Wendy Williams: Difference between revisions
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'''Wendy Joan Hunter''' ( |
'''Wendy Joan Hunter''' ({{nee|'''Williams'''}}; born July 18, 1964) is an American broadcaster, media personality, businesswoman, writer, comedian, and actress. From 2008 to 2022, she hosted the [[broadcast syndication|nationally syndicated]] television talk show ''[[The Wendy Williams Show]].'' |
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Prior to television, Williams was a [[radio DJ]] and host and quickly became known in [[New York City|New York]] as a [[shock jock]]ette. 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. |
Prior to television, Williams was a [[radio DJ]] and host and quickly became known in [[New York City|New York]] as a [[shock jock]]ette. 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. |
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==Early life and education== |
==Early life and education== |
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| ⚫ | Wendy Joan Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey]].<ref name="Newsmakers"/> She is the second of three children born to Shirley ({{nee|Skinner}}) and Thomas Dwayne Williams.<ref name="APP 1988"/> The couple had a combined three [[master's degree]]s;<ref name="Fishman">{{cite magazine |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/14790/ |title=How New York's shock jockette got supersized |last=Fishman |first=David |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=October 14, 2005 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028232014/https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/14790/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Shirley was a [[special education]] teacher while Thomas was a teacher and school principal who in 1969 became the first Black school administrator in [[Red Bank, New Jersey]].<ref name="APP 1988">{{cite news |last=Mikle |first=Jean |date=September 28, 1988 |title=Woman finds the time to better community |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68919220/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=F2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 10, 1969 |title=Red Bank hires Black man for principal's post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97014316/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |pages=25{{hyphen}}26 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Following 1970 [[race riot]]s in Asbury Park, the family moved to the predominantly white, [[upper middle class]] suburb of [[Wayside, New Jersey|Wayside]] in [[Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey|Ocean Township, New Jersey]].<ref name="Fishman"/><ref name="Schulman">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/24/wendy-williams-dishes-the-dirt |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams dishes the dirt |last=Schulman |first=Michael |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=May 17, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021023126/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/24/wendy-williams-dishes-the-dirt |url-status=live}}</ref> They attended a [[Baptist]] church<ref>Williams and Hunter, p. 114</ref> and visited the African American vacation town of [[Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts]], each summer.<ref name="Trebay 2009">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06talk-williams.html |url-access=limited |title=Ms. Demeanour |last=Trebay |first=Guy |magazine=[[T (magazine)|T]] |date=November 23, 2009 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111195333/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06talk-williams.html |url-status=live}}</ref> As a child, doctors recommended Williams be medicated to control her [[hyperactivity]].<ref name="Hunter-Hodge 1993">{{cite news |last=Hunter-Hodge |first=Karen |date=September 5, 1993 |title=Atop hip hop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68810190/daily-news/ |department=Radio |work=[[New York Daily News]] |page=22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> She suffered from poor [[body image]] due to the diet her parents put on her on after gaining weight in elementary school.<ref name="Schulman"/> Williams was a [[Brownies (Scouting)|Brownie]] in the [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scouts]] and volunteered as a [[candy striper]].<ref name="Trebay 2009"/> Her parents believed she would become a nurse.<ref name="Schulman"/> |
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| ⚫ | Wendy Joan Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey]].<ref name="Newsmakers"/> She is the second of three children born to Shirley ( |
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Williams graduated from [[Ocean Township High School]] in 1982 among four Black students, ranking 360th in the class of 363.<ref name="Newsmakers"/><ref name="Schulman"/> Her academic performance opposed that of older sister Wanda who received a university scholarship at the age of 16.<ref name="Strauss"/> |
Williams graduated from [[Ocean Township High School]] in 1982 among four Black students, ranking 360th in the class of 363.<ref name="Newsmakers"/><ref name="Schulman"/> Her academic performance opposed that of older sister Wanda who received a university scholarship at the age of 16.<ref name="Strauss"/> 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.<ref name="Schulman"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Greg |year=2009 |title=Hip-Hop Revolution in the Flesh |location=New York |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |page=96 |isbn=978-1-349-37682-7 |doi=10.1057/9780230619111}}</ref> She did not get along with the other Black students and said their only commonality was smoking [[cannabis]].<ref name="Fishman"/><ref name="Schulman"/> 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.<ref name="Hunter-Hodge 1993"/> She acted as an announcer at her younger brother Thomas's [[Little League Baseball]] games.<ref name="APP 1988"/><ref name="Fishman"/> |
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Williams attended [[Northeastern University]] in Boston with the intent of becoming a [[television anchor]].<ref name="Current Biography">{{cite book |editor-last=Thompson |editor-first=Clifford |year=2009 |title=Current Biography Yearbook |title-link=Current Biography Yearbook |location=New York City |publisher=[[H. W. Wilson Company]] |edition=70th |pages=606–610 |isbn=978-0-8242-1104-2 |issn=0084-9499 |lccn=40-27432 |oclc=1244599703 |ol=31988793M}}</ref><ref name="LLoyd 1989">{{cite news |last=LLoyd |first=Rosemary E. |date=April 16, 1989 |title="Hot 97" disc jockey still calls area home |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68810178/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=E12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Less than a month after starting, she switched from television communications to radio because she could advance her career faster<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/>—a move of which her parents disapproved.<ref name="Strauss">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/nyregion/in-person-making-waves-on-the-radio.html |url-access=limited |title=Making waves on the radio |last=Strauss |first=Robert |department=In Person |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 28, 2003 |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104235038/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/nyregion/in-person-making-waves-on-the-radio.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 23, 2021}}</ref> Williams graduated in 1986 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[communication studies|communication]] and, to appease her parents, a [[Academic minor|minor]] in journalism.<ref name="Current Biography"/><ref name="B&C 2012">{{cite magazine |title=Jersey girl becomes "hot topic" of her own |last=Rubino |first=Lindsay |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=November 19, 2012 |volume=142 |issue=45 |page=22 |id={{ProQuest|1184099628}}}}</ref> She was a [[disc jockey]] for the [[college radio]] station, [[WRBB]], where rapper [[LL Cool J]] was her first celebrity interviewee. As an [[internship|intern]] for [[Matt Siegel]] at [[contemporary hit radio]] station [[WXKS-FM]], Williams recapped the [[soap opera]]s ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'' and ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' on air.<ref name="Newsmakers"/><ref name="Schulman"/> |
Williams attended [[Northeastern University]] in Boston with the intent of becoming a [[television anchor]].<ref name="Current Biography">{{cite book |editor-last=Thompson |editor-first=Clifford |year=2009 |title=Current Biography Yearbook |title-link=Current Biography Yearbook |location=New York City |publisher=[[H. W. Wilson Company]] |edition=70th |pages=606–610 |isbn=978-0-8242-1104-2 |issn=0084-9499 |lccn=40-27432 |oclc=1244599703 |ol=31988793M}}</ref><ref name="LLoyd 1989">{{cite news |last=LLoyd |first=Rosemary E. |date=April 16, 1989 |title="Hot 97" disc jockey still calls area home |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68810178/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=E12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Less than a month after starting, she switched from television communications to radio because she could advance her career faster<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/>—a move of which her parents disapproved.<ref name="Strauss">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/nyregion/in-person-making-waves-on-the-radio.html |url-access=limited |title=Making waves on the radio |last=Strauss |first=Robert |department=In Person |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 28, 2003 |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104235038/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/28/nyregion/in-person-making-waves-on-the-radio.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 23, 2021}}</ref> Williams graduated in 1986 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[communication studies|communication]] and, to appease her parents, a [[Academic minor|minor]] in journalism.<ref name="Current Biography"/><ref name="B&C 2012">{{cite magazine |title=Jersey girl becomes "hot topic" of her own |last=Rubino |first=Lindsay |magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=November 19, 2012 |volume=142 |issue=45 |page=22 |id={{ProQuest|1184099628}}}}</ref> She was a [[disc jockey]] for the [[college radio]] station, [[WRBB]], where rapper [[LL Cool J]] was her first celebrity interviewee. As an [[internship|intern]] for [[Matt Siegel]] at [[contemporary hit radio]] station [[WXKS-FM]], Williams recapped the [[soap opera]]s ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'' and ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' on air.<ref name="Newsmakers"/><ref name="Schulman"/> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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===1986–2009: Radio=== |
===1986–2009: Radio=== |
