Wendy Williams disappeared from screens in 2022 and a popular X user from South Africa, Phil Mphela got called out after commenting on her current health condition.
The Wendy Williams Show ended, and Wendy Williams remains popular thanks to her segment of that show Ask Wendy.
The American talk show host is known for her unfiltered, straightforward and even mean delivery but her mental issues were recently revealed.
Wendy Williams’ dementia diagnosis sparks debate in SA
On 22 February 2024, two days before the release of the documentary, it was revealed that Wendy Williams had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is a neurological condition that can impact behaviour, speech and other communication abilities.
South African social media commentator Phil Mphelaa posted a tweet on X criticising scenes of Wendy Williams talking to her assistants harshly and netizens were quick to call him out for not realising the effects of dementia.
People felt that the tweet was uncalled considering Wendy’s diagnosis. X users pointed out that personality changes are a big part of dementia and Phil later apologised.
“You do know that this is a major symptom of dementia right? Aunty was never this nasty.”
@ubomiabumanga_ wrote:
“I agree no person should be treated this way, but this is exactly why it’s called dementia though… it alters your brain functioning; memory and behaviour most.”
@XhantiPayi pointed out:
“Dementia affects not just memory but behaviour. It’s important to read about what it is before you condemn someone.”
Phil apologised for his harsh tweet. Read the post:
Wendy Williams’ guardian tries to stop Lifetime’s Where is Wendy Williams? doccie
Lifetime produced and released a documentary entitled Where is Wendy Williams, that follows the star’s journey throughout her show and all the moments leading up to her disappearance.
The documentary is also set to shed light on her condition and location and give greater insight into Wendy and her family’s experience dealing with FTD and its treatments. In the documentary, it is revealed that Wendy Williams is currently in a treatment facility where she is getting help and reportedly doing well. Wendy Williams’ legal guardian Sabrina Morissey submitted a complaint seeking to block the four-part documentary but was denied.
How did Wendy Williams Show end?
According to Today, Wendy Williams stopped filming her show in 2021 due to ongoing health issues. Wendy Williams has also had to take several hosting breaks in the last few years due to those same health complications. In 2017, Wendy Williams collapsed on stage during a Halloween episode.
The viral clip showed Wendy dressed in a Statue of Liberty costume and seemingly fainted in front of her live studio audience in 2019. In 2020 Wendy Williams also took breaks away from the screens due to her battles with Graves’ disease.
Wendy Williams remembers Kevin Hunter divorce
In a viral clip from the documentary, Wendy Williams speaks to model and actress Black Chyna. The model reveals how much Wendy Williams has supported her and helped her and even tells her she loves her. In this clip, Williams insists that her real name is Wendy Hunter and she is divorced from her ex-husband who, according to the star, has no money.
Wendy Williams’ ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, married Wendy Williams in 1997 after Williams’ first divorce in 1995. Kevin Hunter became Wendy’s manager and producer early and the relationship and even helped her launch the Wendy Williams Show.
The documentary will also shed light on how Wendy Williams’s relationship with Kevin Hunter affected her livelihood.
What caused Wendy Williams’ mental illness?
Doctors have revealed that the primary reason for Williams’s deteriorating health condition was the abuse of alcohol. The topic of alcohol overconsumption is a particularly relevant one in South Africa where, according to Frontiers.org, 48% of men and 32% of women who consume alcohol binge drink. Researchers reported:
“In 2015, the total per capita alcohol consumption in SA was 11.5 L of pure alcohol, and alcohol consumption per drinker was 27 L of pure alcohol—one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world”
While there are obvious effects of alcohol overconsumption, there are less noticeable, long-term effects that we need to pay more attention to. As we see in the case of Wendy Williams, alcohol abuse can lead to neurological and psychological illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control, alcohol abuse can also lead to High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and even various cancers.
More info on how to get help for alcohol abuse can be found at https://changesrehab.co.za/south-african-helplines/