After months of speculation and concerns about her health, Wendy Williams announced today that she will be taking a three-week hiatus after being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease.
The 53-year-old told viewers on Wednesday that she knew she had hyperthyroidism but her doctor has since told her she suffers from Graves’ – an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland.
Wendy explained to viewers that Graves pushes on the muscles behind your eyeballs, likely accounting for her wonky, bulging eyes.
Those who suffer from Graves’ disease are also prone to racing heartbeat, tremors, sleep disruption, weight loss and muscle weakness.
‘My doctor has prescribed – are you ready? – three weeks of vacation,’ Williams told the audience. ‘What? Who are you? I was pissed.’
Last week, the daytime talk star canceled three days of filming for the first time in her show’s decade-long run. On an Instagram video, she told viewers she had been ‘flu-ish with complications.’
Wendy Williams announced on her show on Wednesday that she will be taking a three-week hiatus per doctor’s orders after being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism
Williams, who canceled three days of filming for the first time in her show’s decade-long run last week, was spotted leaving her television studio in New York on Tuesday aided by a male who escorted her to her car
The talk show host was seen wearing flat shoes and tightly grasping the man’s arm for support on her way out
On an Instagram video, she told viewers she had been ‘flu-ish with complications’
The talk show host took to the airwaves on Wednesday to address her condition of which symptoms include bulging eyes, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and more
But her appearances of late have led to speculation that she may have other issues. Her eyes appeared glazed and twitchy while her speech was rambling and she took long pauses.
Cameras caught Wendy stumbling into audience members on February 12 and the following day she caused alarm by ‘swooning’ on set.
She admitted on her show that her condition has left her wobbly on her feet.
The TV star’s medical condition was revealed as staffers at her show disclosed their deeper concerns to DailyMail.com about her fragile condition.
‘She looked like she was going to faint live on-air. She has gotten so thin to the point that it doesn’t look good,’ one show insider told DailyMail.com.
After her show on Tuesday, Wendy was pictured being helped to her SUV. She had ditched her vertiginous heels for flat ballet pumps and was gripping the arm of a security guard as she gingerly made her way out of the stage door.
The TV star’s medical condition was revealed as staffers at her show disclosed their deeper concerns to DailyMail.com about her fragile condition
Wendy first fainted publicly during a special Halloween episode of her show in October. While dressed as in a Statue of Liberty costume, she was addressing the audience when she began to wobble, stagger backwards and abruptly dropped to the floor.
The show cut to a lengthy commercial break, before she returned to tell viewers: ‘That was not a stunt. I overheated in my costume and I passed out. I am a champ and I am back.’
However she was forced to prop herself up on a podium and struggled to speak as she announced the winners of a costume contest. Moments after her fainting fit, an ambulance arrived at the set and a wheelchair was brought inside. Wendy was seen leaving soon afterwards in an SUV, waving and smiling alongside her husband, Kevin Hunter.
The TV star ‘is dehydrated and is on her way home for a good day and night of sleep’ a spokesman later said.
There were also concerns that the stress of her home life could be affecting her health.
Last week, Wendy appeared to have stumbled into the audience while dancing on her show
On an Instagram video, she told viewers she had been ‘flu-ish with complications.’
In September, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Hunter, 46, has been leading a double life and engaging in a secret long-term affair with a 32-year-old massage therapist.
Hunter has been seeing Sharina Hudson for more than 10 years, splitting his time between the New Jersey home he shares with Wendy and their teenage son Kevin Jr, and a secluded suburban house that he bought for his mistress just nine miles down the road.
Wendy and Kevin married in 1997. And this wasn’t the first time the TV host’s husband has been caught in a cheating scandal.
She has admitted that she spent ten years battling a cocaine addiction, describing it as ‘a demon I had to overcome’ to People.
The 53-year-old star also lost a dramatic amount of weight in recent years which she credits to her vegan diet and cutting out refined sugar. She has said previously: ‘I don’t believe in fad diets and crash diets. I don’t believe in diet pills, I don’t want my heart to race out of my chest.’
She has also admitted to having Liposuction to hone her stomach area, along with other surgery, including a breast augmentation and implants, and a face lift, along with Botox and laser treatment to reduce scarring.
In September, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Wendy’s husband Hunter, 46, has been leading a double life and engaging in a secret long-term affair with a 32-year-old massage therapist (pictured)
Hunter has been seeing Sharina Hudson (left) for more than 10 years, splitting his time between the New Jersey home he shares with Wendy and their teenage son