Wednesday 17 August 2022 09:13 PM Staffers on Wendy Williams show found bottles of liquor around set and ... trends now
Staffers on 'The Wendy Williams Show' have revealed they often found hidden bottles of liquor around the set as the top executives questioned the host's sobriety 'at least 25' times before the star was blindsided by the show's abrupt cancelation.
Daytime TV host Wendy Williams, 58, made a career out of deep dives into celebrity gossip and drama - but it's been a tumultuous few years for the host herself, who has dealt with addiction, a cheating husband, divorce and the loss of her show.
Wendy's troubles began in 2017, when DailyMail.com revealed in a blockbuster expose that her husband Hunter had been having a 10-year affair with masseuse Sharina Hudson.
In December 2018 the star claimed she hired a private investigator to spy on her husband who she suspected was still carrying on with his Hudson.
Then, in 2019, DailyMail.com revealed that Wendy was staying overnight at a private facility run by the Pure Recovery Network in Long Island City, New York.
She had plunged into an alcohol- and pill-fueled depression when she fractured her shoulder during a confrontation with her cheating husband Hunter.
And in 2020, Wendy finalized her divorce from Hunter and he was seen moving out of their New Jersey home.
In September 2021, Williams took a leave of absence from her daytime talk show due to various medical issues.
In January, it was announced that The Wendy Williams Show and frequent guest host Sherri Shepherd would take over the time slot to host a new talk show.
As the June 2022 date approached for the final show, Williams reportedly saw a promo and was shocked to hear about the cancelation of her own show.
Staffers reveal what went on behind the scenes of The Wendy Williams Show, as the host, 58, was blindsided by the cancelation
Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Wendy Williams stepping out of a black SUV wearing a gold and cream robe and what looks to be blue hospital socks as she walked on the wet New York City pavement
Williams last taped her show in July 2021, when season 12 wrapped. Production on the current season was delayed last September because she had a 'breakthrough' case of COVID-19, the show said at the time.
Williams' health didn't intrude on her TV work until 2017, when she fainted during the show and took a three-week leave. Williams said in 2018 that she had been diagnosed years before with Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid.
She has been blunt about her life, saying her longtime cocaine use that began in college made her a 'functioning addict' before kicking the drug. However, on a March 2019 episode of her show, a tearful Williams said that she was living 'in a sober house' and had a round-the-clock sobriety coach. She didn't specify why.
Behind the scenes, insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that Williams was unraveling.
Wendy was last seen on her show on July 16, 2021
It's been a tumultuous few years for Wendy, who has dealt with addiction, a cheating husband and divorce. In 2019, DailyMailTV revealed the host had been secretly treated at a sober living residential facility for addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs
Wendy was staying overnight at a private facility run by the Pure Recovery Network in Long Island City, New York after she plunged into an alcohol- and pill-fueled depression when she fractured her shoulder during a confrontation with her cheating husband Kevin Hunter. She's seen on a walk with Hunter before their divorce
'Everybody on that staff and crew witnessed all kinds of things,' says one show source.
The insiders said producers sent preshow text messages to higher-ups at the company questioning Williams' sobriety on 'at least 25' separate occasions.
They would then have to make ultra-quick judgment call on whether to go live at 10 a.m., which, those sources say, was typically complicated by the fact that Williams would insist she was 'fine.'
Another source said staffers would 'find bottles [of alcohol] up in the ceiling tiles and other weird places in the office.'
In February 2022, Debmar-Mercury decided The Wendy Williams Show would end with its 13th season that spring, and a new show from Shepherd would launch in its time slot in the fall.
The announcement called Williams a 'true icon,' and praised her successor Shepherd as 'a natural.'
A statement on Williams' behalf was released later that day suggesting that the outgoing host 'understands,' and is 'incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury.
However, a few hours later, Williams responded: 'Mr. Bragman: Although I appreciate your concerns and respect you immensely, I have not authorized you to make any statements on my behalf regarding my status with Debmar-Mercury.'
The top bosses didn't hear from Williams until late February or March when she called to inquire about rumors about her show being canceled.
'I said, 'We haven't heard from you, and we had
