View gallery
Wendy Williams first revealed her prognosis of Graves’ illness in 2018, and she or he admitted on the time that she hadn’t been watching out for her personal well being when it occurred. “We, as ladies, significantly if — we’ve got households, , we’re taking good care of kids, we’re taking good care of, , dwelling, our husbands, we maintain everyone however ourselves,” she informed Good Morning America on the time, per PEOPLE.
“And it’s actually unlucky. And that — that’s one thing that has no socioeconomic factor to it. It doesn’t matter what — it doesn’t matter what the lady’s standing is, it looks like we’re all in the identical boat,” she mentioned. “I’m not doing that anymore. Wendy first.”
5 years later, Wendy was identified with “major progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” in accordance with a press release shared by her medical staff. Actor Bruce Willis additionally suffers from FTD.
Right here’s every little thing to find out about Wendy Williams’ battle with Graves’ illness, FTD, and aphasia from her preliminary prognosis to how she’s doing immediately.
Wendy Williams Was Recognized With A number of Diseases
In February of 2018, Wendy opened an necessary public dialogue about Graves’ illness. “My thyroid has been completely cattywampus and that’s the eye factor that you just all have been seeing. You caught it earlier than I did,” she informed the viewers throughout her present, per CBS Information. She additionally defined that her hyperthyroidism is related to the prognosis. “My thyroid, my hyperthyroid is connected additionally to Graves’ illness,” she defined. “Graves’ illness squeezes the muscle tissues behind your eyeballs and in order that’s the explanation for — ” she then opened her eyes large to clarify what that meant.
On the time, she additionally admitted that she’d been ordered to take a three-week hiatus from the present by her doctor. She’d already missed one, noting that she’d been feeling like she had “birds swimming round my head, like a cartoon” forward of the prognosis. “I’ll be again in two. I’m not an heiress,” she quipped. “Who’s gonna pay my payments?”
In 2023, Wendy was formally identified with FTD and aphasia, her medical staff confirmed the next 12 months.
“On behalf of Wendy Williams Hunter, her care staff is sharing this very private replace along with her cherished followers, mates, and supporters to right inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her well being,” a press release from Wendy’s staff learn, per TV Insider. “Wendy wouldn’t have obtained affirmation of those diagnoses had been it not for the diligence of her present care staff, who she selected, and the extraordinary work of the specialists at Weill Cornell Drugs. Receiving a prognosis has enabled Wendy to obtain the medical care she requires.”
The assertion continued, “The choice to share this information was tough and made after cautious consideration, not solely to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, however to lift consciousness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and assist the hundreds of others going through related circumstances. Sadly, many people identified with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, significantly after they start to exhibit behavioral modifications however haven’t but obtained a prognosis.”
Wendy’s household revealed in an interview with PEOPLE they weren’t informed she was identified with dementia. Her sister Wanda Finnie mentioned the household has been out of the loop about Wendy’s well being because the fall of 2021, earlier than Wendy was positioned underneath a court-controlled guardianship. “When she was in Florida, there have been a lot of individuals concerned. Even past household, there have been docs concerned, individuals in Wendy’s skilled world that had been concerned,” Wanda recalled. “She had a well being staff in place, nurses in place and she or he had household in place. She was getting more healthy.”
Most just lately, Wendy’s son Kevin Hunter Jr. opened up in regards to the starlet’s well being battles throughout Lifetime’s The place is Wendy Williams? documentary. The 23-year-old claimed that his mom’s medical staff attributed her ingesting to her ongoing well being points. In accordance with her son, the docs “principally mentioned that as a result of she was ingesting a lot, it was beginning to have an effect on her headspace and her mind.” Kevin then mentioned “So, I believe they mentioned it was alcohol-induced dementia.”
What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia is “a situation affecting language and communication skills,” Wendy’s medical staff defined of their assertion.
What Is Graves’ illness?
Graves’ illness is outlined by the Mayo Clinic as “an immune system dysfunction that leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Signs can embody irritability, bulging eyes, weight reduction, nervousness, tremors within the palms, fatigue, and warmth sensitivity. Wendy had admitted on her present that she felt stressed and extremely irritable main as much as her prognosis.
What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?
Per the assertion shared by Wendy’s medical staff, FTD is “a progressive dysfunction impacting habits and cognitive capabilities.” Dwelling with this situation has “offered vital hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
How Lengthy Has Wendy Been Sick?
As famous earlier, Wendy was identified with Graves’ illness in 2018. She famous in her Good Morning America interview that 12 months that menopause had obfuscated her signs. “With the menopause I wasn’t pointing a finger to any specific factor,” she informed GMA‘s Amy Robach. “I used to be simply feeling like ‘All proper, effectively I’m 53 and that is I assume the way it’s presupposed to be.’”
She additionally famous that when she had handed out publicly throughout her present on Halloween of 2017, she’d been discovered to have elevated blood stress. “Even in October once I handed out on Halloween, that individual day when the EMTs acquired there I had hypertension, which I by no means have hypertension,” she mentioned. “My blood stress is all the time both excellent or low. It’s by no means excessive. Nevertheless it was excessive and the shortage of sodium in order that they had been filling me with electrolytes, simply fill, fill, fill, fill. I can’t consider that I acquired up after the business break and closed out the present.”
How Is Wendy Doing As we speak?
“I really feel a hundred p.c higher than I used to be just a few months in the past,” Wendy informed PEOPLE in 2018. “I had a storm getting in my physique is the easiest way I can clarify it. It got here from me neglecting my six month endocrinology appointment. I’ve Graves illness and hyperthyroid. You probably have one you don’t essentially must have the opposite, however I’ve each, and I used to be identified with each 19 years in the past.”
Her full dedication to well being started earlier than the finish of her present in 2022. “I like doing the present, however I like me extra,” she informed PEOPLE. “So I’m going to maintain me, so I may be there for them.” In October of 2022, it was reported that she had left a rehab facility after two months of therapy for “total well being points.” “We’re completely happy to report that Wendy Williams is dwelling and therapeutic after being in a wellness facility since August,” Wendy’s rep, Shawn Zanotti, informed Web page Six in a press release on the time.
“Wendy is happy in regards to the street forward and looking out ahead to releasing her many initiatives,” the assertion learn. “Thanks to my followers to your love, assist and lots of prayers, I’m again and higher than ever.”
She suffered a setback, although, by 2023 after being identified with FTD and aphasia. Wendy’s household determined to talk out about her life now and situation within the doc The place Is Wendy Williams? which premiered on February 24, 2024.
“I don’t assume there’s anybody Wendy wanted greater than her household,” Wanda informed PEOPLE after the discharge of the doc, which highlights Wendy’s well being points, and the way her guardianship has stored her away from her household. “Separate the cash half: All I need to know is that my sister goes to dwell and that she’s going to be wholesome,” Wanda added. “The priority of the household has all the time been Wendy’s well being.”
Someday earlier than the doc premiered, Wendy broke her silence and launched a press release to PEOPLE about her situation. “I need to say I’ve immense gratitude for the love and sort phrases I’ve obtained after sharing my prognosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD),” she mentioned to the magazine. “Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the ability of unity and the necessity for compassion.”
She then went on to ask for “house” amid her restoration. “I proceed to wish private house and peace to thrive,” Wendy penned. “Please simply know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.”
In March 2025, authorities carried out a welfare examine on Wendy, after which she was moved to an assisted dwelling facility. In accordance with TMZ, she later efficiently handed her psychological capability check.