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Two weeks after graduating, Williams began her career as a disc jockey working for the small, [[calypso music|calypso]] and [[reggae]]-oriented [[WVIS]] in [[Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands]],<ref name="Current Biography"/><ref name="CBB">{{cite journal |year=2007 |title=Contemporary Black Biography |journal=Contemporary Black Biography : Profiles from the International Black Community |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1606003774/BIC |url-access=subscription |location=Farmington Hills, Michigan |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |volume=62 |issn=1058-1316 |oclc=931824919}}</ref><ref name="Stanley 2009">{{cite book |last=Nnolim |first=Nneka |editor-last=Stanley |editor-first=Tarshia L. |year=2009 |title=Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Literature |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=[[Greenwood Press]] |pages=260–261 |id={{LCC|PS153.N5 E53 2009}} |isbn=978-0-313-34389-6 |lccn=2008033532 |oclc=236329589 |ol=17049616M}}</ref> but disliked the role because she did not learn as much about radio from her colleagues as she expected.<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/> Due to low pay{{efn-la|Williams earned $3.25 an hour, the [[Minimum wage in the United States|United States federal minimum wage]] at the time.<ref name="Current Biography"/>}} and isolation from her family, Williams began sending resumes and demo tapes of herself to other radio stations.<ref name="Current Biography"/><ref name="LLoyd 1989"/> She left WVIS after eight months and obtained a position at [[Washington, D.C.]]'s [[WOL (AM)|WOL]], but found its [[oldies]] [[radio format]] incompatible with her personality.<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/><ref name="Stanley 2009"/> Williams continued sending tapes to other stations and |
Two weeks after graduating, Williams began her career as a disc jockey working for the small, [[calypso music|calypso]] and [[reggae]]-oriented [[WVIS]] in [[Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands]],<ref name="Current Biography"/><ref name="CBB">{{cite journal |year=2007 |title=Contemporary Black Biography |journal=Contemporary Black Biography : Profiles from the International Black Community |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1606003774/BIC |url-access=subscription |location=Farmington Hills, Michigan |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |volume=62 |issn=1058-1316 |oclc=931824919}}</ref><ref name="Stanley 2009">{{cite book |last=Nnolim |first=Nneka |editor-last=Stanley |editor-first=Tarshia L. |year=2009 |title=Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Literature |location=Westport, Connecticut |publisher=[[Greenwood Press]] |pages=260–261 |id={{LCC|PS153.N5 E53 2009}} |isbn=978-0-313-34389-6 |lccn=2008033532 |oclc=236329589 |ol=17049616M}}</ref> but disliked the role because she did not learn as much about radio from her colleagues as she expected.<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/> Due to low pay{{efn-la|Williams earned $3.25 an hour, the [[Minimum wage in the United States|United States federal minimum wage]] at the time.<ref name="Current Biography"/>}} and isolation from her family, Williams began sending resumes and demo tapes of herself to other radio stations.<ref name="Current Biography"/><ref name="LLoyd 1989"/> She left WVIS after eight months and obtained a position at [[Washington, D.C.]]'s [[WOL (AM)|WOL]], but found its [[oldies]] [[radio format]] incompatible with her personality.<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/><ref name="Stanley 2009"/> Williams continued sending tapes to other stations and on November 1, 1987, began as a weekend fill-in on New York City's [[WQHT]].<ref name="LLoyd 1989"/> After the [[urban contemporary]] station hired her full-time to work overnight shifts, she left WOL.<ref name="Newsmakers"/><ref name="LLoyd 1989"/> |
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Williams was fired from WQHT after two years<ref name="Collins 1993">{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Karyn D. |date=August 27, 1993 |title=Radio host is tops on Kiss 'n' tell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68810184/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |pages=C1, C10 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and briefly worked overnight shifts at |
Williams was fired from WQHT after two years<ref name="Collins 1993">{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Karyn D. |date=August 27, 1993 |title=Radio host is tops on Kiss 'n' tell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68810184/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |pages=C1, C10 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and briefly worked overnight shifts at [[WPLJ]] before being hired by [[WEPN-FM#As WRKS (1981–2012)|WRKS]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Women key to WRKS airwaves |last=Love |first=Walt |author-link=Walt Love |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |date=May 17, 1991 |page=57 |id={{ProQuest|1017247196}}}}</ref> 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.<ref name="CBB"/><ref name="Billboard 1990">{{cite magazine |title=Vox jox |last1=Ross |first1=Sean |last2=Rosen |first2=Craig |last3=Stark |first3=Phyllis |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=May 12, 1990 |volume=102 |issue=19 |page=14 |id={{ProQuest|1505961644}}}}</ref> She joined Jeff Foxx and [[Spider Webb (jazz drummer)|Spider Webb]] as part of the station's "Wake-Up Club".<ref name="Schulman"/><ref name="Billboard 1990"/> 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 unusccessfully demanded she be fired.<ref name="Schulman"/> As she grew into a popular [[radio personality]], Williams was moved to a solo [[drive time|evening drive]] time slot in April 1991.<ref name="Schulman"/><ref name="Billboard 1991">{{cite magazine |title=Vox jox |last1=Ross |first1=Sean |last2=Rosen |first2=Craig |last3=Stark |first3=Phyllis |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 20, 1991 |volume=103 |issue=16 |page=14 |id={{ProQuest|1506012982}}}}</ref> By 1993, she was the highest-rated host in her time slot in the New York City market<ref name="Hunter-Hodge 1993"/><ref name="Collins 1993"/> and received a ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Radio Award for R&B Major Market Radio Air Personality of the Year.<ref name="Billboard 1993">{{cite magazine |title=WRKS takes five ''Billboard'' Radio Awards |last=Stark |first=Phyllis |department=Radio |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=September 18, 1993 |place=New York City |volume=105 |issue=38 |pages=1, 94 |id={{ProQuest|1506016433}}}}</ref> Williams co-hosted [[American Urban Radio Networks]]' syndicated ''Top 30 USA'' song countdown program in 1993 and ''USA Music Magazine'' in 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Fresh slate of programs, specials to surface in '93 |last=Borzillo |first=Carrie |author-link=Carrie Borzillo |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=January 9, 1993 |page=69 |id={{ProQuest|1505966302}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Tribune's Perot, WW1's Simmons among celeb shows in '94 |last=Borzillo |first=Carrie |author-link=Carrie Borzillo |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=December 24, 1994 |page=93 |id={{ProQuest|1505970555}}}}</ref> She moved backed to mornings on WRKS in October 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Vox jox |last1=Stark |first1=Phyllis |last2=Boehlert |first2=Eric |last3=Atwood |first3=Brett |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=October 1, 1994 |page=81 |id={{ProQuest|1506054968}}}}</ref> |
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In December 1994, [[Emmis Broadcasting]] purchased WRKS and switched Williams to the company's other New York property, hip-hop formatted [[WQHT]] ("Hot 97"), as WRKS was reformatted into an [[urban adult contemporary]] outlet. She was fired from Hot 97 in 1998.<ref name="Fishman"/> Williams was hired by a Philadelphia urban station, [[WUSL]] ("Power 99FM"). Her husband, Kevin Hunter, became her agent.<ref name="Fishman"/> She was very open about her personal life on air, discussing her miscarriages, breast enhancement surgery,<ref name="Fishman"/> and former drug addiction.<ref name="vibe2003">{{cite book |title=Drama Queen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2yYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA160 |access-date=March 25, 2013 |first=Lola |last=Ogunnaike |date=October 2003 |work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|pages=160–163}}</ref> She helped the station move from 14th place in the ratings to 2nd.<ref name="Fishman"/> |
In December 1994, [[Emmis Broadcasting]] purchased WRKS and switched Williams to the company's other New York property, hip-hop formatted [[WQHT]] ("Hot 97"), as WRKS was reformatted into an [[urban adult contemporary]] outlet. <!--By this time, Williams attended parties to gain information which she would report on air in addition to reading [[tabloid newspapers]]s.<ref name="Schulman"/>--> |
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She was fired from Hot 97 in 1998.<ref name="Fishman"/> Williams was hired by a Philadelphia urban station, [[WUSL]] ("Power 99FM"). Her husband, Kevin Hunter, became her agent.<ref name="Fishman"/> She was very open about her personal life on air, discussing her miscarriages, breast enhancement surgery,<ref name="Fishman"/> and former drug addiction.<ref name="vibe2003">{{cite book |title=Drama Queen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2yYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA160 |access-date=March 25, 2013 |first=Lola |last=Ogunnaike |date=October 2003 |work=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|pages=160–163}}</ref> She helped the station move from 14th place in the ratings to 2nd.<ref name="Fishman"/> |
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[[File:WendyWilliamsJun05.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Williams in 2005]] |
[[File:WendyWilliamsJun05.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Williams in 2005]] |
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===Products and endorsements=== |
===Products and endorsements=== |
