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 girls, significantly if — we now have households, , we’re caring for youngsters, we’re caring for, , dwelling, our husbands, we handle all people however ourselves,” she advised 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 stated. “I’m not doing that anymore. Wendy first.”
5 years later, Wendy was recognized with “major progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” in line with a press release shared by her medical crew. Actor Bruce Willis additionally suffers from FTD.
Right here’s all the things to find out about Wendy Williams’ battle with Graves’ illness, FTD, and aphasia from her preliminary prognosis to how she’s doing at present.
Wendy Williams Was Identified With A number of Sicknesses
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 simply all have been seeing. You caught it earlier than I did,” she advised the viewers throughout her present, per CBS Information. She additionally defined that her hyperthyroidism is linked to the prognosis. “My thyroid, my hyperthyroid is hooked up additionally to Graves’ illness,” she defined. “Graves’ illness squeezes the muscular tissues behind your eyeballs and in order that’s the rationale 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 recognized with FTD and aphasia, her medical crew confirmed the next 12 months.
“On behalf of Wendy Williams Hunter, her care crew is sharing this very private replace along with her cherished followers, associates, and supporters to appropriate inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her well being,” a press release from Wendy’s crew learn, per TV Insider. “Wendy wouldn’t have obtained affirmation of those diagnoses had been it not for the diligence of her present care crew, 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 troublesome and made after cautious consideration, not solely to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, however to boost consciousness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and assist the 1000’s of others dealing with comparable circumstances. Sadly, many people recognized with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, significantly once 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 advised she was recognized with dementia. Her sister Wanda Finnie stated the household has been out of the loop about Wendy’s well being because the fall of 2021, earlier than Wendy was positioned below a court-controlled guardianship. “When she was in Florida, there have been quite a lot of individuals concerned. Even past household, there have been medical doctors concerned, individuals in Wendy’s skilled world that had been concerned,” Wanda recalled. “She had a well being crew in place, nurses in place and she or he had household in place. She was getting more healthy.”
Most not too long ago, Wendy’s son Kevin Hunter Jr. opened up concerning 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 crew attributed her consuming to her ongoing well being points. In accordance with her son, the medical doctors “mainly stated that as a result of she was consuming a lot, it was beginning to have an effect on her headspace and her mind.” Kevin then stated “So, I feel they stated it was alcohol-induced dementia.”
What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia is “a situation affecting language and communication skills,” Wendy’s medical crew 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 embrace 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 crew, FTD is “a progressive dysfunction impacting habits and cognitive capabilities.” Dwelling with this situation has “offered important hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
How Lengthy Has Wendy Been Sick?
As famous earlier, Wendy was recognized 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 advised GMA‘s Amy Robach. “I used to be simply feeling like ‘All proper, properly I’m 53 and that is I suppose the way it’s speculated 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 after I handed out on Halloween, that exact day when the EMTs acquired there I had hypertension, which I by no means have hypertension,” she stated. “My blood stress is all the time both excellent or low. It’s by no means excessive. However 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 Immediately?
“I really feel one hundred percent higher than I used to be just a few months in the past,” Wendy advised 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. When you have one you don’t essentially should have the opposite, however I’ve each, and I used to be recognized with each 19 years in the past.”
Her full dedication to well being started earlier than the tip of her present in 2022. “I like doing the present, however I like me extra,” she advised PEOPLE. “So I’m going to handle 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 remedy for “general 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, advised Web page Six in a press release on the time.
“Wendy is happy concerning the highway forward and searching ahead to releasing her many tasks,” the assertion learn. “Thanks to my followers on your love, assist and plenty of prayers, I’m again and higher than ever.”
She suffered a setback, although, by 2023 after being recognized 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 suppose there’s anybody Wendy wanted greater than her household,” Wanda advised PEOPLE after the discharge of the doc, which highlights Wendy’s well being points, and the way her guardianship has saved her away from her household. “Separate the cash half: All I need to know is that my sister goes to stay and that she’s going to be wholesome,” Wanda added. “The priority of the household has all the time been Wendy’s well being.”
In the future 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 type phrases I’ve obtained after sharing my prognosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD),” she stated 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 “area” amid her restoration. “I proceed to wish private area 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 take a look at.
