Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 02:34, 15 July 2021

Wendy Williams
Williams in 2018
Born	Wendy Joan Williams (1964-07-18) July 18, 1964 (age 60) Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Other names	Wendy Williams Hunter
Education	Ocean Township High School Northeastern University
Occupations	Broadcaster media personality businesswoman writer producer
Years active	1986–present
Television	The Wendy Williams Experience The Wendy Williams Show Wendy Williams: What a Mess!
Spouse(s)	Bert Girigorie ​ ​(divorced)​ Kevin Hunter ​ ​(m. 1999; div. 2020)​
Children	1
Website	www.wendyshow.com

Wendy Joan Williams (born July 18, 1964) is an American broadcaster, media personality, businesswoman, and writer. Since 2008, she has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show The Wendy Williams Show.

Prior to television, Williams was a radio DJ and host and quickly became known in New York as a shock jockette. She gained notoriety for her on-air spats with celebrities and was the subject of the 2006 VH1 reality television series The Wendy Williams Experience, which broadcast events surrounding her radio show.

Williams' other endeavors include authoring several books, appearances in various films and television shows, and her own product lines, including a fashion line, a jewellery collection and a wig line. Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. On her 50th birthday, the council of Asbury Park, New Jersey renamed the street on which she grew up Wendy Williams Way.

Early life

Wendy Joan Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She is the second of three children born to Shirley (née Skinner), a special education teacher, and Thomas Dwayne Williams, an English teacher and school principal. The couple had a combined three master's degrees and traveled around the world, often buying pieces to decorate their home with. In 1970, the family moved to the upper middle class suburban community of Wayside in Ocean Township, New Jersey. As a child, doctors recommended Williams be medicated to control her hyperactivity. She was a Brownie in the Girl Scouts and volunteered as a candy striper.

Williams graduated from Ocean Township High School in 1982 where she was an outcast and one of the few African Americans. A poor student, Williams placed 360th in the class of 363. She has said that growing up she did not listen to hip hop music and instead listened to rock bands like AC/DC, which were popular with her classmates. Williams attended Northeastern University in Boston with the intent of becoming a television anchor. Less than a month after starting, she switched from television communications to radio because she could advance her career faster—a move of which her parents disapproved. Williams graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and, to appease her parents, a minor in journalism. She was a disc jockey for the college radio station, WRBB, where rapper LL Cool J was her first celebrity interviewee. As an intern for Matt Siegel at contemporary hit radio station WXKS-FM, Williams recapped the soap operas Dallas and Dynasty on air.

Career

1986–2009: Radio

Two weeks after graduating, Williams began her career as a disc jockey working for the small, calypso and reggae-oriented WVIS in Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands, but disliked the role because she did not learn as much about radio from her colleagues as she expected. Due to low pay and isolation from her family, Williams began sending resumes and demo tapes of herself to other radio stations. She left WVIS after eight months and obtained a position at Washington, D.C.'s WOL in 1987, but found its oldies radio format incompatible with her personality. Williams continued sending tapes to other stations and was hired by New York City's WQHT in November 1987 to fill-in on weekends. After the urban contemporary station hired her full-time in 1988 to work overnight shifts, she left WOL.

Williams was fired from WQHT in 1990 and briefly worked overnight shifts at contemporary hit radio station WPLJ before being hired by urban contemporary WRKS later in the year. Initially working as a fill-in, WRKS gave Williams a non-compete clause and permanent morning position in May 1990 after WBLS began poaching its employees. She soon became a radio personality, gossiping about rappers and celebrities. As her popularity grew, Williams was moved to the coveted evening drive time slot in April 1991. By 1993, she was the highest-rated host in her time slot in the New York City market and received a Billboard Radio Award for R&B Major Market Radio Air Personality of the Year. Williams co-hosted American Urban Radio Networks' USA Music Magazine program in 1994, and moved backed to mornings in October that year.

In December 1994, Emmis Broadcasting purchased WRKS and switched Williams to the company's other New York property, hip-hop formatted WQHT ("Hot 97"), as WRKS was reformatted into an urban adult contemporary outlet. She was fired from Hot 97 in 1998. Williams was hired by a Philadelphia urban station, WUSL ("Power 99FM"). Her husband, Kevin Hunter, became her agent. She was very open about her personal life on air, discussing her miscarriages, breast enhancement surgery, and former drug addiction. She helped the station move from 14th place in the ratings to 2nd.