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While working for WRKS, Williams was a spokesperson for a hip-hop clothing brand.<ref name="Hunter-Hodge 1993"/> In 2006, she became a spokesperson for George Veselles champagne and [[Alizé (drink)|Alizé]] liquers.<ref name="CBB"/> Williams debuted a jewelry and shoe line on [[shopping channel]] [[QVC]] called "Adorn" in 2012.<ref name="Guthrie">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-you-doin-wendy-williams-324662 |title=How you doin? Wendy Williams wins with frank talk (and wigs!) |last=Guthrie |first=Marisa |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 15, 2012 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125003208/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-you-doin-wendy-williams-324662 |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/wendy-williams-qvc-tk |title=Wendy Williams keeps it refreshingly real about her QVC line |last=Lomrantz Lester |first=Tracey |magazine=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]] |date=May 3, 2012 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320115852/https://www.glamour.com/story/wendy-williams-qvc-tk |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> The shoe manufacturer's lawyer alleged she never paid the production cost.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-11-26/news/35370804_1_wendy-williams-shoes-hong-kong |title=Wendy Williams' failure to pay $400K reason for kidnapping |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |first=Barbara |last=Ross |date=November 26, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320121740/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/shoemaker-wendy-williams-failure-pay-400k-reason-kidnapping-article-1.1208477 |archive-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> In 2013, Williams released a wig collection to online retailers.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/hair/wendy-williams-to-launch-wig-collection-7073634/ |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams to launch wig collection |last=Prior |first=Molly |magazine=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |date=August 1, 2013 |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524052700/https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/hair/wendy-williams-to-launch-wig-collection-7073634/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inside-wendy-williams-glam-suite-10-things-dont/story?id=33811474 |title=Inside Wendy Williams' glam suite: 10 things you don't know about her |last=Sawyer |first=Nicole |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=September 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115140721/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inside-wendy-williams-glam-suite-10-things-dont/story?id=33811474 |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://footwearnews.com/2016/focus/celebrity-style/wendy-williams-shoe-collection-fall-2016-hsn-243734/ |title=Wendy Williams to launch shoe collection for fall '16 on HSN |last=Schneider-Levy |first=Barbara |magazine=[[Footwear News]] |date=July 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027031324/https://footwearnews.com/2016/focus/celebrity-style/wendy-williams-shoe-collection-fall-2016-hsn-243734/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/wendy-williams-returns-to-hsn-with-new-holiday-collection-10721589/ |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams returns to HSN with new holiday collection |last=Lockwood |first=Lisa |magazine=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |date=December 7, 2016 |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117192718/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/wendy-williams-returns-to-hsn-with-new-holiday-collection-10721589/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> |
While working for WRKS, Williams was a spokesperson for a hip-hop clothing brand.<ref name="Hunter-Hodge 1993"/> In 2006, she became a spokesperson for George Veselles champagne and [[Alizé (drink)|Alizé]] liquers.<ref name="CBB"/> Williams debuted a jewelry and shoe line on [[shopping channel]] [[QVC]] called "Adorn" in 2012.<ref name="Guthrie">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-you-doin-wendy-williams-324662 |title=How you doin? Wendy Williams wins with frank talk (and wigs!) |last=Guthrie |first=Marisa |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 15, 2012 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125003208/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-you-doin-wendy-williams-324662 |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/wendy-williams-qvc-tk |title=Wendy Williams keeps it refreshingly real about her QVC line |last=Lomrantz Lester |first=Tracey |magazine=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]] |date=May 3, 2012 |archive-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320115852/https://www.glamour.com/story/wendy-williams-qvc-tk |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> The shoe manufacturer's lawyer alleged she never paid the production cost.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-11-26/news/35370804_1_wendy-williams-shoes-hong-kong |title=Wendy Williams' failure to pay $400K reason for kidnapping |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |first=Barbara |last=Ross |date=November 26, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320121740/https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/shoemaker-wendy-williams-failure-pay-400k-reason-kidnapping-article-1.1208477 |archive-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> In 2013, Williams released a wig collection to online retailers.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/hair/wendy-williams-to-launch-wig-collection-7073634/ |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams to launch wig collection |last=Prior |first=Molly |magazine=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |date=August 1, 2013 |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524052700/https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/hair/wendy-williams-to-launch-wig-collection-7073634/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inside-wendy-williams-glam-suite-10-things-dont/story?id=33811474 |title=Inside Wendy Williams' glam suite: 10 things you don't know about her |last=Sawyer |first=Nicole |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=September 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115140721/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inside-wendy-williams-glam-suite-10-things-dont/story?id=33811474 |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://footwearnews.com/2016/focus/celebrity-style/wendy-williams-shoe-collection-fall-2016-hsn-243734/ |title=Wendy Williams to launch shoe collection for fall '16 on HSN |last=Schneider-Levy |first=Barbara |magazine=[[Footwear News]] |date=July 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027031324/https://footwearnews.com/2016/focus/celebrity-style/wendy-williams-shoe-collection-fall-2016-hsn-243734/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/wendy-williams-returns-to-hsn-with-new-holiday-collection-10721589/ |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams returns to HSN with new holiday collection |last=Lockwood |first=Lisa |magazine=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |date=December 7, 2016 |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117192718/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/wendy-williams-returns-to-hsn-with-new-holiday-collection-10721589/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 2005, Williams funded a $1,000 scholarship for a Black female high school student who sought to [[academic major|major]] in communications at college.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Alesha |date=April 6, 2005 |title=Drifters chapter celebrates 30 years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96586832/asbury-park-press/ |department=Plus Fifty |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=14 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Subsequent recipients in 2006 and 2007 also received internships at WBLS.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 9, 2006 |title=Radio host heading home for scholarship luncheon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75718813/asbury-park-press/ |department=Coastal Monmouth Reporter |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=10 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kapadia |first=Priyanka |date=March 9, 2007 |title=Drifters to hold annual luncheon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96991127/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=F8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> She lead an effort to donate money and school supplies to Asbury Park Middle School in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Karyn D. |date=February 14, 2010 |title=Red-hot Wendy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96990279/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=E2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Williams and her |
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== Legacy and cultural impact == |
== Legacy and cultural impact == |
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| ⚫ | [[City University of New York]] professor [[Tanisha C. Ford]] credits Williams for creating the format by which other personalities conduct gossip segments of their own.<ref name="Schulman"/> Williams's voice is a popular sound on the social media service [[TikTok]]; her quote "That's what she said, and you know what? I— what was that? ...OK ...James" is used in over 100,000 videos. Other phrases such as "Oh she passed away?" and mispronunciation of singer [[Dua Lipa]]'s name as "Dula Peep" became [[internet memes]]. YouTube users uploaded compilation videos of various Williams-isms to the platform.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Schroeder|first=Audra|date=September 17, 2021|title=Wendy Williams' "What was that? OK… James" kills on TikTok|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/wendy-williams-what-was-that-ok-james-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008091837/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/wendy-williams-what-was-that-ok-james-tiktok/|archive-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Williams was inducted into the [[National Radio Hall of Fame]] in 2009.<ref name="Carras 2019">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-10-17/wendy-williams-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams tears up at Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony |last=Carras |first=Christi |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 17, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031113513/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-10-17/wendy-williams-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star |archive-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref> On her 50th birthday in 2014, Asbury Park renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.<ref name="Armonaitis">{{cite news|last=Armonaitis|first=Dan|date=August 18, 2015|title=Wendy Williams brings sit down tour to Spartanburg|work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/18/wendy-williams-brings-sit-down-tour-to-spartanburg/28020974007/|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305234823/https://www.goupstate.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/18/wendy-williams-brings-sit-down-tour-to-spartanburg/28020974007/|archive-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref> She was honored with the 2,677th star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on October 17, 2019.<ref name="Carras 2019"/> A wax figure of Williams is located at [[Madame Tussauds New York]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jordan|first=Chris|date=May 10, 2021|title=Wendy Williams wax figure gets a big unveiling on her show and at Madame Tussauds in NYC|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/05/10/wendy-williams-show-madame-tussauds-wax-figure-unveiling/4985388001/|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/lvTRG|archive-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Puente|first=Maria|date=February 4, 2014|title=Wendy Williams' stuff is going to be in the Smithsonian|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/02/07/wendy-williams-stuff-is-going-to-be-in-the-smithsonian/5260327/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610080152/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/02/07/wendy-williams-stuff-is-going-to-be-in-the-smithsonian/5260327/|archive-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> A documentary, [[Wendy Williams: What a Mess!|''Wendy Williams: What a Mess!'']], and a TV movie, [[Wendy Williams: The Movie|''Wendy Williams: The Movie'']], are based on her life. |
