For years, people have been asking the question: what happened to Wendy Williams? She is one of the most influential pop culture figures of the 2010s that rose to fame due to her talk show “The Wendy Williams Show,” that aired from 2008–2022. Her show was a staple for viewers looking to be entertained by gossip from Wendy’s unfiltered, unapologetic commentary. She did not host the final season, she disappeared randomly throughout the show, and even blacked out live on air; but what led her to leave the show that made her famous? Why did she disappear off the face of the earth for a few years?
Recently, a two-part docu-series came out that claimed to shed light on her story. There was a lot of anticipation for the release, but it faced a great deal of criticism when it finally aired, especially from her publicist, Shawn Zanotti, who claims that it is exploitative and completely unexpected from the consenting parties.
Williams’ disappearance in recent years left fans of her show confused and concerned for her safety. Rumors were spread, and speculations ranged from health issues to personal conflicts with relapse, to her being “kidnapped” by the giants at Hollywood. She was known for her often controversial opinions, and not being afraid to speak her mind; consequently, her retreat from public view made no sense to fans, as she was so accustomed to being in the spotlight and seemingly loved her career.
She had opened up about her addiction and health problems on air, in an attempt to explain one of her sudden disappearances from the talk show.
Recently, questions were answered in her new documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?” It was announced that she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, just before the airing of the documentary, and that she has been in a treatment facility since around April of last year. This explains why so many speculators thought that she was being hidden or held hostage. The conditions that she was diagnosed with can affect one’s personality and communication skills, so it would have been difficult to impossible for her to continue hosting “The Wendy Williams Show.”
In an older documentary about her life, “Wendy Williams: What a Mess,” she opened up about her struggles with substance abuse and health issues, as well as the toll that they took on her. She was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 2018, which presented significant challenges for her, physically and emotionally. This enlightened viewers of why she fainted on air in 2017. She discussed the impact that her addiction and diagnosis had on her career and personal relationships, which offered a glimpse into her reality and reflected her humanity.
Her vulnerability when discussing her journey with substances left a lasting impression on viewers. Many admired the courage that it must have taken her to confront her past demons head-on, let alone in front of the entire world. Many times, people in the public eye are almost not seen or respected the same, as a human, because they are constantly putting on a facade for the camera. This can almost take away from their humanity, even though they are the same as you and me. It is extremely important to see the human side of all influencers and celebrities.
The outpour of love and support for Wendy during her absence speaks volumes about the impact that she had on her audience throughout her career. Viewers were eagerly waiting for her to return to the public eye, sending messages of encouragement as she is dealing with her health issues. Her authenticity and honesty were refreshing and comedic to watch, so she was missed dearly during her hiatus. It is also why so many were looking forward to seeing her again in the new docu-series, including her publicist, who makes an appearance in it.
The documentary, which aired on February 24th this year, focused on her life after she was placed under “financial guardianship, a court-appointed guardian of her finances, since she is considered too unstable to handle them herself. However, Zanotti believes that Wendy Williams would be extremely upset over how she was portrayed in the docuseries. In an interview with NBC, she stated that Ms. Williams did not know what the documentary was really about; apparently, she believed it was going to be about her comeback to the spotlight, and she would hate to see herself in the delirious manner that she was portrayed as.
Wendy Williams was overjoyed when the idea of another documentary came to light. All she wanted to do was share her story in a positive light, how she wanted to do it. Although, according to Zanotti, the production company, which happens to be the same company that made the first documentary, went behind both Zanotti's and Williams’ backs to create this docu-series that neither of them had agreed upon.
She believes that the creators purposely ignored her so that they could create a “spectacle” in Williams’ name in order to make the most money possible. She does not feel that anybody had her best interests at heart, and they were trying to show her downfall rather than share her strength during her most difficult moments, completely unbiased. Zanotti even expressed her concerns to Williams’ guardian, who filed a lawsuit against the company that eventually was sealed.
Though the life of Wendy Williams has been far from pretty, it is important for the public to see that even somebody as famous and influential as her can struggle with the same things that every human does, because typically, these struggles are hidden behind closed doors. But did Williams really get her raw, painfully honest story told? Or will she end up returning to the spotlight and on camera once more to share her real truth?