In 2001, Williams returned to the New York airwaves when WBLS hired her full-time for a syndicated 2–6 p.m. time slot. Williams' friend, MC Spice of Boston, offered his voiceover services to the show, often adding short rap verses tailored specifically for Williams' show. The New York Times stated that her "show works best when its elements – confessional paired with snarkiness – are conflated". By 2008, she was syndicated in Redondo Beach, California; Shreveport, Louisiana; Wilmington, Delaware; Toledo, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina; Emporia, Virginia; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Tyler, Texas; and Alexandria, Louisiana, among other markets. Williams left her radio show in 2009 to focus on her television program and spend more time with her family. She was also inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

2008–present: Television

In 2008, Debmar-Mercury offered Williams a six-week television trial of her own talk show. A syndicated daytime talk show hosted by Williams titled Wendy's World was poised to debut in fall 1997, but never aired. On July 14, 2008, Williams debuted her daytime talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, in four cities during the summer of 2008. During the tryout, The New York Times remarked that the show created a "breakthrough in daytime" by introducing the genre of the "backtalk show.". After a successful run, Fox signed a deal with Debmar-Mercury to broadcast the show nationally on their stations beginning in July 2009. In addition, BET picked up cable rights to broadcast the show at night. In 2010, BET started airing the show internationally in 54 countries through BET International. The show attracts 2.4 million daily viewers on average, with Williams trading off daily with Ellen DeGeneres as the number one female host on daytime television.

Williams hosted a game show for GSN called Love Triangle (2011) for which she and her husband Kevin Hunter served as executive producers. Williams played a judge on the Lifetime network show Drop Dead Diva (2011) and served as a guest judge on The Face (2013). She was also a contestant, paired with pro Tony Dovolani on season 12 of Dancing with the Stars (2011); she was eliminated second. Williams appeared in the film adaptation of Steve Harvey's book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, titled Think Like a Man (2012), and its sequel, Think Like a Man Too (2014). In 2012, it was announced Williams would enter into a "production alliance" with producers Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones to create movies and television shows aimed at multicultural audiences. These projects will appear under the heading "Wendy Williams presents" and their first project will be VH1 adaptation of a Star Jones novel.

In February 2013, it was announced that Williams and her husband and manager, Kevin, were launching a reality television production company, Wendy Williams Productions. that will produce unscripted content, including reality television and game shows. Williams was an executive producer on the show Celebrities Undercover (2014). Williams also executive produced the Lifetime biopic Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B, which premiered on November 15, 2014. Review aggregator Metacritic assigned the film a score of 32 out of 100 based on seven critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". In September 2015, the documentary series Death By Gossip with Wendy Williams premiered on the Investigation Discovery channel, both hosted and produced by Williams. In 2013, Williams was cast to play the role of Matron "Mama" Morton on the Broadway musical Chicago. She began her tenure on July 2 and finished her seven-week run on August 11, 2013. Her preparations for the musical were documented in the TV Guide docuseries Wendy Williams: How You Doin', Broadway?!, which was produced by her own production company, Wendy Williams Productions.

Williams had not missed an episode of her talk show until February 2018, when she took one week off; however, on February 21, 2018, Williams announced that her show would be on three weeks' hiatus due to her complications with Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism. In January 2019, a statement from the Williams Hunter family revealed that Williams had been hospitalized due to complications from Graves' disease and that her return to the show would be delayed indefinitely as a result. Guest hosts such as Nick Cannon filled in for Wendy during her absence; she returned on March 4, 2019. In early March 2020, the show discontinued its live audience for two tapings due to the coronavirus pandemic; Williams's staff filled in the seats. Shortly thereafter, production on the show was halted. The show reemerged as The Wendy Williams Show @ Home, broadcast through video chat from Williams's apartment, and continuing through May 15, when production was halted again due to a flare in Williams's Graves disease. In July 2020, Williams announced that her show would be returning to live broadcasting in-studio on September 21, 2020. In 2020, Williams competed on the fourth season of The Masked Singer as "Lips" where she was mostly sitting due to the weight of the costume. She performed the song "Native New Yorker" by Odyssey and was eliminated and unmasked after her first appearance. Williams signed a deal with the US network Lifetime for a documentary, Wendy Williams: What a Mess! and a TV movie, Wendy Williams: The Movie based on her life.

Other ventures

Books

Williams is the author of three nonfiction books. She released an autobiography co-written with New York Daily News journalist Karen Hunter in August 2003 titled Wendy's Got the Heat. Rather than discussing celebrities—Williams' original motive for writing a book—it focuses on her life, including childhood troubles, drug addiction, and marriages. Published by Atria, it debuted at number nine on The New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction, and number one on Essence's hardcover nonfiction bestsellers list, which is based on sales at African-American bookstores. Citing the challenges she faces and the risks she describes taking, QBR The Black Book Review's Kecia Palmer-Cousins thought it was more sincere than a typical autobiography and Kym Allison Backer of Black Issues Book Review felt it humanizes Williams. In the New York Amsterdam News, Renee Minus White appreciated that Williams "is as personal about her own dramatic and often complicated life as she asks her guests to be". The book was reprinted in paperback in August 2004, a month before the debut of Williams' second book, The Wendy Williams Experience, which contains celebrity gossip and interviews. In May 2013, Williams released Ask Wendy.