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| ⚫ | Williams was inducted into the [[National Radio Hall of Fame]] in 2009.<ref name="Carras 2019">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-10-17/wendy-williams-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star |url-access=limited |title=Wendy Williams tears up at Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony |last=Carras |first=Christi |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 17, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031113513/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-10-17/wendy-williams-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star |archive-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref> On her 50th birthday in 2014, Asbury Park renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.<ref name="Armonaitis">{{cite news|last=Armonaitis|first=Dan|date=August 18, 2015|title=Wendy Williams brings sit down tour to Spartanburg|work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/18/wendy-williams-brings-sit-down-tour-to-spartanburg/28020974007/|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305234823/https://www.goupstate.com/story/entertainment/2015/08/18/wendy-williams-brings-sit-down-tour-to-spartanburg/28020974007/|archive-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref> She was honored with the 2,677th star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on October 17, 2019.<ref name="Carras 2019"/> A wax figure of Williams is located at [[Madame Tussauds New York]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jordan|first=Chris|date=May 10, 2021|title=Wendy Williams wax figure gets a big unveiling on her show and at Madame Tussauds in NYC|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/05/10/wendy-williams-show-madame-tussauds-wax-figure-unveiling/4985388001/|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/lvTRG|archive-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Puente|first=Maria|date=February 4, 2014|title=Wendy Williams' stuff is going to be in the Smithsonian|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/02/07/wendy-williams-stuff-is-going-to-be-in-the-smithsonian/5260327/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610080152/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/02/07/wendy-williams-stuff-is-going-to-be-in-the-smithsonian/5260327/|archive-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> A documentary, [[Wendy Williams: What a Mess!|''Wendy Williams: What a Mess!'']], and a TV movie, [[Wendy Williams: The Movie|''Wendy Williams: The Movie'']], are based on her life.<ref name="Schulman"/> |
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| ⚫ | Williams's voice is a popular sound on the social media service [[TikTok]]; her quote "That's what she said, and you know what? I— what was that? ...OK ...James" is used in over 100,000 videos. Other phrases such as "Oh she passed away?" and mispronunciation of singer [[Dua Lipa]]'s name as "Dula Peep" became [[internet memes]]. YouTube users uploaded compilation videos of various Williams-isms to the platform.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Schroeder|first=Audra|date=September 17, 2021|title=Wendy Williams' "What was that? OK… James" kills on TikTok|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/wendy-williams-what-was-that-ok-james-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008091837/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/wendy-williams-what-was-that-ok-james-tiktok/|archive-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> |
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==Controversies and feuds== |
==Controversies and feuds== |
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Williams said she was [[date raped]] at college and by [[R&B]] singer [[Sherrick]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/wendy-williams-sherrick-date-rape-b1787018.html |title=Wendy Williams says that she was sexually assaulted by 1980s R&B singer Sherrick |last=Brodsky |first=Rachel |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 14, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513022152/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/wendy-williams-sherrick-date-rape-b1787018.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, she had a six-week abortion after breaking up with her boyfriend.<ref>Williams and Hunter, pp. 101–106</ref> Williams later married her first husband, Bertrand "Bert" Girigorie.<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Wendy Williams: The Movie''. Lifetime biopic covers rape, cocaine, miscarriages, infidelity and N.J. star's rise |last=Kuperinsky|first=Amy|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/01/wendy-williams-the-movie-lifetime-biopic-covers-rape-cocaine-miscarriages-infidelity-and-nj-stars-rise.html|url-access=subscription|date=January 30, 2021|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302024603/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/01/wendy-williams-the-movie-lifetime-biopic-covers-rape-cocaine-miscarriages-infidelity-and-nj-stars-rise.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 12, 1992 |title=Williams–Girigorie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97008590/marriage-of-williams-girigorie/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=G31 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> She refers to him under a pseudonym in her autobiography and says they separated after five months and divorced about eighteen months later.<ref>Williams and Hunter, pp. 109, 125</ref> Williams met her second husband, Kevin Hunter, in 1994,<ref name="Schulman"/> and married him on November 30, 1999.{{efn-la|name="Marriage"|Sources differ regarding the year of Williams' marriage to Hunter. While some publications give 1997,<ref name="Who's Who"/><ref name="Newsmakers">{{cite book |last=Brennan |first=Carol |editor-last=Avery |editor-first=Laura |year=2015 |title=Newsmakers |location=Farmington Hills, Michigan |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |pages=472–475 |isbn=9781414497792 |oclc=903054736 |id={{GALE|K1618006197}}}}</ref> her divorce filing lists 1999.<ref name="Griffith 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-kevin-hunter-n993576 |title=Wendy Williams files for divorce from husband, Kevin Hunter |last=Griffith |first=Janelle |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=April 11, 2019 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205002926/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-kevin-hunter-n993576 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Butler 2019">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/04/11/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-more-than-years/ |url-access=subscription |title=Wendy Williams files for divorce from husband of 20 years |last=Butler |first=Bethonie |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 11, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210412025800/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/04/11/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-more-than-years/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}} She suffered multiple miscarriages before giving birth to their son, Kevin Samuel, on August 18, 2000.<ref name="Strauss"/> In April 2019, Williams filed for divorce due to [[irreconcilable differences]]<ref name="Griffith 2019"/><ref name="Butler 2019"/> after Hunter fathered a baby with a mistress.<ref name="Schulman"/> Although the divorce was finalized in January 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wendy Williams' divorce from Kevin Hunter is finalized|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/01/29/wendy-williams-divorce-kevin-hunter-finalized/4595917002/|url-access=limited|date=January 29, 2020|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210318030806/https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/01/29/wendy-williams-divorce-kevin-hunter-finalized/4595917002/|url-status=live|access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> her legal surname remains Hunter.<ref name="Maas">{{Cite magazine|title=Wendy Williams Denies Mental Health Allegations After Wells Fargo Freezes Her Bank Accounts |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/wendy-williams-denies-mental-health-allegations-wells-fargo-accounts-1235181112/|last=Maas|first=Jennifer|date=February 14, 2022|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> |
