Sherri Shepherd ‘does NOT have Wendy Williams’ blessing’ to take over her show as ailing host is ‘jealous’ of successor
SHERRI Shepherd "does not have Wendy Williams’ blessing" to take over her popular daytime talk show, as the ailing host is "jealous" of her successor.
A source close to The Wendy Williams Show said that Wendy not returning calls or emails from producers has left them with no other option than to move on with Sherri and without her input.
The insider said “Sherri does not have Wendy’s blessing and all of this is all being done without her involvement.”
Meanwhile a second source close to Wendy added that the host “is extremely jealous and can’t stand people filling in for her as it is. It has really hurt her seeing her own fans give Sherri glowing reviews in her absence."
The show insider said that in all of this, "production is being very cautious not to upset Wendy’s extremely loyal fan base, so they are calling Sherri, 54, a ‘permanent guest host’- but basically it is now Sherri’s show.”
The insider added that production will wait to remove logos and signage until September or even October, in deference to fans who are still holding out hope.
Sherri will be working to really court Wendy’s fans over the coming months with fan events, Facetiming with them, and focusing on bringing them along with her on this next chapter, the source added.
As one production source put it: “Sherri is in it to win it. She knows this is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
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Production is being very strategic in how they roll out Sherri’s takeover.
As The Sun previously reported, Wendy has not been expected to return to her show for some time now, and Sherri has been anticipated as her replacement for months.
Earlier on Tuesday, reported that Sherri has been named a "permanent guest host" and that production has not entirely closed the door on a potential Wendy return despite the host having been absent from her show since July of 2021.
WHAT'S REALLY WRONG WITH WENDY?
As The Sun exclusively reported, the 57-year-old host petitioned a New York court Friday demanding Wells Fargo Bank unfreeze her accounts so she could regain access to her funds.
In the emergency petition, her attorney alleged that Wendy’s former financial advisor advised the bank that Wendy “was of unsound mind”, and that Wells Fargo had denied her access to her bank accounts and statements.
Wells Fargo had justified its decision to keep Wendy’s accounts frozen by referencing it’s authority under various client agreements to “pause or reject instructions for a proposed transaction,’ pending judicial or administrative remedies, should they suspect financial exploitation, dementia, or undue influence,” the petition claimed.
HEATLH CRISIS
As The Sun previously reported, the daytime presenter has been battling a health crisis for some time.
Sources said the once witty, sharp host of The Wendy Williams Show isn't the same as she used to be as she battles multiple medical problems.
A source close to the show told The Sun: “The spark is gone. That Wendy, who for ten years had that spark in her eyes, that cheeky grin and that little wink is not the same now.”
The insider added some days are better than others for the once feisty daytime diva.
“She’s not always functioning like she used to be. She has days where she needs help eating, getting out of bed and getting dressed.
"Sometimes she goes out in a robe and without shoes on- the old Wendy would never have allowed herself to be seen out like that.”
Even more heartbreaking, the source added, she doesn’t always recognize people whom she’s known for years.
“There are people who Wendy knows- who have worked closely with her- and there are days that she has no idea who they are.”
A second insider close to Wendy’s family told The Sun that fans shouldn’t expect a video address from the host, at least for now.
“She really can’t do a video. She’s been having a hard time holding a conversation.”
WENDY HOSPITALIZED
The Sun was first to report that Wendy had been transported to a New York hospital in September of 2021 following a 911 call for a person in need of psychiatric services.
Soon after, the former radio personality quietly hired a crisis public relations manager.
Meanwhile, The Wendy Williams Show would release four statements between September 9 and October 12, blaming her absence from her show and any promotional duties on a breakthrough COVID case, “ongoing medical issues,” and symptoms from Graves' disease.
On November 8, the show’s Instagram released a statement from the mom of one saying she was still coping with health issues, and as a “woman of a certain age” she knew to listen to her doctors and that “right now, Wendy has to focus on Wendy.”
It was the only statement that purportedly came from Wendy since the start of the season.
TROUBLING INCIDENT
The Sun also exclusively reported that at the start of the pandemic lockdown in 2020, the host allegedly struggled with her addiction issues which spiraled into a dark and troubling incident in May of that year.
Just before the host's team claimed she was hospitalized for Graves' disease that month, Wendy experienced a disturbing episode with a handful of people present as she was working from home.
According to sources, Wendy’s manager was summoned to her penthouse apartment after she had appeared unwell during a Zoom show taping earlier in the week.
Her manager and a small group of confidants arrived to the host’s home to lend support to the struggling talk show queen.
According to multiple sources, Wendy had stripped naked in her room and was shouting vulgar comments.
She was eventually taken to the hospital, where she would remain for weeks.
Reps for Wendy and The Wendy Williams Show did not respond to The Sun's multiple requests for comment.
WILL SHE EVER RETURN?
In 13 seasons, this is the longest the host has been off the air, and she has yet to address fans in any real way since the show went on summer break on July 12, 2021.
As Wendy fans continue to hope that she will return to host the remainder of the season, The Wendy Williams Show announced that the roster of fill-in guest hosts will continue through the end of January.
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Meanwhile, there has been no announcement on the possibility of the show being renewed for another season.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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