Williams has also published several fiction books, including a trilogy about the life and career of radio shock jock Ritz Harper. She co-authored the first two novels, Drama Is Her Middle Name (2006) and Is the Bitch Dead, or What? (2007), with Hunter. Zondra Hughes co-wrote the third installment Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (2009). Media outlets considered Ritz Harper similar to Williams. "Determining what is real versus what is fiction" made the character intriguing, according to the Home News Tribune's Ava Gacser. Writing for the Hartford Courant, Carole Goldberg labelled the series semi-autobiographical. In 2014, Williams released a romance novel, Hold Me in Contempt. She said it was co-authored with an English professor ghostwriter.

Music and comedy

Williams interviewed Blu Cantrell in 2003; the conversation was released as a DVD on the singer's album Bittersweet. Williams and Virgin Records released a compilation album, Wendy Williams Brings the Heat: Volume 1, in June 2005 featuring various rap acts, including M.O.P., Jadakiss, and Young Jeezy. It sold 29,000 copies by November of that year according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In 2014, Lipshtick called Williams to participate in their first all-female-based comedy series at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Williams made her sold-out comedy debut on July 11, 2014. Williams' comedy tour was called "The Sit-down Comedy Tour." Williams returned to Lipshtick on October 31, 2014, and November 1, 2014, after she made a sold-out debut in July. Williams hosted her "How You Laughin'" Comedy Series at NJPAC on November 15, 2014, featuring Luenell, Jonathan Martin, Pat Brown, Hadiyah Robinson, and Meme Simpson. In 2015, Williams announced a 12-city comedy tour called "The Wendy Williams Sit Down Tour: Too Real For Stand-Up."

Products and endorsements

While working for WRKS, Williams was a spokesperson for a hip-hop clothing brand. In 2006, she became a spokesperson for George Veselles champagne and Alizé liquers. Williams posed for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign in 2012. She debuted a jewelry and shoe line the same year on shopping channel QVC called "Adorn". The shoe manufacturer's lawyer alleged she never paid the production cost. In 2013, Williams released a wig collection to online retailers. She sold a self-titled clothing line in 2015 on shopping channel HSN and continued the partnership the following year by releasing shoe and winter clothing collections.

Public image

Williams has had breast implants since 1994 and been open about having a liposuction procedure. Williams wears wigs because her natural hair is thin due to her Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism. As the conditions increase pressure behind her eye muscles, they sometimes have a pronounced appearance. Until 2018, Williams wore high heels on air very frequently; she had to discontinue due to her lymphedema condition and vertigo caused by her other two health conditions. Williams has been open on her show about her past with substance abuse, particularly with cocaine. In March 2019, Williams revealed on an episode of her show that she had been living in a sober house for several months. In 2019, Williams also announced she had been diagnosed with lymphedema, a non-fatal condition that causes swelling of the lower extremities.

Controversies and feuds

Williams has repeatedly feuded with celebrities and faced criticism for her comments. She has been mailed bullets and dead fish. Media outlets have described Williams' 2003 interview with Whitney Houston as her most infamous. After Williams asked Houston about her marriage and breast implants, they began a shouting match and Houston said she would have fought Williams if she were younger. In a later interview with Williams, Houston's confidant Robyn Crawford said they planned to confront her years earlier after she talked about Houston on air. Wu-Tang Clan performer Method Man had a personal and publicized conflict with Williams in 2006 after she revealed details about his wife's cancer diagnosis.

In 2014, Williams and two others produced a biopic on the early 2000s R&B artist Aaliyah, entitled Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. The biopic attracted much controversy as Aaliyah's family neither consented nor authorized the use of Aaliyah's image or her material for the biopic. The film also romanticized the hebephilic relationship and subsequent illegal marriage of the young singer and R. Kelly, who in 2019 was indicted of 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, obstruction of justice, and 18 federal counts, including child pornography, kidnapping and forced labor, as of July 12, 2019. Critical reception to Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B was predominantly negative.

Williams referred to Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty in 2019 as "a killer and a sex offender" (he was once imprisoned for attempted rape and manslaughter); the rapper responded by bringing up allegations of infidelity by Williams' own husband and said "I didn't know that in our society, you have to be plagued by your past."