Williams said she was [[date raped]] at college and by [[R&B]] singer [[Sherrick]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/wendy-williams-sherrick-date-rape-b1787018.html |title=Wendy Williams says that she was sexually assaulted by 1980s R&B singer Sherrick |last=Brodsky |first=Rachel |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 14, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513022152/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/wendy-williams-sherrick-date-rape-b1787018.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, she had a six-week abortion after breaking up with her boyfriend.<ref>Williams and Hunter, pp. 101–106</ref> Williams later married her first husband, Bertrand "Bert" Girigorie.<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Wendy Williams: The Movie''. Lifetime biopic covers rape, cocaine, miscarriages, infidelity and N.J. star's rise |last=Kuperinsky|first=Amy|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/01/wendy-williams-the-movie-lifetime-biopic-covers-rape-cocaine-miscarriages-infidelity-and-nj-stars-rise.html|url-access=subscription|date=January 30, 2021|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302024603/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/01/wendy-williams-the-movie-lifetime-biopic-covers-rape-cocaine-miscarriages-infidelity-and-nj-stars-rise.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 12, 1992 |title=Williams–Girigorie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97008590/marriage-of-williams-girigorie/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=G31 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> She refers to him under a pseudonym in her autobiography and says they separated after five months and divorced about eighteen months later.<ref>Williams and Hunter, pp. 109, 125</ref> Williams met her second husband, Kevin Hunter, in 1994,<ref name="Schulman"/> and married him on November 30, 1999.{{efn-la|name="Marriage"|Sources differ regarding the year of Williams' marriage to Hunter. While some publications give 1997,<ref name="Who's Who"/><ref name="Newsmakers">{{cite book |last=Brennan |first=Carol |editor-last=Avery |editor-first=Laura |year=2015 |title=Newsmakers |location=Farmington Hills, Michigan |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |pages=472–475 |isbn=9781414497792 |oclc=903054736 |id={{GALE|K1618006197}}}}</ref> her divorce filing lists 1999.<ref name="Griffith 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-kevin-hunter-n993576 |title=Wendy Williams files for divorce from husband, Kevin Hunter |last=Griffith |first=Janelle |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=April 11, 2019 |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205002926/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-kevin-hunter-n993576 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Butler 2019">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/04/11/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-more-than-years/ |url-access=subscription |title=Wendy Williams files for divorce from husband of 20 years |last=Butler |first=Bethonie |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 11, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210412025800/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/04/11/wendy-williams-files-divorce-husband-more-than-years/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}} She suffered multiple miscarriages before giving birth to their son, Kevin Samuel, on August 18, 2000.<ref name="Strauss"/> In April 2019, Williams filed for divorce due to [[irreconcilable differences]]<ref name="Griffith 2019"/><ref name="Butler 2019"/> after Hunter fathered a baby with a mistress.<ref name="Schulman"/> Although the divorce was finalized in January 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wendy Williams' divorce from Kevin Hunter is finalized|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/01/29/wendy-williams-divorce-kevin-hunter-finalized/4595917002/|url-access=limited|date=January 29, 2020|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210318030806/https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/01/29/wendy-williams-divorce-kevin-hunter-finalized/4595917002/|url-status=live|access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> her legal surname remains Hunter.<ref name="Maas">{{Cite magazine|title=Wendy Williams Denies Mental Health Allegations After Wells Fargo Freezes Her Bank Accounts |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/wendy-williams-denies-mental-health-allegations-wells-fargo-accounts-1235181112/|last=Maas|first=Jennifer|date=February 14, 2022|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> |
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Due to her suburban upbringing, Williams considers herself "a multicultural woman who happens to be Black".<ref name="Strauss"/ |
Due to her suburban upbringing, Williams considers herself "a multicultural woman who happens to be Black".<ref name="Strauss"/> Williams identifies as [[Christian]] but no longer attends [[church services]].<ref name="Booker 2009"/> She believes "[[God in Christianity|God]] is everywhere" and [[pray]]s "every day, several times a day".<ref>Williams and Hunter, p. 259</ref> Williams is [[pro-choice]] for [[abortion]].<ref>Williams and Hunter, p. 104</ref> She supported [[Barack Obama]] in the [[2012 United States presidential election]].<ref name="Guthrie"/> That year, Williams posed for [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]]'s "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign, stating "we should all try to be comfortable in our own skin and let the animals keep theirs."<ref>{{cite news |last=Oldenburg |first=Ann |date=November 29, 2012 |title=Wendy Williams goes naked for PETA |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2012/11/29/wendy-williams-goes-naked-for-peta/1735469/ |url-status=live |work=[[USA Today]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227085809/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2012/11/29/wendy-williams-goes-naked-for-peta/1735469/ |archive-date=February 27, 2019 |access-date=March 17, 2021}}</ref> She supported the [[Modern_display_of_the Confederate battle flag#Display at the South Carolina State Capitol|2015 removal]] of the [[Confederate battle flag]] from the [[South Carolina State House]].<ref name="Armonaitis"/> |
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===Health and appearance=== |
===Health and appearance=== |
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Williams has had [[breast implants]] since 1994 and has had [[liposuction]]<ref name="Wood 2009"/> |
Williams has had [[breast implants]] since 1994 and has had other [[Cosmetic procedure|cosmetic procedures]] such as [[liposuction]] and [[botox]].<ref name="Wood 2009"/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Flanagan|first=Hannah|date=January 22, 2020|title=Wendy Williams films herself getting jawline botox—and plays the footage on her talk show!|url=https://people.com/style/wendy-williams-films-herself-getting-jawline-botox/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503145008/https://people.com/style/wendy-williams-films-herself-getting-jawline-botox/|archive-date=May 3, 2021|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> Williams has been open about her [[cocaine]] addiction in the late 1980s and early 1990s, for which she never received treatment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/01/30/wendy-williams-lifetime-movie/|url-access=limited|title=Wendy Williams seems like the perfect Lifetime movie subject. So why is it so unsettling to watch?|last=Butler|first=Bethonie|date=January 30, 2021|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131093802/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/01/30/wendy-williams-lifetime-movie/|archive-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Butler March 2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/19/wendy-williams-reveals-shes-been-staying-sober-living-house/|url-access=limited|title=Wendy Williams reveals she's been staying in a sober-living house|last=Butler|first=Bethonie|date=March 19, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206055042/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/19/wendy-williams-reveals-shes-been-staying-sober-living-house/|archive-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> Since [[fainting]] on her talk show in October 2017 due to [[dehydration]], she has shared other health issues publicly.<ref name="Butler March 2019"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/10/31/wendy-williams-fainted-on-live-tv-and-it-was-terrifying/|url-access=limited|title=Wendy Williams fainted on live TV, and it was terrifying|last=Yahr|first=Emily|date=October 31, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305064046/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/10/31/wendy-williams-fainted-on-live-tv-and-it-was-terrifying/|archive-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref> In February 2018, Williams disclosed that she has [[Graves' disease]] which causes [[hyperthyroidism]],<ref name="Park 2018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wendy-williams-graves-disease-diagnosis-show-hiatus-three-weeks/|title=Wendy Williams reveals Graves' disease diagnosis, takes hiatus|last=Park|first=Andrea|date=February 22, 2018|work=[[CBS News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022083757/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wendy-williams-graves-disease-diagnosis-show-hiatus-three-weeks/|archive-date=October 22, 2021}}</ref> conditions she was diagnosed with nearly two decades prior.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://people.com/tv/wendy-williams-graves-disease-menopause/|title=Wendy Williams opens up about battling Graves' disease in the midst of menopause|last1=Rubenstein|first1=Janine|last2=Pasquini|first2=Maria|date=March 18, 2018|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029063402/https://people.com/tv/wendy-williams-graves-disease-menopause/|archive-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref> Due to the increased pressure behind her eyes, they sometimes have a pronounced appearance.<ref name="Park 2018"/> Williams wears [[wigs]] in public because her thyroid condition thins her natural hair.<ref name="Schulman"/> She accidentally [[bone fracture|fractured]] her shoulder in December 2018.<ref name="Butler March 2019"/> |
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In March 2019, Williams said she had been living in a [[Sober living houses|sober house]] "for some time"<ref name="Butler March 2019"/> and that she has [[vertigo]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wendy-william-returns-talk-show-shares-health-update-1192013/|title=Wendy Williams shares health update in TV return: "I feel good"|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last=Eeal|first=Evan|date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030183848/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wendy-william-returns-talk-show-shares-health-update-1192013/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, Williams revealed she had been diagnosed with [[lymphedema]], a condition that causes swelling in her ankles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/07/08/wendy-williams-announces-lymphedema-diagnosis-new-boyfriend/1675059001/|title=Wendy Williams opens up about lymphedema diagnosis, new boyfriend|work=[[USA Today]]|last=Trepany|first=Charles|date=July 8, 2019|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307021144/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/07/08/wendy-williams-announces-lymphedema-diagnosis-new-boyfriend/1675059001/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in September 2021, Williams tested positive for a [[breakthrough infection]] of the disease.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/16/entertainment/wendy-williams-covid-positive/index.html/|title=Wendy Williams tests positive for Covid-19|work=[[CNN]]|last=Respers France|first=Lisa|date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014184723/https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/16/entertainment/wendy-williams-covid-positive/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2022, Williams's bank, [[Wells Fargo]], froze her accounts and requested a [[New York Supreme Court]] hearing to determine whether her health conditions render her incapacitated and in need of a [[guardianship]]. Her attorney disputes these notions and says Williams employs "holistic health professionals".<ref name="Maas"/> |
