Wendy Williams is a beloved figure on the daytime television circuit for many, and The Wendy Williams Show has been a consistent source of entertainment from the very beginning. Unfortunately, Williams herself recently got some bad news about her health that will take her out of the limelight for a little while. Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with Graves' disease, and she'll take a break from the show for three weeks.
The big announcement came live on camera during a show on February 21. Wendy Williams sat in front of a camera and spoke directly to her audience, both those watching in the studio and those watching from home. She explained that she had been diagnosed with Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Williams was reportedly seeing symptoms for a while, but the symptoms of Graves' disease aren't always distinct enough to result in an early diagnosis. That said, according to Williams in her live announcement, viewers noticed an issue with her eyes before she did herself. Her doctor prescribed a three-week vacation, after which she intends to return to The Wendy Williams Show. Repeats of past episodes will air until she's back on the air.
Wendy William's announcement of her diagnosis comes nearly four months after an incident when she passed out on live TV during a Halloween costume segment of the show. She was dressed as the Statue of Liberty, complete with flowing gown and large crown. The official explanation at the time was that Williams overheated in her costume and fainted as a result. Given that her costume did indeed look like it could get hot under the studio lights and she was back in action after a commercial break, there wasn't necessarily reason to worry that there was an underlying cause for passing out. Now it seems she passed out due to the effects of undiagnosed Graves' disease.
To see more of Wendy Williams' story about her Graves' disease, take a look at her announcement from the episode:
In addition to explaining her diagnosis and why she'll be off the air for the next three weeks, Wendy Williams had a message for women. She believes that women need to "stop putting everyone first" and take care of themselves whenever necessary. All things considered, Williams is clearly determined not to let her diagnosis stop her from living her life and working in whatever ways she wants. The vacation is to recover her health, and we can only hope that she'll be as strong as ever when she's back. Only time will tell.
For your viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to take a look at our midseason TV premiere guide, our 2018 Netflix premiere schedule, and our 2018 Amazon Prime rundown.