Williams was accused of victim blaming singer Kesha in 2016 after questioning why she did not film the alleged sexual abuse by record producer Dr. Luke against her. Williams later apologized for the remarks and explained "unfortunately a lot of people lie about rape so I was just being skeptical". In early 2020, Williams was criticized over several remarks she made on her show. In January, while talking about actor Joaquin Phoenix, Williams used her finger to pull up a part of her lip to resemble a cleft palate (a condition which Phoenix has denied having), which many took to believe she was mocking him. Williams apologized on her show. In February, Williams was criticized again for making comments many regarded as homophobic while talking about the fictional holiday "Galentine's Day"; she again apologized, this time in an emotional video posted to her official social channels online. Shortly thereafter, while talking about the death of Amie Harwick, Williams made a joke referring to Harwick's ex-fiancé Drew Carey and his job on The Price Is Right, saying that show's catchphrase, "Come on down!", in response to the news that Harwick had been thrown off a balcony.

Williams has had conflicts with others regarding parenting style. Actress Alyssa Milano criticized Williams' mentality regarding public breastfeeding after she said it made her uncomfortable because breasts are "more sexual than a feeding thing". Williams was described as "mom-shaming" model Ashley Graham for disapproving of her changing her baby's diaper in a store aisle. Williams has been accused of transphobia. In one episode of her show, after stating that trans woman can never be assigned women, she told her audience, "Stop wearing our skirts and our heels!" After explicitly stating that to be a woman, one has to menstruate, she apologized for her remarks. In 2021, Williams came under fire for her controversial coverage of the murder of 19-year-old TikTok star Swavy: "I have no idea who this is. Neither does Norman. Neither does one person in this building."

Personal life

Williams' first husband was Bert Girigorie. In her 2003 autobiography, she refers to him under a pseudonym and says they separated after five months and divorced about eighteen months later. Williams married her second husband, Kevin Hunter, on November 30, 1999. She suffered two miscarriages before giving birth to their son, Kevin Hunter, on August 18, 2000. In April 2019, Williams filed for divorce due to irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in January 2020.

Due to her suburban upbringing, Williams considers herself "a multicultural woman who happens to be Black". In her childhood, she attended a Baptist church with her family. Williams identifies as Christian but no longer attends church services. She believes "God is everywhere" and prays "every day, several times a day".

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Film

Television

Bibliography

Nonfiction

• Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2003). Wendy's Got the Heat (1st ed.). New York City: Atria Books. ISBN 0-7434-7021-4.
• Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2004). The Wendy Williams Experience (1st ed.). New York City: Dutton. ISBN 0-525-94837-6.
• Williams, Wendy (2013). Ask Wendy (1st ed.). New York City: William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-06-226838-9.

Fiction

• Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2006). Drama Is Her Middle Name (1st ed.). New York City: Harlem Moon. ISBN 978-0-7394-7004-6.
• Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2007). Is the Bitch Dead, or What? (1st ed.). New York City: Harlem Moon. ISBN 978-0-7679-2487-0.
• Williams, Wendy; Hughes, Zondra (2009). Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (1st ed.). New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-9288-4.
• Williams, Wendy (2014). Hold Me in Contempt (1st ed.). New York City: William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-06-226841-9.

Notes

1. ^ Sources differ regarding the year of Williams' marriage to Hunter. While some publications give 1997, her divorce filing lists 1999.
2. Williams earned $3.25 an hour, the United States federal minimum wage at the time.