In March 2019, Williams said she had been living in a [[Sober living houses|sober house]] "for some time"<ref name="Butler March 2019"/> and that she has [[vertigo]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wendy-william-returns-talk-show-shares-health-update-1192013/|title=Wendy Williams shares health update in TV return: "I feel good"|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|last=Eeal|first=Evan|date=March 4, 2019|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030183848/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wendy-william-returns-talk-show-shares-health-update-1192013/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, Williams revealed she had been diagnosed with [[lymphedema]], a condition that causes swelling in her ankles.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/07/08/wendy-williams-announces-lymphedema-diagnosis-new-boyfriend/1675059001/|title=Wendy Williams opens up about lymphedema diagnosis, new boyfriend|work=[[USA Today]]|last=Trepany|first=Charles|date=July 8, 2019|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307021144/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/07/08/wendy-williams-announces-lymphedema-diagnosis-new-boyfriend/1675059001/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in September 2021, Williams tested positive for a [[breakthrough infection]] of the disease.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/16/entertainment/wendy-williams-covid-positive/index.html/|title=Wendy Williams tests positive for Covid-19|work=[[CNN]]|last=Respers France|first=Lisa|date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014184723/https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/16/entertainment/wendy-williams-covid-positive/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2022, Williams's bank, [[Wells Fargo]], froze her accounts and requested a [[New York Supreme Court]] hearing to determine whether her health conditions render her incapacitated and in need of a [[guardianship]]. Her attorney disputes these notions and says Williams employs "holistic health professionals".<ref name="Maas"/> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | In 2005, Williams funded a $1,000 scholarship for a Black female high school student who sought to [[academic major|major]] in communications at college.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Alesha |date=April 6, 2005 |title=Drifters chapter celebrates 30 years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96586832/asbury-park-press/ |department=Plus Fifty |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=14 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Subsequent recipients in 2006 and 2007 also received internships at WBLS.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 9, 2006 |title=Radio host heading home for scholarship luncheon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75718813/asbury-park-press/ |department=Coastal Monmouth Reporter |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=10 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kapadia |first=Priyanka |date=March 9, 2007 |title=Drifters to hold annual luncheon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96991127/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=F8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> She lead an effort to donate money and school supplies to Asbury Park Middle School in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Karyn D. |date=February 14, 2010 |title=Red-hot Wendy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96990279/asbury-park-press/ |work=[[Asbury Park Press]] |page=E2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Williams and her husband created The Hunter Foundation in 2014, a non-profit organization that funded anti-poverty programs and provided resources to people as they transitioned from [[drug addiction]] to recovery.<ref name="Corinthios">{{Cite magazine|last=Corinthios|first=Aurelie|title=Wendy Williams is dissolving her foundation for addicts with estranged husband Kevin Hunter|date=May 15, 2019|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|url=https://people.com/tv/wendy-williams-dissolving-foundation-kevin-hunter/|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mastroianni|first=Brian|title=Wendy Williams opens up about "the real Wendy," how she is giving back this holiday season|date=December 21, 2016|publisher=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wendy-williams-opens-up-about-the-real-wendy-how-she-is-giving-back-this-holiday-season/|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> The foundation closed in May 2019 amid Williams's divorce.<ref name="Corinthios"/> In September of that year, Williams became an ambassador and honorary board member of the Lymphatic Education & Research Network.<ref>{{Cite press release|date=September 5, 2019|title=Television Talk Show Host Wendy Williams joins LE&RN Honorary Board|url=https://lymphaticnetwork.org/news-events/wendy-williams-joins-honorary-board|publisher=Lymphatic Education & Research Network|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref> |
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==Accolades== |
==Accolades== |
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Revision as of 22:31, 6 March 2022
Wendy Williams | |
|---|---|
 Williams in 2018 | |
| Born | Wendy Joan Williams July 18, 1964 Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Other names | Wendy Williams Hunter[1] |
| Education | Northeastern University (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Television | |
| Spouse(s) |
Bert Girigorie
(divorced)Kevin Hunter
(m. 1999; div. 2020) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Wendy Joan Hunter (née Williams; born July 18, 1964) is an American broadcaster, media personality, businesswoman, writer, comedian, and actress. From 2008 to 2022, 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 as a shock jockette. 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' other endeavors include authoring several books, appearances in various films and television shows, touring her comedy show,[2][3] 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 and education
Wendy Joan Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in Asbury Park, New Jersey.[4] She is the second of three children born to Shirley (née Skinner) and Thomas Dwayne Williams.[5] The couple had a combined three master's degrees;[6] Shirley was a special education teacher while Thomas was a teacher and school principal who in 1969 became the first Black school administrator in Red Bank, New Jersey.[5][7] Following 1970 race riots in Asbury Park, the family moved to the predominantly white, upper middle class suburb of Wayside in Ocean Township, New Jersey.[6][8] They attended a Baptist church[9] and visited the African American vacation town of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, each summer.[10] As a child, doctors recommended Williams be medicated to control her hyperactivity.[11] She suffered from poor body image due to the diet her parents put on her on after gaining weight in elementary school.[8] Williams was a Brownie in the Girl Scouts and volunteered as a candy striper.[10] Her parents believed she would become a nurse.[8]
Williams graduated from Ocean Township High School in 1982 among four Black students, ranking 360th in the class of 363.[4][8] Her academic performance opposed that of older sister Wanda who received a university scholarship at the age of 16.[12] 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.[8][13] She did not get along with the other Black students and said their only commonality was smoking cannabis.[6][8] 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.[11] She acted as an announcer at her younger brother Thomas's Little League Baseball games.[5][6]
Williams attended Northeastern University in Boston with the intent of becoming a television anchor.[14][15] Less than a month after starting, she switched from television communications to radio because she could advance her career faster[15]—a move of which her parents disapproved.[12] Williams graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and, to appease her parents, a minor in journalism.[14][16] She was a disc jockey for the college radio station, WRBB, where rapper LL Cool J was her first celebrity interviewee. As an intern for Matt Siegel at contemporary hit radio station WXKS-FM, Williams recapped the soap operas Dallas and Dynasty on air.[4][8]
Career
1986–2009: Radio
Two weeks after graduating, Williams began her career as a disc jockey working for the small, calypso and reggae-oriented WVIS in Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands,[14][17][18] but disliked the role because she did not learn as much about radio from her colleagues as she expected.[15] Due to low pay[b] and isolation from her family, Williams began sending resumes and demo tapes of herself to other radio stations.[14][15] She left WVIS after eight months and obtained a position at Washington, D.C.'s WOL, but found its oldies radio format incompatible with her personality.[15][18] Williams continued sending tapes to other stations and on November 1, 1987, began as a weekend fill-in on New York City's WQHT.[15] After the urban contemporary station hired her full-time to work overnight shifts, she left WOL.[4][15]
Williams was fired from WQHT after two years[19] and briefly worked overnight shifts at WPLJ before being hired by WRKS.[20] 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.[17][21] She joined Jeff Foxx and Spider Webb as part of the station's "Wake-Up Club".[8][21] 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 unusccessfully demanded she be fired.[8] As she grew into a popular radio personality, Williams was moved to a solo evening drive time slot in April 1991.[8][22] By 1993, she was the highest-rated host in her time slot in the New York City market[11][19] and received a Billboard Radio Award for R&B Major Market Radio Air Personality of the Year.[23] Williams co-hosted American Urban Radio Networks' syndicated Top 30 USA song countdown program in 1993 and USA Music Magazine in 1994.[24][25] She moved backed to mornings on WRKS in October 1994.[26]
In December 1994, Emmis Broadcasting purchased WRKS and switched Williams to the company's other New York property, hip-hop formatted WQHT ("Hot 97"), as WRKS was reformatted into an urban adult contemporary outlet. She was fired from Hot 97 in 1998.[6] Williams was hired by a Philadelphia urban station, WUSL ("Power 99FM"). Her husband, Kevin Hunter, became her agent.[6] She was very open about her personal life on air, discussing her miscarriages, breast enhancement surgery,[6] and former drug addiction.[27] She helped the station move from 14th place in the ratings to 2nd.[6]
In 2001, Williams returned to the New York airwaves when WBLS hired her full-time for a syndicated 2–6 p.m. time slot. Williams' friend, MC Spice of Boston, offered his voiceover services to the show, often adding short rap verses tailored specifically for Williams' show. The New York Times stated that her "show works best when its elements – confessional paired with snarkiness – are conflated".[28] By 2008, she was 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.
