Wendy Williams Is Taking An ‘Extended Break’ From Her Show Due To Complications Of Graves’ Disease!
Talk show host Wendy Williams, again beset by complications of Graves' disease, has announced that she will take an “extended break” from “The Wendy Williams Show."
Williams, who had already been away recovering from a shoulder fracture after an injury in December, posted a statement from her family (the Hunter family — Williams' full name is Wendy Williams Hunter) on Twitter Friday afternoon.
“Over the past few days, Wendy has experienced complications regarding her Graves' Disease that will require treatment,” the statement said. “Wendy will be under the strict supervision of her physicians, and as part of her care, there will be significant time spent in the hospital.”
Starting on Dec. 24, “The Wendy Williams Show” had been airing reruns. The show returned this month, but with a panel of “Hot Talker” hosts instead of Williams. Williams, who has been hosting the talk show since 2008, was supposed to be back on the show on Jan. 21. That date was already postponed from Jan. 14, which was in turn postponed from Jan. 7.
In February, Williams publicly revealed her Graves' disease diagnosis after coping for years with the autoimmune condition and hyperthyroidism. Her doctor ordered her to take a three-week break from 'The Wendy Williams Show.' Upon her return, she urged women to put their health first.
Williams also shared a statement from Debar-Mercury, the company that distributes “The Wendy Williams Show.”
“For over ten years, Wendy has been a vital part of the Debar-Mercury family,” that statement read. “We wholeheartedly support Wendy in this decision to take the time she needs and we will welcome her back with open arms the moment she is ready.”
The company’s statement also said that the show will air old episodes for the week of Jan. 21, then move on with new episodes featuring different hosts.
This is the second time Williams, 54, has had to take a break from the show for health reasons. The talk show host, who lives in Livingston and grew up in Ocean Township, took a doctor-mandated break of several weeks from the Fox talk show in February 2018 after publicly revealing her Graves' disease diagnosis. The hiatus followed an incident several months before during which Williams fainted on live TV on Halloween in her Statue of Liberty costume. She later said she had become overheated and was dehydrated.
Williams has been treated for hyperthyroidism — an overactive thyroid — since she was diagnosed 20 years ago. At the time, she was also diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that causes an overproduction of thyroid hormone. Symptoms can include weight loss, heart palpitations, anxiety and eye bulging. Williams previously said that she experienced rapid heartbeat, heat intolerance, sleeplessness, trouble swallowing and irritability.
Saying she had “pressed reset” on her approach to life, Williams tearfully made her triumphant return to the show in March alongside Dr. Oz, who spoke about her condition and said she had the lowest level of vitamin D he had ever seen.
The N.J.-based Wendy Williams, who has been dealing with hyperthyroidism for years, told viewers of "The Wendy Williams Show" that her doctor has ordered her to take a three-week break because of the Graves' disease diagnosis.
“You saved your life, I’ll make it real simple,” Oz, who lives in Cliffside Park, told Williams at the time.
Actor Jerry O’Connell had filled in for Williams as host during her break.
“I had been having bats swimming in my head since maybe July, didn’t tell anybody, 'cause I figured well, it’s menopause, it’s a whole bunch of things going on,” she told the audience, saying she had been postponing a doctor’s appointment for too long.
“We put so many things ahead of ourselves and our health, it’s ridiculous," she said at the time.
Williams' previous treatment included undergoing a procedure during which she drank radioactive iodine to strip her thyroid of its overactivity. She also had taken a daily thyroid pill, but after nearly two decades, complications continued to develop, she said.
The talk show host did not give a specific date for when she would be returning to TV.
Prayers up for her healing!
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