References

1. ^ Atterberry, Tara E., ed. (2020). Who's Who Among African Americans (35th ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 1134. ISBN 978-1-4103-8816-2. ISSN 1081-1400. OCLC 1143796741.
2. ^ Brennan, Carol (2015). Avery, Laura (ed.). Newsmakers. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. pp. 472–475. ISBN 9781414497792. OCLC 903054736.
3. ^ Griffith, Janelle (April 11, 2019). "Wendy Williams files for divorce from husband, Kevin Hunter". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021.
4. ^ Butler, Bethonie (April 11, 2019). "Wendy Williams files for divorce from husband of 20 years". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021.
5. Mikle, Jean (September 28, 1988). "Woman finds the time to better community". Asbury Park Press. p. F2 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ Fishman, David (October 14, 2005). "How New York's shock jockette got supersized". New York. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020.
7. ^ Schaad, Lisa Geller (September 14, 1986). "Traveling adds to style "mix"". Asbury Park Press. p. B5 – via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ Thompson, Clifford, ed. (2009). Current Biography Yearbook (70th ed.). New York City: H. W. Wilson Company. pp. 606–610. ISBN 978-0-8242-1104-2. ISSN 0084-9499. LCCN 40-27432. OCLC 1244599703. OL 31988793M.
9. ^ Hunter-Hodge, Karen (September 5, 1993). "Atop hip hop". Radio. New York Daily News. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ Trebay, Guy (November 23, 2009). "Ms. Demeanour". T. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020.
11. ^ Ogunnaike, Lola (October 2003). Drama Queen. pp. 160–163. Retrieved March 25, 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
12. ^ Strauss, Robert (September 28, 2003). "Making waves on the radio". In Person. The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
13. ^ LLoyd, Rosemary E. (April 16, 1989). ""Hot 97" disc jockey still calls area home". Asbury Park Press. p. E12 – via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ Rubino, Lindsay (November 19, 2012). "Jersey girl becomes "hot topic" of her own". Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 142, no. 45. p. 22. ProQuest 1184099628.
15. ^ Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 62. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. 2007. ISSN 1058-1316. OCLC 931824919.
16. ^ Nnolim, Nneka (2009). Stanley, Tarshia L. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Literature. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 260–261. ISBN 978-0-313-34389-6. LCCN 2008033532. OCLC 236329589. OL 17049616M. LCC PS153.N5 E53 2009.
17. ^ Collins, Karyn D. (August 27, 1993). "Radio host is tops on Kiss 'n' tell". Asbury Park Press. pp. C1, C10 – via Newspapers.com.
18. Ross, Sean; Rosen, Craig; Stark, Phyllis (May 12, 1990). "Vox jox". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 19. p. 14. ProQuest 1505961644.
19. Ross, Sean; Rosen, Craig; Stark, Phyllis (April 20, 1991). "Vox jox". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 16. p. 14. ProQuest 1506012982.
20. ^ Stark, Phyllis (September 18, 1993). "WRKS takes five Billboard Radio Awards". Radio. Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 38. New York City. pp. 1, 94. ProQuest 1506016433.
21. Stark, Phyllis; Boehlert, Eric; Borzillo, Carrie (March 19, 1994). "Vox jox". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 12. p. 80. ProQuest 1506012982.
22. Stark, Phyllis; Boehlert, Eric; Atwood, Brett (October 1, 1994). "Vox jox". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 40. p. 81. ProQuest 1506054968.
23. Drake, Monica (July 13, 2008). "TELEVISION; A Radio Shock Jock Who's Ready for TV". The New York Times. p. 17. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
24. ^ Carras, Christi (October 17, 2019). "Wendy Williams tears up at Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
25. "Wendy's World! Excellent!". Vibe. August 1997. p. 46. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
26. Stanley, Alessandra (July 22, 2008). "Talk Show Is Less Talk, More Alpha-Female Action". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
27. • Littleton, Cynthia (January 12, 2009). "'Wendy Williams' set for July: Talk show goes national this summer". Variety.
    • Historical Dictionary of African American Television. 2014. p. 508. ISBN 978-0810879171. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
    • Ross, Kevin (June 1, 2010). "BET Networks Acquires Debmar-Mercury's 'THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW' for Season Two Domestically; Secures International Channels Rights". Radiofacts. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
28. Rovzar, Chris (March 4, 2015). "How Wendy Williams Became Daytime Talk's Unlikely Survivor". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
29. "GSN Signs acclaimed television personality Wendy Williams to host new original series 'Love Triangle,' premiering April 18, 2011", GSN. Archived January 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
30. ^ Essex, Myeisha (February 5, 2013). "Wendy Williams Inks First Look Deal with Oxygen". EurWeb. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
31. "Watch Dancing with the Stars TV Show - ABC.com". ABC. Archived from the original on March 4, 2011.
32. ^ Manuel-Logan, Ruth (June 30, 2012). "Wendy Williams, Suzanne DePasse Team Up on Multi-Picture Venture". Blast Zone Online. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
33. ^ Bock, Alex (June 28, 2012). "Wendy Williams Aligns With de Passe Jones Entertainment for Scripted Ventures". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
