When Is Wendy Williams Returning? A Timeline of the Talk Show Host’s Hiatus From ‘The Wendy Williams Show’

Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

When Is Wendy Williams Returning? A Timeline of the Talk Show Host’s Hiatus From ‘The Wendy Williams Show’

Taking a breather. Wendy Williams has delayed her return to The Wendy Williams Show multiple times amid her health concerns, which include her battle with Graves’ disease and her recently fractured shoulder. The 54-year-old talk show host first made headlines for her health in October 2017 after she fainted on TV during her live Halloween episode. Williams later explained that she was dehydrated and overheated in her Statue of Liberty costume. Less than a year later, the Ask Wendy author, who prides herself on rarely missing a show, canceled three shows in February 2018 after experiencing “flu-like symptoms.” After a brief return, Williams announced on February 21, 2018, that she was taking a three-week hiatus due to issues with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. “My doctor has prescribed — are you ready? — three weeks of vacation,” she told viewers at the time, noting her symptoms included difficulty sleeping and irritability. “I was pissed. Encore performances, really?” A rep for The Wendy Williams Show added at the time that the host “is a true champion and has never missed a day of work, but her health and well-being must be put before all else.” Fast-forward to December and Williams’ health — and show delays — are making headlines again. Scroll through for a complete timeline:

Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

When Is Wendy Williams Returning? A Timeline of the Talk Show Host’s Hiatus From ‘The Wendy Williams Show’

Taking a breather. Wendy Williams has delayed her return to The Wendy Williams Show multiple times amid her health concerns, which include her battle with Graves’ disease and her recently fractured shoulder. The 54-year-old talk show host first made headlines for her health in October 2017 after she fainted on TV during her live Halloween episode. Williams later explained that she was dehydrated and overheated in her Statue of Liberty costume. Less than a year later, the Ask Wendy author, who prides herself on rarely missing a show, canceled three shows in February 2018 after experiencing “flu-like symptoms.” After a brief return, Williams announced on February 21, 2018, that she was taking a three-week hiatus due to issues with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. “My doctor has prescribed — are you ready? — three weeks of vacation,” she told viewers at the time, noting her symptoms included difficulty sleeping and irritability. “I was pissed. Encore performances, really?” A rep for The Wendy Williams Show added at the time that the host “is a true champion and has never missed a day of work, but her health and well-being must be put before all else.” Fast-forward to December and Williams’ health — and show delays — are making headlines again. Scroll through for a complete timeline:

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December 2018

Williams missed a taping of her popular talk show on December 17. The following day, she revealed she suffered a bone fracture. “There’s no way I could have done yesterday’s show,” she told the audience. “I was all about the medical care yesterday, from one doctor to the other.”

“I’m on the mend,” Williams assured her fans. “I don’t need an operation. They tell me I’m very healthy for, um … a person after 50. I don’t need an operation, and I’m not wearing a hard cast. But I do have a sling. … Staff, crew, the show will go on!”

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December 2018

After the Dancing With the Stars alum slurred her words on the December 20 episode of her talk show, she apologized to fans for a “less than stellar” episode amid her shoulder recovery. “I’m on your TV screens every day wanting to spread laughter, entertainment and cheer. As I reported earlier in the week, I have a hairline fracture on my upper arm, which hurts like hell,” Williams wrote on Instagram. “I’ve never broken a bone or experienced a fracture in my life. In the key place where the fracture is, and trying to scurry around and do too much, I am now paying the price.”

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January 2019

Following a scheduled two-week hiatus over the holidays, Williams announced on January 3 that she would return live on January 7.

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January 2019

Two days after confirming her return, Williams delayed her comeback to January 14. “Wendy Williams will be returning with all-new episodes of The Wendy Williams Show on Monday, January 14, 2019,” a post on her Instagram account read. “After fracturing her shoulder, Wendy is on the mend and wants to return pain-free and be 200%, delivering the best show that millions of viewers tune-in to watch.”

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January 2019

Us confirmed on January 10 that Williams pushed back her return for a second time. She was set to appear on the show for the first time in 2019 on January 21.

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January 2019

Williams delayed her comeback to The Wendy Williams Show for the third time on January 18. This time, however, there was no return date given. 

“As Wendy Williams Hunter previously shared, she fractured her shoulder and has been on the mend. Over the past few days, Wendy has experienced complications regarding her Graves’ Disease that will require treatment,” her family said in a press release. “Wendy will be under the strict supervision of her physicians, and as part of her care, there will be significant time spent in the hospital. Despite her strong desire to return, she is taking a necessary, extended break from her show to focus on her personal and physical well-being.”

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January 2019

The Wendy Williams Show’s official Instagram announced on January 29 that Nick Cannon would fill in as Williams’ temporary host: “Friend to the show and host of Fox’s The Masked Singer and MTV’s Wild n’ Out, @nickcannon will be guest hosting The Wendy Williams Show on Monday, February 4th, Tuesday, February 5th & Wednesday, February 6th. The new hour long episodes will include Wendy’s staple Hot Topics segment, ‘Ask Wendy,’ celebrity interviews and more!”

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January 2019

Williams was spotted for the first time amid her health struggles on January 29 in Florida. The host stepped out with a friend at a CVS in a bright yellow top.

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January 2019

A source told Us exclusively on January 31 that Williams is “fighting to get back to a clean bill of health” during her indefinite hiatus.  She is spending "significant time … in the hospital” to “focus on her personal and physical well-being,” the source said. “The struggle of being the main centerpiece of the show, day in and out, while fighting Graves’ disease has been a real battle.”