Wendy Williams’ brother says her mother’s death has ‘been hard’ as host struggles amid ‘hospitalization & show ending’

WENDY Williams’ brother Tommy said the daytime host is still mourning their mother’s death as sources tell The Sun she will never return to her show amid health issues.  

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Tommy said that Wendy’s divorce from Kevin Hunter compacted her grief over her mother’s passing a year ago.

The 54-year-old brother to the daytime talk show host added that he and his entire family have been struggling since they lost the family matriarch. 

Tommy exclusively revealed to The Sun: “We've all been struggling with and I can speak for myself definitely is the passing of our mother, the matriarch of the family. It's not easy.” 

Wendy’s younger brother, who had previously called his famous sister out for not showing up to their mother’s funeral last year, said he felt he could have done a better job in handling the situation. 

“I was rather aggressive in coming out and not being as empathetic as I should have been, or as supportive as I should have been. That was my knee-jerk reaction.” 

Tommy also said that his also grieving father had intervened in their spat. 

He explained: “Thankfully I had my patriarch who was able to talk to me and say: ‘Tommy, you might want to call your sister. Everybody's dealing with things in a different manner, plus, she's dealing with her divorce from Kevin,’ and I'm like, oh, yeah, you know, I have to remember that it's not all about ‘oh you weren’t at the funeral.’” 

Tommy said that despite their previous rift, they talk regularly now.

He also praised his famous 57-year-old sister for prominently including Shirley in her documentary Wendy Williams: What a Mess!

Tommy said: “She paid homage to my mother, and it's such a celebration. It's truly a gift she gave the family - a gift that no other person in our family could give," adding that it was a gift "to be able to look at my mother on all those old clips of Wendy.“ 

LIFE AFTER TV?

Tommy revealed that he and Wendy have spoken about ideas the host has for her future when her eponymous talk show comes to an end. 

He opened up following The Sun's exclusive reporting with insiders claiming the star will never return to the show after a months-long absence following a series of health complications. 

Tommy explained: “We've talked about different things. She’s definitely kicked around some different ideas, all of which I know she'll be successful with, but time will tell."

The TV star's brother, who recently started a YouTube channel himself, said that whatever Wendy’s life looks like after TV, he is never worried about her future. 

If she’s off the TV, Tommy said: “It’s not a big deal, it’s not. I can't think of a time when I was worried about Wendy in her career. I just can't. She's been through so much. I've been there with her through so much.”  

A source said that production will announce early next year that Wendy, 57, is permanently leaving her purple chair after suffering from serious health issues. 

END OF THE LINE 

Last week, a source revealed production will announce early next year that Wendy is permanently leaving her purple chair after suffering from a series of serious health issues. 

A second source has also indicated that higher-ups in the show’s production have privately stated they believed Wendy would not be returning for some time now. 

Just as The Wendy Williams Show announced fan-favorite Sherri will be the fill-in to host for the final weeks before the holiday break, the first insider told The Sun that the unofficial motto is “new year, new show.”  

While RadarOnline had reported Wendy’s production company is looking for a replacement host, a source added to The Sun that the job is “Sherri’s to lose. She is the number one choice.”  

Leah Remini is guest hosting for two weeks, followed by Sherri - and the show insider called these upcoming stretches "auditions."  

The source continued: “The deal will be done in the next few weeks and announced in January."

HEALTH RUMORS SWIRLING   

While The Wendy Williams Show's Instagram has released several explanations as to why she hasn’t returned to her purple chair, reports began to circulate over the weekend that she has been suffering from the effects of early-onset dementia.   

However, Tommy told The Sun earlier this week that his sister has not been “displaying that type of behavior" to the family.   

He said: “We haven't had any alerts like that and I haven't seen anything like that or have had conversations with her that would lead me to believe that.”  

Wendy has previously revealed she suffers from thyroid disorder Graves' Disease and lymphedema, which gives her swollen ankles and makes it difficult for her to walk even two blocks.  

She has also admitted in the past to struggling with alcoholism and substance abuse, and last checked into rehab in 2019.  

MEDICAL CRISIS    

Back in September, The Sun was first to report that police received a 911 call from Wendy’s Manhattan building at 8 am about a “57-year-old female in need of psychiatric services.”    

The Sun later reported the TV personality had been “struggling with addiction” leading up to her hospitalization.     

“Wendy was drinking every day, even while filming the show,” an insider previously revealed to The Sun.     

As the daytime diva's health complications continued, the popular program was postponed from its original return date of September 20, and eventually aired with a rotating cast of guest hosts.     

WENDY'S WORDS  

Wendy took to Instagram on November 8 to break her silence and tell her fans: "As everyone knows, my health has been a hot topic. I’m making progress but it’s just one of those things that are taking longer than we expected.     

"I’m a woman of a certain age, and I know enough to listen to my doctors and will return to my purple chair as soon as we all agree I’m ready."     

She continued: "I want to thank all of my staff and our guest hosts for stepping up and stepping in while I can’t be there.  

"I also want to thank Debmar-Mercury and our stations for being so understanding and supportive while I work my way back.     

"Most of all, I want to thank my fans. I have heard your prayers and comments and feel all the love! You are everything to me.     

"I love spending my mornings with you all and I’m doing everything I can to get back to work, but right now Wendy has to focus on Wendy. I love you for watching."