34. Essex, Myeisha (February 6, 2013). "Wendy Williams Launches Reality TV Production Company". Clutch Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
35. Marechal, AJ (February 5, 2013). "Talkshow maven pacts with manager and Debmar Mercury". Variety. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
36. "About". Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
37. "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; July 15, 2018 suggested (help)
38. Prudom, Laura (August 19, 2015). "Investigation Discovery Greenlights Series with Barbara Walters, Wendy Williams". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
39. "Wendy in Chicago on Broadway!". The Wendy Williams Show. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
40. Gans, Andrew (April 15, 2013). "Wendy Williams Will Join Cast of Broadway's Chicago This Summer". Playbill. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
41. Snetiker, Marc (July 2, 2013). "Talk Show Queen Wendy Williams Brings Sass and Class to Her Big Broadway Bow in Chicago". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
42. Nededog, Jethro (July 17, 2013). "Wendy Williams Reality Series, John Rich Variety Show Coming to TV Guide Network". TheWrap. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
43. Williams, Brennan (July 17, 2013). "Wendy Lands Another Network Show". The Huffington Post.
44. ^ Wendy Williams (February 21, 2018). "A Message from Wendy". Retrieved February 21, 2018.
45. "Wendy Williams hospitalized for 'complications' as she delays return to talk show indefinitely". AOL.com. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
46. Littleton, Cynthia (February 21, 2019). "Wendy Williams Sets March 4 Return to Syndicated Talk Show". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
47. Nakamura, Reid (March 10, 2020). "'The Wendy Williams Show' to Tape Without Live Audience Due to Coronavirus". TheWrap. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
48. Andreeva, Nellie (March 13, 2020). "ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Shuts Down Production Over Coronavirus, Joins CBS' 'Late Show', NBC's 'The Tonight Show' & 'Late Night', Syndicated 'Wendy Williams Show' – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
49. France, Lisa Respers. "Wendy Williams taking break from show to deal with Graves' disease". CNN.
50. Thorne, Will (May 18, 2020). "Wendy Williams Taking Hiatus Due To Health Concerns Surrounding Graves' Disease (Exclusive)".
51. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (July 21, 2020). "'The Wendy Williams Show' Sets In-Studio Return Date After Months-Long Coronavirus Shutdown".
52. https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/01/24/wendy-williams-tells-her-story-in-biopic-and-doc-on-lifetime/
53. John-Hall, Annette (August 12, 2003). "Turning the air waves into shock waves". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C1. ProQuest 1899081052.
54. Collins, Karyn D. (August 10, 2003). "Making 'waves: Wendy Williams speaks her mind—on the airwaves and off". Asbury Park Press. p. 1. ProQuest 437593001.
55. "Best sellers". The New York Times. August 24, 2003. p. A18. ProQuest 92390158.
56. Boler, Raquel (December 2003). "Best-sellers". Essence. Vol. 34, no. 8. p. 154. ProQuest 223162824.
57. Palmer-Cousins, Kecia (October 31, 2003). "Wendy's Got the Heat! Wendy Williams". QBR The Black Book Review. Vol. 10, no. 5. p. 25. ProQuest 219952370.
58. Backer, Kym Allison (September–October 2003). "Wendy's Got the Heat". Black Issues Book Review. Vol. 5, no. 5. p. 55. ProQuest 217752991.
59. White, Renee Minus (January 28, 2004). "Wendy Williams tells all". New York Amsterdam News. p. 13. ProQuest 390430595.
60. Thompson, Ericka P. (August 20, 2004). "Turning the air waves into shock waves". Indianapolis Recorder. p. C3. ProQuest 367505761.
61. Collins, Karyn D. (September 12, 2004). "Dishin' the dirt: Radio diva turns up the heat with latest book". Asbury Park Press. p. E1 – via Newspapers.com.
62. Charleston, Rita (September 10, 2004). "Welcome to Wendy's world; Diva of dish delivers a saucy new book". Indianapolis Recorder. p. 1D. ProQuest 337788560.
63. Marr, Madeleine (May 18, 2013). "Don't be shy, ask Wendy". Miami Herald. p. 8A – via Newspapers.com.
64. "First fiction". Library Journal. Vol. 131, no. 4. March 1, 2006. pp. S5 – S8. ProQuest 196899094.
65. "To be continued...". Essence. Vol. 37, no. 9. January 2007. p. 66. ProQuest 223149661.
66. "New releases". Call and Post. Cleveland. February 15, 2007. p. 5D. ProQuest 238493607.
67. Moore, Frazier (July 17, 2009). "Wendy Williams talking big". The Desert Sun. p. E1 – via Newspapers.com.
68. ^ Booker, Bobbi (June 5, 2009). "Radio's "big mouth" Wendy Williams expands her brand". The Philadelphia Tribune. pp. 1D – 2D. ProQuest 337873850.
69. Gacser, Ava (June 23, 2006). "See". Pulse. Home News Tribune. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
70. Goldberg, Carole (February 1, 2007). "Shock jock becomes author". Stepping Out. Hartford Courant. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
71. Columbus, Gina (May 24, 2014). "Love story". Indulge. Asbury Park Press. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.
72. Kennedy, Gerrick D. (December 13, 2014). "Q&A: Wendy Williams dishes with a full plate". Sunday Conversation. Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021.
73. Jones, Ivory M. (June 18, 2005). "Williams compiles fave acts". Beats & Rhymes. Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 25. p. 69. ProQuest 227233030.
74. Jones, Ivory M. (November 5, 2005). "Midas Touch". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 45. pp. 32–33. ProQuest 227223964.
