Wendy Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter is at odds with the producers of “The Wendy Williams Show” after the businessman claims they wouldn’t “sign off” to get the legendary talk show host help during her recovery from substance abuse.
The 50-year-old star told Page Six in a recent chat that Debmar-Mercury did not want to do anything that would pull Williams away from her hosting duties. “Debmar would not support Wendy’s recovery efforts with the family,” Hunter told reporters. “They would not sign off on anything that would’ve helped her recovery efforts.”
The longtime television producer admitted that he, along with Williams’ family and representatives from Debmar-Mercury, attended an apparent intervention where they discussed available options to assist the “Think Like a Man” actress in her struggle with alcoholism.
“They sat in a meeting with her whole family, including her now-deceased mom, and would not sign off on the recovery efforts that would’ve helped Wendy also get well and live and be sober,” Hunter told the outlet. “They basically said, ‘If you don’t stop drinking, you’re going to lose the show.’ ” The intervention reportedly occurred in early 2019, after Williams worked full-time while living in a sober house.
Last June, Hunter slammed the production company after Williams was left out of the final episode. As previously reported, the talk show was canceled earlier this year and has since been replaced by “The Sherri Shepherd Show,” set to air this fall.
While speaking with “Entertainment Tonight,” Hunter shared, “I feel like it is a travesty on the part of Debmar-Mercury to have such an unceremonious departure without Wendy being involved.”
He continued, “A lack of professionalism throughout the process and in the way they are letting Wendy go out. After 13 years, the show has been made a mockery the last two seasons, and the reasons the show is having its untimely demise will come out very soon.”
The series, which debuted in 2009, had been hosted by a slew of guest celebrities while the Emmy Award winner was out battling health complications stemming from her Graves’ disease diagnosis.
The final episode aired on Friday, June 17, and included a short video montage of memorable moments from the past 13 seasons and an appearance by Williams’ first guest on the show, actress Vanessa Williams.
