah's relationship with R. Kelly.[55] and received predominantly negative reviews from critics.[56] In September 2015, the documentary series Death By Gossip with Wendy Williams premiered on the Investigation Discovery channel, both hosted and produced by Williams.[57] In 2013, Williams was cast to play the role of Matron "Mama" Morton on the Broadway musical Chicago.[58][59] She began her tenure on July 2[60] and finished her seven-week run on August 11, 2013. Her preparations for the musical were documented in the TV Guide docuseries Wendy Williams: How You Doin', Broadway?!,[61] which was produced by her own production company, Wendy Williams Productions.[62]

Williams was accused of victim blaming singer Kesha in 2016 after questioning why she did not film the alleged sexual abuse by record producer Dr. Luke against her.[63][64] Williams later apologized for the remarks and stated "unfortunately a lot of people lie about rape so I was just being skeptical".[65]

2017–2021: Personal and professional issues, end of talk show

Williams in 2019

Williams's health issues caused her to take multiple hiatuses from hosting her show, including three weeks in 2018 and six weeks in 2019.[66][67]

During this time, Williams received criticism for several remarks she made on her show. In January 2018, Williams was criticized by activist

The Price Is Right, saying that show's catchphrase, "Come on down!", in response to news that Harwick fell to her death.[72]

Williams hosted her show remotely from March to May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after which she took a hiatus due to fatigue caused by Graves' disease. She returned to a studio broadcast in September of that year.[73] The next month, Williams competed in season four of The Masked Singer as "Lips" where she was mostly sitting on something due to the weight of the costume and was eliminated after her first appearance.[74]

In July 2021, Williams received criticism for her tone while covering the murder of 19-year-old TikTok star Swavy. After comparing their social media followers, Williams stated "I have no idea who this is" and casually informed her studio audience of his death.[75][76] Williams did not return to her show after that month due to health issues; guests hosted in her absence.[77][78] She tested positive for a breakthrough infection of COVID-19 in September 2021.[79]

Williams in 2022

Production of The Wendy Williams Show concluded in 2022 due to Williams's ongoing health issues.[78]

Other ventures

Authorship

Williams is the author of three non-fiction books. She released an autobiography co-written with

Atria, it debuted at number nine on The New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction.[82] The autobiography was reprinted in paperback in August 2004,[83] a month before the debut of Williams' second book, The Wendy Williams Experience, which contains celebrity gossip and interviews.[84][85] In May 2013, Williams released an advice book, Ask Wendy.[86] Over the years, Williams wrote columns for Honey and Life & Style magazines.[86][87]

Williams has also written several fiction books, including a trilogy about the life and career of radio shock jock Ritz Harper. She co-authored the first two novels, Drama Is Her Middle Name (2006) and Is the Bitch Dead, or What? (2007), with Hunter.[88][89][90] Zondra Hughes co-wrote the third installment Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (2009).[91][92] Media outlets considered Ritz Harper similar to Williams.[93][94] In 2014, Williams released a romance novel, Hold Me in Contempt.[95] She said it was co-authored with an English professor ghostwriter.[96]

Music and comedy

Williams interviewed

Nielsen SoundScan.[98]

In 2014, Lipshtick called Williams to participate in their first all-female-based comedy series at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Williams made her sold-out comedy debut on July 11, 2014.[5] Williams' comedy tour was called "The Sit-down Comedy Tour". Williams returned to Lipshtick on October 31, 2014, and November 1, 2014, after she made a sold-out debut in July.[99] Williams hosted her "How You Laughin'" Comedy Series at NJPAC on November 15, 2014, featuring Luenell, Jonathan Martin, Pat Brown, Hadiyah Robinson, and Meme Simpson.[100] In 2015, Williams announced a 12-city comedy tour called "The Wendy Williams Sit Down Tour: Too Real For Stand-Up."[101]

Philanthropy and activism

In 2005, Williams funded a $1,000 scholarship for a black female high school student who sought to

drug addiction to recovery.[106][107] The foundation closed in May 2019 amid Williams's divorce.[106] In September of that year, Williams became an ambassador and honorary board member of the Lymphatic Education & Research Network.[108]

Williams is

Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina State House.[115]

Products and endorsements

While working for WRKS, Williams was a spokesperson for a hip-hop clothing brand.[14] In 2006, she became a spokesperson for George Veselles champagne and Alizé liqueurs.[21] Williams debuted a jewelry and shoe line on shopping channel QVC called "Adorn" in 2012.[110][116] The shoe manufacturer's lawyer alleged she never paid the production cost.[117] In 2013, Williams released a wig collection to online retailers.[118] She sold a self-titled clothing line in 2015 on shopping channel HSN and continued the partnership the following year by releasing shoe and winter clothing collections.[119][120][121]

Personal life

In 1994, Williams married her first husband, Bertrand "Bert" Girigorie.[122][123][124] She said they separated after five months and divorced about eighteen months later.[125] Williams met her second husband, Kevin Hunter, in 1994,[11] and married him on November 30, 1999.[b] Her husband became her agent.[9] She suffered multiple miscarriages before giving birth to their son, Kevin Samuel, on August 18, 2000.[15] In April 2019, Williams filed for divorce due to irreconcilable differences[126][127] after Hunter fathered a baby with a mistress.[11] Although the divorce was finalized in January 2020,[128] her legal surname remains Hunter.[2]

Health issues and guardianship

Williams has been open about her cocaine addiction in the late 1980s and early 1990s, for which she never received treatment.[129][130]