2008–present: Television
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.[29] 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.".[30] 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.[31] The show attracts 2.4 million daily viewers on average, with Williams trading off daily with Ellen DeGeneres as the number one female host on daytime television.[32]
Williams hosted a game show for GSN called Love Triangle (2011) for which she and her husband Kevin Hunter served as executive producers.[33] Williams played a judge on the Lifetime network show Drop Dead Diva (2011) and served as a guest judge on The Face (2013).[34] Williams was paired with Tony Dovolani as a contestant on the twelfth season of 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.[35] 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.[36][37] These projects will appear under the heading "Wendy Williams presents"[37] and their first project will be VH1 adaptation of a Star Jones novel.[36]
In February 2013, it was announced that Williams and her husband and manager, Kevin, were launching a reality television production company, Wendy Williams Productions.[38] that will produce unscripted content, including reality television and game shows.[39] Williams was an executive producer on the show Celebrities Undercover (2014).[34] Williams also executive produced a biopic for Lifetime, Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B, which premiered on November 15, 2014.[40] The film attracted controversy due to its casting and depiction of Aaliyah's relationship with R. Kelly.[41] and received predominantly negative reviews from critics.[42] In September 2015, the documentary series Death By Gossip with Wendy Williams premiered on the Investigation Discovery channel, both hosted and produced by Williams.[43] In 2013, Williams was cast to play the role of Matron "Mama" Morton on the Broadway musical Chicago.[44][45] She began her tenure on July 2[46] 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?!,[47] which was produced by her own production company, Wendy Williams Productions.[48]
Williams had not missed an episode of her talk show until February 2018, when she took one week off; however, on February 21, 2018, Williams announced that her show would be on three weeks' hiatus due to her complications with Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism.[49] In January 2019, a statement from the Williams Hunter family revealed that Williams had been hospitalized due to complications from Graves' disease and that her return to the show would be delayed indefinitely as a result.[50] Guest hosts such as Nick Cannon filled in for Wendy during her absence; she returned on March 4, 2019.[51] In early March 2020, the show discontinued its live audience for two tapings due to the coronavirus pandemic; Williams's staff filled in the seats.[52] Shortly thereafter, production on the show was halted.[53] The show reemerged as The Wendy Williams Show @ Home, broadcast through video chat from Williams's apartment, and continuing through May 15, when production was halted again due to a flare in Williams's Graves disease.[54][55] In July 2020, Williams announced that her show would be returning to live broadcasting in-studio on September 21, 2020.[56] In 2020, Williams competed on the fourth season of The Masked Singer as "Lips" where she was mostly sitting due to the weight of the costume. She performed the song "Native New Yorker" by Odyssey and was the first member of Group C to be eliminated and unmasked after her first appearance. Williams signed a deal with the US network Lifetime for a documentary, Wendy Williams: What a Mess! and a TV movie, Wendy Williams: The Movie based on her life.[57]
Other ventures
Authorship
Williams is the author of three nonfiction books. She released an autobiography co-written with New York Daily News journalist Karen Hunter in August 2003 titled Wendy's Got the Heat. It focuses on her life, including childhood troubles, drug addiction, and marriages.[58][59] Published by Atria, it debuted at number nine on The New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction.[60] The autobiography was reprinted in paperback in August 2004,[61] a month before the debut of Williams' second book, The Wendy Williams Experience, which contains celebrity gossip and interviews.[62][63] In May 2013, Williams released an advice book, Ask Wendy.[64] Over the years, Williams wrote columns for Honey and Life & Style magazines.[64][65]
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.[66][67][68] Zondra Hughes co-wrote the third installment Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (2009).[69][70] Media outlets considered Ritz Harper similar to Williams.[71][72] In 2014, Williams released a romance novel, Hold Me in Contempt.[73] She said it was co-authored with an English professor ghostwriter.[74]
Music and comedy
Williams interviewed Blu Cantrell in 2003; the conversation was released as a DVD on the singer's album Bittersweet.[17] Williams and Virgin Records released a compilation album, Wendy Williams Brings the Heat: Volume 1, in June 2005 featuring various rap acts, including M.O.P., Jadakiss, and Young Jeezy.[75] It sold 29,000 copies by November of that year according to Nielsen SoundScan.[76]
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.[2] 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.[77] 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.[78] In 2015, Williams announced a 12-city comedy tour called "The Wendy Williams Sit Down Tour: Too Real For Stand-Up."[79]
Products and endorsements
While working for WRKS, Williams was a spokesperson for a hip-hop clothing brand.[11] In 2006, she became a spokesperson for George Veselles champagne and Alizé liquers.[17] Williams debuted a jewelry and shoe line on shopping channel QVC called "Adorn" in 2012.[80][81] The shoe manufacturer's lawyer alleged she never paid the production cost.[82] In 2013, Williams released a wig collection to online retailers.[83] 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.[84][85][86]
Legacy and cultural impact
City University of New York professor Tanisha C. Ford credits Williams for creating the format by which other personalities conduct gossip segments of their own.[8] Williams's voice is a popular sound on the social media service TikTok; her quote "That's what she said, and you know what? I— what was that? ...OK ...James" is used in over 100,000 videos. Other phrases such as "Oh she passed away?" and mispronunciation of singer Dua Lipa's name as "Dula Peep" became internet memes. YouTube users uploaded compilation videos of various Williams-isms to the platform.[87]
Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009.[88] On her 50th birthday in 2014, Asbury Park renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.[89] She was honored with the 2,677th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 17, 2019.[88] A wax figure of Williams is located at Madame Tussauds New York.[90] 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.[91] A documentary, Wendy Williams: What a Mess!, and a TV movie, Wendy Williams: The Movie, are based on her life.[8]
Controversies and feuds
Williams has repeatedly feuded with celebrities and faced criticism for her comments. She has been mailed bullets and dead fish.[19][92] Media outlets have described Williams' 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.[10][92][12] 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.[93] 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.[94][95]
Williams referred to Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty in 2019 as "a killer and a sex offender" (he was once imprisoned for attempted rape and manslaughter); the rapper responded by bringing up allegations of infidelity by Williams' own husband and said "I didn't know that in our society, you have to be plagued by your past."[96][97]
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.[98][99] Williams later apologized for the remarks and explained "unfortunately a lot of people lie about rape so I was just being skeptical".[100] In January 2018, Williams was criticized by activist Tarana Burke after saying an alleged 14-year-old victim of R. Kelly "let it go down" and that she was "sick of this Me Too movement".[101]
In early 2020, Williams was criticized over several remarks she made on her show. In January, while talking about actor Joaquin Phoenix, Williams used her finger to pull up a part of her lip to resemble a cleft palate (a condition which Phoenix has denied having),[102] which many took to believe she was mocking him. Williams apologized on her show.[103] In February, Williams was criticized again for making comments many regarded as homophobic while talking about the fictional holiday "Galentine's Day"; she again apologized, this time in an emotional video posted to her official social channels online.[104][105][106] Shortly thereafter, while talking about the death of Amie Harwick, Williams made a joke referring to Harwick's ex-fiancé Drew Carey and his job on The Price Is Right, saying that show's catchphrase, "Come on down!", in response to the news that Harwick had been thrown off a balcony.[107]
Williams has had conflicts with others regarding parenting style. Actress Alyssa Milano criticized Williams' mentality regarding public breastfeeding after she said it made her uncomfortable because breasts are "more sexual than a feeding thing".[108][109] Williams has been accused of transphobia. In one episode of her show, after stating that trans woman can never be assigned women, she told her audience, "Stop wearing our skirts and our heels!"[104][110] After explicitly stating that to be a woman, one has to menstruate, she apologized for her remarks.[105] In 2021, Williams came under fire for her controversial coverage of the murder of 19-year-old TikTok star Swavy: "I have no idea who this is. Neither does Norman. Neither does one person in this building."[111]
Personal life
