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Wendy Williams talked about her past cocaine addiction in a new interview, and how she was able to keep the successful radio job she had before working on television.
“I was a functioning addict,” she said. “I report to work on time, and I’d walk in and all my co-workers, including my bosses, would know but since I would have my headphones on and walk in the studio [they] wouldn’t fire me because I was making ratings.”
“[A] functioning addict has several alarm clocks, you’re organized,” added Williams. “It’s a miracle I was able to stop.”
To help others who suffer from drug addiction and substance abuse, the 54-year-old partnered with The Hunter Foundation to launch the Be Here National Campaign.
According to the Foundation’s website, the non-profit gives grants for drug rehabilitation, prevention and education. It was founded by Williams and her husband Kevin Hunter in 2014.
In another part of the interview, Williams talked about her 17-year-old son Kevin Jr., and how he was addicted to synthetic marijuana at the age of 14.
“Our son, three years ago, he’s 17 now, he just graduated from high school, he’s leaving for college in September, but three years ago he smoked K2,” she said.
The mother of one also said she began to see changes in Kevin Jr., to the point where she didn’t even recognize him.
“I was horrified. My son became someone I didn’t even know,” she remembered. “Immediately, immediately. It zaps your brain immediately.”
As far as her own past addiction, Williams said it made her take huge risks, and she’s thankful to be alive.
“I was that girl on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx back when there were only payphones, standing outside waiting for my next connection at three o’clock in the morning by myself,” she recalled. “I could be dead.”
You can watch Williams’ full interview below.