75. "Wendy Williams Kicks Off 'Lipshtick – The Perfect Shade of Stand-Up' at The Venetian Las Vegas". VegasNews.com. July 14, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
76. "Wendy Williams Returns to LA in LIPSHTICK – THE PERFECT SHADE OF STAND UP on 10/31011/1". BWW Comedy. August 19, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
77. Archived November 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
78. "The Wendy Williams "Sit Down Tour...Too Real For Stand Up". LiveNation.com. August 22, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
79. Oldenburg, Ann (November 29, 2012). "Wendy Williams goes naked for PETA". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
80. Guthrie, Marisa (May 15, 2012). "How you doin? Wendy Williams wins with frank talk talk (and wigs!)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
81. Lomrantz Lester, Tracey (May 3, 2012). "Wendy Williams keeps it refreshingly real about her QVC line". Glamour. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
82. Ross, Barbara (November 26, 2012). "Wendy Williams' failure to pay $400K reason for kidnapping". Daily News. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
83. Prior, Molly (August 1, 2013). "Wendy Williams to launch wig collection". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
84. Sawyer, Nicole (September 17, 2015). "Inside Wendy Williams' glam suite: 10 things you don't know about her". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
85. Schneider-Levy, Barbara (July 27, 2016). "Wendy Williams to launch shoe collection for fall '16 on HSN". Footwear News. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
86. Lockwood, Lisa (December 7, 2016). "Wendy Williams returns to HSN with new holiday collection". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
87. ^ Wood, Gaby (June 7, 2009). ""Queen of all media"". The Observer. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020.
88. ^ "Wendy Williams Reveals Why She Wears Wigs: 'People Think It's A Vanity Thing' | PEN | People" – via www.youtube.com.
89. Santi, Christina (June 29, 2018). "Wendy Williams Stopped Wearing Heels Because of Graves' Disease". EBONY.
90. Stone, Natalie (April 5, 2019). "Wendy Williams Says She's 'Living Proof' That 'There Is Hope' for Addicts and Substance Abusers". People. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
91. Butler, Bethonie (March 19, 2019). "Wendy Williams reveals she's been staying in a sober-living house". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
92. Vivinetto, Gina (July 8, 2019). "Wendy Williams reveals she's been diagnosed with lymphedema". Today. New York City. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
93. Bryant, Kenzie (November 12, 2019). "Wendy Williams did not amuse Whitney Houston". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021.
94. Genegabus, Jason (September 15, 2006). "Tough Method Man hits back". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015.
95. Morse, Russell (July 31, 2006). "Method Man puts on a happy face". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021.
96. Tigget, Jai. "Review: Five Things Missing from 'Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
97. Rosa, Christopher. "Lifetime's Aaliyah Biopic: The Film That Should Never Have Been Made". VH1. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
98. Keene, Allison. "'Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
99. Madden Toby, Mekeisha (November 15, 2014). "'Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B' Review: Lifetime Movie Fails to Rock the Boat". The Wrap. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
100. Aniftos, Rania (November 1, 2019). "Nicki Minaj unleashes scathing clap back at Wendy Williams during Queen Radio, calls host "demonic" & "vicious"". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021.
101. White, Adam (November 3, 2019). "Nicki Minaj attacks "demonic" Wendy Williams after she discusses her husband's past". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020.
102. Jefferson, J'Na (February 23, 2016). "According to Wendy Williams, Kesha should have recorded Dr. Luke's alleged abuse". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021.
103. Saul, Heather (February 24, 2016). "Wendy Williams asks why Kesha didn't record her alleged abuse". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020.
104. Verhoeven, Beatrice (April 4, 2016). "Wendy Williams apologizes to Kesha for "being Skeptical" of rape claims against Dr. Luke". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020.
105. Hagan, Joe. "Cover Story: Joaquin Phoenix on Joker, Rooney, and River". Vanity Fair.
106. "Wendy Williams Apologizes After Outrage over Mocking Joaquin Phoenix's Cleft Lip".
107. ^ "Wendy Williams Faces Backlash for Comments About Gay Men". Entertainment Tonight.
108. ^ Bollinger, Alex (February 14, 2020). "Wendy Williams apologizes for anti-LGBTQ comments in bizarre, tearful video". LGBTQ Nation.
109. "Wendy Williams Apologizes for Saying Gay Men Can't Wear Skirts & Heels". February 14, 2020.
110. "Wendy Williams Slammed over 'Come on Down' Quip Made About Death of Celeb Sex Therapist Amie Harwick". February 18, 2020.
111. Gilman, Greg (January 8, 2016). "Alyssa Milano calls breastfeeding shamers "archaic" following Wendy Williams debate (video)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020.
112. McKenzie, Joi-Marie (January 7, 2016). "Alyssa Milano and Wendy Williams bump heads over breastfeeding in public". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017.
113. Ritschel, Chelsea (March 6, 2020). "Ashley Graham mum-shamed by Wendy Williams for changing newborn's dirty diaper on store floor". The Independent. New York City. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021.