Williams said she was date raped at college and by R&B singer Sherrick in the 1980s.[112] In 1991, she had a six-week abortion after breaking up with her boyfriend.[113] Williams later married her first husband, Bertrand "Bert" Girigorie.[114][115] She refers to him under a pseudonym in her autobiography and says they separated after five months and divorced about eighteen months later.[116] Williams met her second husband, Kevin Hunter, in 1994,[8] and married him on November 30, 1999.[a] She suffered multiple miscarriages before giving birth to their son, Kevin Samuel, on August 18, 2000.[12] In April 2019, Williams filed for divorce due to irreconcilable differences[117][118] after Hunter fathered a baby with a mistress.[8] Although the divorce was finalized in January 2020,[119] her legal surname remains Hunter.[120]
Due to her suburban upbringing, Williams considers herself "a multicultural woman who happens to be Black".[12] Williams identifies as Christian but no longer attends church services.[70] She believes "God is everywhere" and prays "every day, several times a day".[121] Williams is pro-choice for abortion.[122] She supported Barack Obama in the 2012 United States presidential election.[80] That year, Williams posed for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign, stating "we should all try to be comfortable in our own skin and let the animals keep theirs."[123] She supported the 2015 removal of the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina State House.[89]
Health and appearance
Williams has had breast implants since 1994 and has had other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction and botox.[92][124] Williams has been open about her cocaine addiction in the late 1980s and early 1990s, for which she never received treatment.[125][126] Since fainting on her talk show in October 2017 due to dehydration, she has shared other health issues publicly.[126][127] In February 2018, Williams disclosed that she has Graves' disease which causes hyperthyroidism,[128] conditions she was diagnosed with nearly two decades prior.[129] Due to the increased pressure behind her eyes, they sometimes have a pronounced appearance.[128] Williams wears wigs in public because her thyroid condition thins her natural hair.[8] She accidentally fractured her shoulder in December 2018.[126]
In March 2019, Williams said she had been living in a sober house "for some time"[126] and that she has vertigo.[130] Later that year, Williams revealed she had been diagnosed with lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in her ankles.[131] During the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2021, Williams tested positive for a breakthrough infection of the disease.[132] In early 2022, Williams's bank, Wells Fargo, froze her accounts and requested a New York Supreme Court hearing to determine whether her health conditions render her incapacitated and in need of a guardianship. Her attorney disputes these notions and says Williams employs "holistic health professionals".[120]
Philanthropy
In 2005, Williams funded a $1,000 scholarship for a Black female high school student who sought to major in communications at college.[133] Subsequent recipients in 2006 and 2007 also received internships at WBLS.[134][135] She lead an effort to donate money and school supplies to Asbury Park Middle School in 2009.[136] Williams and her husband created The Hunter Foundation in 2014, a non-profit organization that funded anti-poverty programs and provided resources to people as they transitioned from drug addiction to recovery.[137][138] The foundation closed in May 2019 amid Williams's divorce.[137] In September of that year, Williams became an ambassador and honorary board member of the Lymphatic Education & Research Network.[139]
Accolades
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Radio Award | 1993 | R&B Major Market Radio Air Personality of the Year | Wendy Williams | Won | [23] |
| Daytime Emmy Award | 2015 | Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [140] |
| Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | |||
| 2016 | Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [141] | |
| Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [142] | |
| 2019 | Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [143] | |
| Hollywood Walk of Fame | 2019 | — | Wendy Williams | 2,677th star | [88] |
| NAACP Image Award | 2012 | Outstanding Talk Series | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | [144] |
| 2015 | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | [145] | ||
| 2016 | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | [146] | ||
| National Radio Hall of Fame | 2009 | — | Wendy Williams | Inducted | [88] |
| People's Choice Award | 2016 | Favorite Daytime TV Host | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [147] |
| 2019 | The Daytime Talk Show of 2019 | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | [148] | |
| 2020 | The Daytime Talk Show of 2020 | The Wendy Williams Show | Nominated | [149] | |
| Radio & Records Industry Achievement Award | 1999 | Urban Personality of the Year | Wendy Williams | Won | [150] |
| 2000 | Wendy Williams | Won | [151] | ||
| 2002 | Urban Personality/Show of the Year | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [152][153] | |
| 2003 | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [154][155] | ||
| 2004 | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [156][157] | ||
| 2006 | Urban AC Personality/Show of the Year | Wendy Williams | Won | [158] | |
| 2007 | Wendy Williams | Won | [159] | ||
| 2008 | Wendy Williams | Nominated | [160][161] |
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 |
| 2008–2022 | 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" | ||
| 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 |
Bibliography
Nonfiction
- Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2003). Wendy's Got the Heat (1st ed.). New York City: Atria Books. ISBN 0-7434-7021-4.
- Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2004). The Wendy Williams Experience (1st ed.). New York City: Dutton. ISBN 0-525-94837-6.
- Williams, Wendy (2013). Ask Wendy (1st ed.). New York City: William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-06-226838-9.
Fiction
- Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2006). Drama Is Her Middle Name (1st ed.). New York City: Harlem Moon. ISBN 978-0-7394-7004-6.
- Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2007). Is the Bitch Dead, or What? (1st ed.). New York City: Harlem Moon. ISBN 978-0-7679-2487-0.
- Williams, Wendy; Hughes, Zondra (2009). Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (1st ed.). New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-9288-4.
- Williams, Wendy (2014). Hold Me in Contempt (1st ed.). New York City: William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-06-226841-9.
Notes
References
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- ^ a b "Wendy Williams Kicks Off 'Lipshtick – The Perfect Shade of Stand-Up' at The Venetian Las Vegas". VegasNews.com. July 14, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
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- ^ Williams and Hunter, p. 114
- ^ a b c Trebay, Guy (November 23, 2009). "Ms. Demeanour". T. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020.
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{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Drake, Monica (July 13, 2008). "TELEVISION; A Radio Shock Jock Who's Ready for TV". The New York Times. p. 17. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ "Wendy's World! Excellent!". Vibe. August 1997. p. 46. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ Stanley, Alessandra (July 22, 2008). "Talk Show Is Less Talk, More Alpha-Female Action". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^
- Littleton, Cynthia (January 12, 2009). "'Wendy Williams' set for July: Talk show goes national this summer". Variety.
- Historical Dictionary of African American Television. 2014. p. 508. ISBN 978-0810879171.
{{cite book}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=(help) - Ross, Kevin (June 1, 2010). "BET Networks Acquires Debmar-Mercury's 'THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW' for Season Two Domestically; Secures International Channels Rights". Radiofacts. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
- ^ Rovzar, Chris (March 4, 2015). "How Wendy Williams Became Daytime Talk's Unlikely Survivor". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "GSN Signs acclaimed television personality Wendy Williams to host new original series 'Love Triangle,' premiering April 18, 2011", GSN. Archived January 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Essex, Myeisha (February 5, 2013). "Wendy Williams Inks First Look Deal with Oxygen". EurWeb. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
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- ^ a b Bock, Alex (June 28, 2012). "Wendy Williams Aligns With de Passe Jones Entertainment for Scripted Ventures". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Essex, Myeisha (February 6, 2013). "Wendy Williams Launches Reality TV Production Company". Clutch Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
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{{cite magazine}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; February 3, 2021 suggested (help) - ^ Love, Walt (June 25, 1999). "Urban, UAC honor their best". Radio & Records. No. 1305. p. 58. ProQuest 1017327465.
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Works cited
- Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2003). Wendy's Got the Heat (1st ed.). Atria Books. ISBN 0-7434-7021-4. LCCN 2004297853. OCLC 52724929. OL 3324676M. LCC PN1991.4.W57 A3 2003.
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to Wendy Williams.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wendy Williams.
- The Wendy Williams Show
- The Wendy Williams Show playlist on YouTube
- Wendy Williams at IMDb
- Wendy Williams at AllMovie
- Wendy Williams at the Internet Broadway Database
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