In October 2017, Williams fainted on her show from

sober house "for some time"[130] and that she has vertigo.[135] Later that year, Williams revealed she had been diagnosed with lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in her ankles.[136]

Williams's bank,

guardianship due to her health conditions.[2] She disputed the allegations and accused her former manager and a Wells Fargo financial advisor of impropriety. A judge appointed a temporary financial guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, in March, and they were confirmed in May.[137] Williams entered a wellness facility to treat her health issues. She returned to public activity in November and prepared to launch a podcast, though she did not end up releasing it.[138]

According to her representatives, Williams was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2023 and entered a cognitive facility. A documentary chronicling Williams's life since 2022, Where Is Wendy Williams?, aired on Lifetime in February 2024.[139] Morrissey unsuccessfully sued to prevent its release, claiming the documentary shamelessly exploited Williams.[140][141]

Achievements

internet memes. YouTube users uploaded compilation videos of various Williams-isms to the platform,[143] such as her misinterpreting the word "corona"
as "cornova".

Williams was inducted into the

National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009.[144] On her 50th birthday in 2014, Asbury Park renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.[115] She was honored with the 2,677th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 17, 2019.[144] A wax figure of Williams is located at Madame Tussauds New York.[145] In Washington, D.C., various artifacts related to Williams's career such as a microphone, outfit, and wig used by her are located at a television exhibit in the National Museum of American History.[146] A documentary, Wendy Williams: What a Mess!, and a TV movie, Wendy Williams: The Movie, are based on her life.[11]

Accolades

Awards and nominations received by Wendy Williams
Award Year Category Nominee Result Ref(s)
Billboard Radio Award 1993 R&B Major Market Radio Air Personality of the Year Herself Won [27]
Daytime Emmy Award
 2015 Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Nominated [147]
Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment The Wendy Williams Show Nominated
2016 Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Herself Nominated [148]
Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment The Wendy Williams Show Nominated
2017 Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Herself Nominated [149]
2019 Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host Nominated [150]
Hollywood Walk of Fame 2019 — 2,677th star [144]
NAACP Image Award
 2012 Outstanding Talk Series The Wendy Williams Show Nominated [151]
2015 Nominated [152]
2016 Nominated [153]
National Radio Hall of Fame
 2009 — Herself Inducted [144]
People's Choice Award
 2016 Favorite Daytime TV Host Nominated [154]
2019 The Daytime Talk Show of 2019 The Wendy Williams Show Nominated [155]
2020 The Daytime Talk Show of 2020 Nominated [156]
Radio & Records Industry Achievement Award 1999 Urban Personality of the Year Herself Won [157]
2000 Won [158]
2002 Urban Personality/Show of the Year Nominated [159][160]
2003 Nominated [161][162]
2004 Nominated [163][164]
2006 Urban AC Personality/Show of the Year Won [165]
2007 Won [166]
2008 Nominated [167][168]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Cookout Reporter No. 2
2011 The Cookout 2 Herself
2012 Think Like a Man Gail
2013 World War Z Herself Opening sequence
2014 Think Like a Man Too Gail
2016 Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Herself

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Martin Herself Episode: "Radio Days"
1995 New York Undercover WGHT DJ Episode: "You Get No Respect"
2006 The Wendy Williams Experience Herself
2007 Dice: Undisputed 2 episodes
2008–2015 The Insider Guest Host 5 episodes
2008–2021 The Wendy Williams Show Host
2010–2011 The A-List: New York
2011 One Life to Live Phyllis Rose Episode: "1.10885"
Drop Dead Diva Judge Mary Rudd Episode: "Hit and Run"
Dancing with the Stars Contestant
Season 12; partnered with Tony Dovolani
Braxton Family Values Herself 1 episode
2011 Love Triangle Host Also Executive Producer
Mob Wives Guest Host 2 episodes
2012 30 Rock Herself Episode: "My Whole Life Is Thunder"
Sesame Street Episode: "The Word of the Day" segment
Tamar & Vince 1 episode
2013–2020 The Dr. Oz Show Guest Co-host 8 episodes
2013–2017 The Chew Herself 5 episodes
2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Episode: "Funny Valentine"
Belle's Episode: "Runaway Bride"
The Neighbors Shirley Episode: "The One with Interspecies F-R-I-E-N-D-S"
Good Day L.A. Guest Co-host 3 episodes
2014 Santa Con Pastor Ruth Television film
2014–2020 The View Guest Co-host 9 episodes
2014–2019 Extra With Billy Bush Herself 10 episodes
2015 American Masters 1 episode
Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris Episode: "It's Neil's mum"
Death by Gossip with Wendy Williams
2016 Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade Condor Mom Voice only; television special
2017 Nightcap Herself Episode: "Go-Fund Yourself"
Dish Nation 1 episode
Odd Mom Out Episode: "Blood Bath"
Wild 'n Out Team Captain
2019 Surviving R. Kelly 5 episodes
Project Runway All Stars Guest Judge 1 episode
2020 The Real Housewives of Atlanta Herself 2 episodes
The Masked Singer
 		Lips Eliminated after first appearance
2021 Wendy Williams: What a Mess! Herself Documentary
2024 Where Is Wendy Williams? Lifetime 2-part documentary

Bibliography

Nonfiction

Fiction

Notes

  1. ^ a b Sources differ regarding the year of Williams' marriage to Hunter. While some publications give 1997,[4][7] her divorce filing lists 1999.[126][127]

References

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Works cited

External links

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