Wendy Williams leaving The Wendy Williams show (for now) after Graves’ Disease diagnosis
Today, the daytime host confirmed (see the video below) that she is battling an autoimmune disease known as Graves’ Disease, and with that she is taking a break for the next few weeks. This comes at the suggestion of her doctor — she admitted that this was a difficult decision to make given that she loves to work, but this is the right decision for her at the moment. This diagnosis could in part by tied to a fainting spell that happened on a recent Halloween special.
In a statement, a rep for The Wendy Williams Show had the following to say:
“Wendy is a true champion and has never missed a day of work … But her health and well-being must be put before all else. Wendy has been openly dealing with her Graves’ Disease for many years in addition to hyperthyroidism. Yesterday, Wendy’s doctor prescribed a necessary three weeks of rest to get her levels and medication in sync. The show will be in repeats during this unplanned hiatus. A live show was produced today so that Wendy could speak directly to her fans and explain her condition.”
Williams’ series has become a staple of daytime TV over the past several years, and really has succeeded in a market that has become incredibly difficult over the past few years. She found a way to connect with a lot of viewers who didn’t feel like they had a voice in daytime and, without a doubt, they’ll miss her. Yet, the way she presented her struggle was such that she doesn’t want it viewed as a struggle at all — she wants it viewed more as something else she will overcome. We’ve got no doubt she will given some of the other hurdles that Williams has tackled in her career so far.
Stay tuned; we will have a little bit more information on Williams’ show and her future as it comes out. For now, we wish her nothing but the best.
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