The 'Wendy Williams Show' host explains that the disease is described as an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid, adding, 'Graves' disease squeezes behind the eyeballs.'
- Feb 22, 2018
AceShowbiz - Wendy Williams has bad news for her fans. "The Wendy Williams Show" host announced in the Wednesday, February 21 episode that she would be stepping back from the show after being diagnosed with Graves' disease in addition to her hyperthyroidism.
She told the audience that she would be taking a 3-week hiatus to focus on her health. "My doctor has prescribed … are you ready? As of today, three weeks of vacation," Wendy announced. "What? Who are you? I was pissed." She later explained the disease was described as an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. "Graves' disease squeezes behind the eyeballs," she said, adding that it made her eyeballs twitch.
"Anyway, along with hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease, it promotes nervousness," the daytime host went on saying. "No, I'm not nervous. Anxiety. Please, I'm over thirty years in this game."
"Wendy is a true champion and has never missed a day of work. But her health and well-being must be put before all else," a show spokesperson said in a statement. "Wendy has been openly dealing with her Graves' Disease for many years in addition to hyperthyroidism. Yesterday, Wendy's doctor prescribed a necessary three weeks of rest to get her levels and medication in sync. The show will be in repeats during this unplanned hiatus. A live show was produced today so that Wendy could speak directly to her fans and explain her condition."
Wendy previously made headlines when she fainted due to overheating during a live broadcast back in November. Dressed in a green Statue of Liberty costume for Halloween, the 53-year-old TV personality shocked everyone when she began slurring her words before staggering backward with her eyes wide opened and collapsing.
Staff quickly went to the stage before the show cut to a long commercial break. The host later came back on air and assured the audience that she was okay. "That was not a stunt. I'm overheated in my costume and I did pass out. But you know what? I'm a champ and I'm back," she said.
In the next episode, the host admitted that it was "really scary." She continued saying that she she was being overtaken by a "hot" and "dizzy" feeling. She added, "The costume got hot. Right before passing out, I felt like I was in the middle of a campfire."
