Wendy Williams says she’s healthy and ‘ready’ to get back on TV less than a month after her iconic talk show was reassigned – with the time slot given to Sherri Shepherd – due to the host’s prolonged health battles.
The former shock jock also addressed Wells Fargo’s claims that she’s an ‘incapacitated person’ who is suffering from ‘undue influence and financial exploitation’ during a brief interview on Good Morning America Thursday morning.
She declined to appear on camera, instead speaking to correspond TJ Holmes by phone.
Asked if she’s of sound mind, the outspoken entertainer replied, ‘Absolutely! Are you?
‘When people want control of their accounts, they say anything, including something crazy like that about me,’ she shot back.
‘They say that I need somebody to handle my account and I don’t want that. I want all my money. I want to see all my money that I’ve worked hard for my entire life. I don’t lie, I don’t cheat and I don’t steal. I am an honest, hard working person,’ she said, adding that the bank froze her accounts for two months and prevented her from paying her bills.
Williams’s fans haven’t seen the host in her famous purple chair since July 2021.
‘This is what I would love to say to my Wendy watchers. Keep watching because I’m going to be back on the Wendy show bigger and brighter than ever,’ she said.
Wendy Williams spoke to Good Morning America reporter TJ Holmes on Thursday but declined to appear on camera. She said she’s ‘ready’ to get back to work
The talk show host has been off the air since July 16, 2021, when she signed off and promised to return in ‘two months and two weeks’
The Wendy Williams Show, which is syndicated and airs on Fox-owned stations, was scheduled to return in September for Season 13. Williams’ return was delayed, and eventually canceled for the rest of the season, after her team said she was ‘experiencing serious complications as a direct result of Graves’ disease and her thyroid condition.’
Graves’ disease is an immune system disorder that results in hyperthyroidism. The disease often results in irritability, fatigue, weight loss, rapid heartbeat and bulging eyes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Since taking a break, Williams has been spotted being led by hand into her New York City apartment while wearing hospital socks and in a wheelchair.
On Thursday, she made it clear there is nothing to worry about.
‘Health is very well. And I’ve actually had a few appointments. You know, I’m 57 now and I have the mind and body of a 25-year-old,’ she said.
Last month, production company Debmar-Mercury announced that The Wendy Williams Show would be officially canceled after a string of guest hosts, including Whitney Cummings and Michael Rapaport, filled in for the legendary gossiper.
Since taking a break, Williams has been spotted in New York City in a wheelchair. Her team says she’s suffering from complications due to Graves’ disease
Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Wendy Williams stepping out of a black SUV in New York City on September 10, 2021. Her show was supposed to premiere its season 13 that month, but the host’s return was delayed and eventually canceled
She appeared sickly as she was led by hand into her apartment by manager Bernie Young
Actress and friend Sherri Shepherd has been tapped to take over the time slot with her own show, simply titled Sherri.
A spokesman for Williams said she was assured that ‘should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.’
‘I’m very comfortable. You know, my partners with the show, everybody’s ready,’ Williams said Thursday, though she later clarified she might need extra time.
‘Well, give me about three months. There are private things that I have to deal with and then I’ll be ready to come back and be free and ready to do my thing.’
Last month, a lawyer for her bank, Wells Fargo, sent a letter to New York County Supreme Court Judge Arlene Bluth seeking a hearing to discuss her finances.
Williams’s former financial advisor, Lori Schiller, claimed that Williams was ‘of unsound mind’, which led to Wells Fargo blocking the New Jersey-born presenter’s access to her accounts in mid January.
Williams’s lawyers disputed Schiller’s claim and accused Wells Fargo of overstepping their authority. A lawyer for the bank later clarified that it wanted a ‘temporary guardian or evaluator to review the situation and ensure that [Williams’] affairs are being properly handled.’
The bank ‘has strong reason to believe’ Williams is ‘the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,’ according to a filing obtained by Page Six.
Williams said Thursday that the bank froze her account for two months, preventing her from accessing her funds or paying her bills and mortgage.
‘Well, um, you know I want to spend more time with my family. And, you know, working out and waiting for the responses to my money situation and Wells Fargo. And they don’t like that,’ she said.
A member of Williams’ team hopped on the phone to explain the situation further.
‘There was an individual internal to Wells Fargo that Wendy worked with.
‘Wendy wanted to have her son begin to come in and have a little bit more say so and get a little bit of knowledge as to the inner runnings of Wendy Williams, so the person that was there was going to be losing some of the access to Wendy that she had prior and I don’t think that she liked that,’ the team member said.
A lawyer for Wells Fargo called Williams an ‘incapacitated person’ who is subject to ‘undue influence’ in a court filing last month. The bank also called for a temporary conservator
One of Williams’ team members said Thursday that Wells Fargo froze the host’s accounts because someone at the bank ‘didn’t like’ that William’s son Kevin, Jr. was stepping in to learn about her finances
After the segment, Holmes confirmed that Williams is back in New York ‘where she wants to be’ but that her team said she ‘wasn’t able to go on camera.’
The Wendy Williams Show will end and be replaced this fall with a show hosted by Sherri Shepherd, the producer of both TV programs said last month.
‘Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now,’ Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said in a statement.
‘We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery,’ the executives said.
They also expressed their ‘great love and affinity for Wendy’ and admiration for her success.
Sherri Shepherd was one of many guest hosts to fill in for Williams and garnered strong ratings during a stint last November
Shepherd has since been tapped to host her own show on Williams’ time slot. Pictured: Sherri Shepherd and Wendy Williams in 2014
Howard Bragman, a spokesman for Williams, issued a statement shortly thereafter.
‘It’s been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues,’ he said.
‘She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time. She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television – you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s the Maybe Wendy Show.
‘She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.’
Shepherd was one of many guest hosts to fill in for Williams after she signed off at the end of Season 12 last July.
last month, Williams made an appearance on social media amid her ongoing health struggles to share a picture of her father, former school principal Thomas Dwayne Williams, celebrating his 91st birthday.
Last month, the embattled talk-show host celebrated her father’s 91st birthday and posted a photo of the pair on Instagram
The post came just days after she posted a video of herself reassuring fans she planned to come back ‘stronger’.
She shared a snap of the two of them together alongside the caption: ‘Daddy’s 91st birthday! Enjoying it in the most relaxing way possible.’
It came just days after she posted a video of herself reassuring fans she planned to come back ‘stronger’.
In the video, filmed by her son Kevin Hunter Jr., 21, Williams could be seen walking along the beach in Miami, Florida.
She said: ‘It’s just after 8 o’clock in the morning and I’m doing OK, you know? It’s very peaceful here.’
Williams also shared what she planned to accomplish for the day, including several phone calls to her relatives and business partners.
‘What do you have to say to those people who think you’re up to whatever it is?’ asked Kevin, to which Williams replied: ‘Excuse me, I am going back stronger.’
0