114. "wendy williams' COMPLICATED history with the lgbtq+ community - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
115. Ellefson, Lindsey (July 9, 2021). "Wendy Williams Sparks Backlash for Awkward Segment on TikTok Star Swavy's Death". TheWrap. Retrieved July 9, 2021 – via MSN.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
116. Kuperinsky, Amy (January 30, 2021). "Wendy Williams: The Movie. Lifetime biopic covers rape, cocaine, miscarriages, infidelity and N.J. star's rise". NJ.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
117. Williams and Hunter, p. 109
118. Williams and Hunter, p. 125
119. "Wendy Williams' divorce from Kevin Hunter is finalized". Asbury Park Press. January 29, 2020. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
120. Williams and Hunter, p. 114
121. Williams and Hunter, p. 259
122. Nordyke, Kimberly (April 26, 2015). "Daytime Emmy Awards: The complete winners list". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
123. Nordyke, Kimberly (May 1, 2016). "Daytime Emmy Awards: The complete winners list". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
124. Nordyke, Kimberly (April 30, 2017). "Daytime Emmy Awards: Winners list". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
125. Nordyke, Kimberly (May 5, 2019). "Daytime Emmys: Young and the Restless named Best Drama Series; Alex Trebek, CBS Sunday Morning, Ellen among winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
126. "NAACP Image Award winners include The Help, Stars Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis". The Hollywood Reporter. February 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
127. Washington, Arlene (February 6, 2015). "NAACP Image Awards: The winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
128. "NAACP Image Awards: The complete winners list". The Hollywood Reporter. February 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
129. "People's Choice Awards 2016: Complete winners list". The Hollywood Reporter. January 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
130. Nordyke, Kimberly; Howard, Annie (November 10, 2019). "People's Choice Awards: Avengers: Endgame named best movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
131. Nordyke, Kimberly (November 15, 2020). "E! People's Choice Awards: Tyler Perry, Jennifer Lopez and more winners share inspirational messages". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021. {{cite magazine}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; February 3, 2021 suggested (help)
132. Love, Walt (June 25, 1999). "Urban, UAC honor their best". Radio & Records. No. 1305. p. 58. ProQuest 1017327465.
133. Love, Walt (June 30, 2000). "It's a wrap!". Radio & Records. No. 1357. p. 63. ProQuest 1017358926.
134. Powell, Kashon (April 26, 2002). "It's that time again!" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1450. p. 52 – via World Radio History.
135. Powell, Kashon (June 28, 2002). "Urban and Urban AC winners" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1459. p. 40 – via World Radio History.
136. "Cast your vote for Urban's best!" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1501. April 25, 2003. p. 65 – via World Radio History.
137. Hall, Dana (July 4, 2003). "WCGI-FM & WVAZ/Chicago win top honors" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1511. p. 40 – via World Radio History.
138. Hall, Dana (May 7, 2004). "The best of the best" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1554. p. 38 – via World Radio History.
139. Hall, Dana (July 9, 2004). "The winner's circle" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1563. p. 32 – via World Radio History.
140. Crosley, Hillary (October 6, 2006). "And the winner is..." (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1678. p. 28 – via World Radio History.
141. Dunham, Darnella (October 12, 2007). "Top honors" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1731. p. 38 – via World Radio History.
142. Dunham, Darnella (July 25, 2008). "2008 R&R Industry Achievement Awards Nominees" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1772. p. 25 – via World Radio History.
143. Dunham, Darnella (October 10, 2008). "For the grown folks" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1783. p. 28 – via World Radio History.

Works cited

• Williams, Wendy; Hunter, Karen (2003). Wendy's Got the Heat (1st ed.). Atria Books. ISBN 0-7434-7021-4. LCCN 2004297853. OCLC 52724929. OL 3324676M. LCC PN1991.4.W57 A3 2003.

External links

• The Wendy Williams Show
• The Wendy Williams Show playlist on YouTube
• Wendy Williams at IMDb
• Template:AllMovie name
• Wendy Williams at the Internet Broadway Database

• 1964 births
• 20th-century American actresses
• 20th-century American non-fiction writers
• 20th-century American women writers
• 21st-century American actresses
• 21st-century American non-fiction writers
• 21st-century American women writers
• African-American Christians
• African-American actresses
• African-American game show hosts
• African-American radio personalities
• African-American television personalities
• African-American television talk show hosts
• African-American women writers
• African-American writers
• American autobiographers
• American film actresses
• American radio personalities
• American television actresses
• American television talk show hosts
• American women non-fiction writers
• American women television personalities
• American women television presenters
• Living people
• Northeastern University alumni
• Ocean Township High School alumni
• People from Asbury Park, New Jersey
• People from New Jersey
• People from Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
• Shock jocks
• Women autobiographers
• Writers from New Jersey