Wendy Williams’ Family Recounts Alcohol Addiction, Saying They Feared She Could Die
Wendy Williams, the vivacious hostess who once lit up daytime television screens, once found herself embroiled in a harrowing battle against alcohol addiction and health woes that have laid bare her vulnerabilities.
In a revealing new documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams? premiering Feb. 24 on Lifetime, viewers get an unfiltered glimpse into the tumultuous journey of the 59-year-old star. Wendy’s struggles, which unfolded over the past two and a half years, offer a sobering reminder of the toll fame and personal demons can take.
Amidst a backdrop of health issues, including Graves’ disease and lymphedema, Wendy grappled with the specter of alcoholism, a battle fought largely in the shadows of her glamorous public persona.
The documentary captures moments of despair and resilience as Williams’ inner circle grapples with the gravity of her situation. Speaking to PEOPLE, her sister, Wanda, candidly reveals the fear and anguish that gripped the family as they waited for the dreaded call that never came.
“There were points during the past year when everyone in this family wondered whether that call [that she was dead] was going to come in the middle of the night. Everybody in this family sat on pins and needles every single night with their cell phones right next to the bed,” Wanda said.
Yet, amidst the darkness, glimmers of hope emerge. Wendy’s unwavering determination to confront her demons head-on underscores her resilience. Executive producer Mark Ford reflects on the decision to document Williams’ struggles, acknowledging the delicate balance between assistance and exploitation.
“She was already battling so much physically, and then it became clear that there were mental and addiction issues she was also battling,” he shared. “But all through it, she was adamant that she wanted to tell this story. We asked ourselves almost every day, ‘Is this helping Wendy or is this hurting her?’ And in the end we felt like it was helping her.”
Throughout the film, Wendy’s journey is punctuated by moments of confrontation and introspection. Her manager, Will Selby, struggles to keep her away from the bottle, a Herculean task made even more challenging by her resistance and defiance.
The documentary offers a stark portrayal of addiction’s grip, illustrating the toll it takes on relationships and personal well-being. “I think people got into something and didn’t realize how big and serious it was,” Wanda’s daughter and Wendy’s niece, Alex weighed in.
For an extended period, insiders reveal that Wendy grappled with alcohol dependency behind the scenes of The Wendy Williams Show, which she commenced hosting in 2008. A source from the show disclosed that there were instances where she appeared intoxicated on air, marking a concerning trend that raised eyebrows among the staff.
In 2017, during a Halloween episode, she collapsed while adorned in a Statue of Liberty costume, an incident she later attributed to her battle with Graves’ disease in a 2018 interview with PEOPLE. According to her niece, Alex, this event served as an early indicator that something was amiss.
In March 2019, Wendy herself made a candid revelation on her show, disclosing her residence in a sober living facility and acknowledging her past struggles with cocaine during her tenure as a radio shock jock in the ’90s.
The following month, amidst mounting personal turmoil, she initiated divorce proceedings against her husband of 21 years, Kevin Hunter, after revelations surfaced of his infidelity and paternity outside their marriage.
The loss of her mother, Shirley, in November 2020, dealt a devastating blow to Wendy, robbing her of a pillar of strength and support. According to Wanda, the television personality never truly processed her grief.”
In May 2022, amid escalating concerns for her well-being, a court-appointed guardian assumed control over her finances and health. Following the guardian’s appointment, troubling incidents continued to unfold, culminating in a distressing episode captured on camera in May 2022, where Wendy was found inebriated at a luxury store. Despite attempts to intervene, Wendy’s downward spiral persisted, prompting urgent pleas for intervention.
The documentary crew halted filming in April 2023, upon discovering Wendy in a concerning state at her apartment. Collaborating with her manager, efforts were made to compel the legal guardian to seek assistance for her deteriorating condition. Eventually, Wendy was taken to a facility to treat her “cognitive issues.”
Presently, she remains under the care of the guardian who is the only one that has complete access to her and can decide if she can leave the facility.
