According to Page Six, staffers on The Wendy Williams Show are upset with how executives of the show are handling the absence of Wendy Williams.
A show insider reportedly told the outlet that the all-white management ignored Wendy Williams’ key demographic – Black women. Staffers allegedly had an issue with actor Michael Rappaport hosting the show during the first week of Black History Month.
“They’re not factoring in the culture. The all-white management is out of touch with the demographic, which skews mostly African American.”
“It’s like they’re programming against the culture instead of leaning into it.”
MONDAY: THE. RAP. IS. BACK!@MichaelRapaport kicks off the week with the latest Hot Topics and #RHONJ New Jersey star, @DoloresCatania! @BravoTV pic.twitter.com/32TkCaukw4
— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) January 31, 2022
While staffers are upset about Rappaport, former co-host of The View Sherri Shepard has been a popular guest host during Williams’ time away from the show, and rumor is that executives are planning the future of the show without its namesake. Ratings for the show were reportedly high when Shepard filled in as a guest host.
FRIDAY: @sherrieshepherd wraps up the week with the latest #HotTopics. Plus, @AbbottElemABC's @LisaAnnWalter! pic.twitter.com/ExUBjV5K3h
— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) January 28, 2022
Since September of last year, Williams has been away from the show, reportedly due to illness. The 57-year-old allegedly received a psychiatric evaluation in September, the day before an announcement was released that the show would be delayed due to her battling COVID.
The announcement was posted on Instagram and said The Wendy Williams Show would be delayed until October. 4.
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The U.S. Sun reports that Williams requested a judge unfreeze her accounts with Wells Fargo with an emergency request. The bank allegedly froze her accounts because they suspected Williams was subjected to “financial exploitation, dementia or undue influence.”
The emergency request demands that Williams and her team be granted access to her funds, which have been frozen for two weeks. Williams’ lawyer claimed an ex-financial officer told the bank that the talk show host was of unsound mind, prompting the accounts to be frozen.
Other guest hosts of the show have included actress Leah Remini, Kym Whitley and Finesse Mitchell.
