Wendy Williams has tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19, the talk show host announced today, even though she’s fully vaccinated. In light of Williams’ recent diagnosis, her daytime series The Wendy Williams Show is pushing back its planned fall return. Season 13 of the syndicated talk show was meant to premiere next week; now, it’s slated to be back on air the first week of October.
“While continuing her health evaluations, Wendy has tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19,” a statement posted onto her show’s official Instagram page reads. “To allow Wendy time to quarantine and fully recover and to ensure that our production abides by all SAG/AFTRA and DGA COVID protocols, we expect to begin the 13th season of ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ on Monday, October 4th. In the meantime, repeated will be scheduled.”
Around a week ago, the show announced that she was undergoing health evaluations for unspecified reasons: “Wendy is dealing with some ongoing health issues and is undergoing further evaluations,” a statement also posted to Instagram said last week, adding that she would not be able to complete her promotional activities, but “can’t wait to be back in her purple chair.” This was before Williams had tested positive for COVID-19.
Williams has Graves’ disease and has been vocal about her health in the past. Back in 2018, she first told her viewers that she was diagnosed with the condition, which causes the immune system to attack the thyroid. Williams’ show has gone on hiatus due to her symptoms and treatment in the past.
Over the course of the pandemic, The Wendy Williams Show aired remotely filmed episodes from home. The show went back to the studio in late July of 2020, one of the first daytime series to make a full return to in-house production. Last season, while returning to set amidst the pandemic, Williams’ studio audience was only comprised of her staff. “Wendy Watchers” only appeared virtually, watching from their home.
When Season 13 returns, The Wendy Williams Show will have its in-studio audience return, and all audience members will be required to be fully vaccinated. The daytime talk show’s fall return comes after a regularly-scheduled summer hiatus.
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Source: NYPOST