Michael Rapaport Blasted On First Day As 'Wendy' Guest Host, Fans Demand Sherri Shepherd Return To 'Save The Show'
A rough start!
Although Michael Rapaport was overjoyed to begin his guest host stint on The Wendy Williams Show, many fans were not happy to have him at the “Hot Topics” table.
The 51-year-old actor will be filling in all week as host Wendy Williams continues to battle health woes. “I’m so glad to be here, I am so excited to be here,” Rapaport told the audience on Monday. “Wendy, thank you so much for trusting me with your show.”
Fans quickly took to social media to express their displeasure for the Prison Break alum and demand former fill-in Sherri Shepherd come back. “Bring back Sherri!!!!!,” one user commented on the show’s official Instagram account, while another said: “Come back Wendy and save the show… or Sherri… How you doin.”
“Oof. This was tough to watch,” a third scoffed, while a fourth declared, “Y'all can’t go from Sherri to this. We trying to stay loyal to the show but geesh don’t make it this hard.”
Williams has been sidelined by health issues since season 13 began. The The Ask Wendy: Straight-Up Advice for All the Drama In Your Life author broke her silence and issued a statement on Monday, November 8, while remaining coy about her wellbeing.
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“HOW YOU DOIN'? I MISS YOU ALL!,” the 57-year-old began her statement via Instagram. “As everyone knows, my health has been a hot topic. I’m making progress but it’s just one of those things that’s taking longer than we expected.”
Noting she's a "woman of a certain age," Williams explained she knows enough to listen to her doctors, before promising she "will return to my purple chair as soon as we all agree I’m ready," while offering praise to her guest hosts, saying, "I want to thank all of my staff and our guest hosts for stepping up and stepping in while I can’t be there.”
Most of all, the former disc jockey shared she wanted to thank her fans for their well wishes. “I have heard your prayers and comments and feel all the love! You are everything to me. I’m doing everything I can to get back to work,” she continued, adding that however, right now, “Wendy has to focus on Wendy.”