Wendy Williams' Talk Show Pushed Back Again As TV Personality Deals With 'Ongoing Medical Issues'
Wendy Williams will not be returning to the small screen as soon as fans thought.
It was originally announced that The Wendy Williams Show would return on October 4 following her battle with COVID-19 and previous hospitalization— but the show’s season premiere has now been postponed again.
“Wendy will not be returning with new shows on Oct. 4,” an announcement from the talk show's official Instagram account read on Thursday, September 30. “She has been and continues to be under a doctor’s care and is still not ready to return to work.”
The new start date for the daytime talk show's 13th season is now set for Monday, October 18.
“Her breakthrough COVID case is no longer an issue and she has tested negative," the announcement continued, "but she is still dealing with some ongoing medical issues."
The news comes just days after OK! reported that the staff on the hit series have been getting antsy to get the show back on the road.
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Leading up to her hospitalization, “Wendy was drinking every day, even while filming the show,” one employee revealed. Another staffer admitted that Williams is surrounded by “enablers” who allow her to do whatever she wants instead of resting so she can return to the show.
“They don’t want to lose their job,” the source added. “No one can tell her no. People are afraid to speak up.”
Aside from contracting COVID-19, the 57-year-old host is also reportedly suffering from mental health struggles and an ongoing battle with an immune system disorder called Graves disease.
Rumors have also begun circulating that the talk show host might not be returning to her purple chair for much longer.
“The show is set to air through the 2021-22 season,” a source revealed. “There is no decision beyond that, but she could very well walk away. She’s over it.”
“Normally by now they would have announced the renewal long ago. But there is still no word yet beyond 2022,” the source continued. “It was two years ago — in 2019 — when they announced that Wendy was renewed for this season, and here we are about to be at the start of it and yet there is no announcement on the show’s future beyond this season.”
