Wendy Williams made a surprise public appearance after a long hiatus, stepping into the spotlight at a holistic store in Newark, N.J. on August 19. This sighting is her first in over a year, following a low-profile period that started in March 2023.
On that Monday, Wendy, 60, was seen with her son, Kevin Hunt Jr., whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Hunter. They visited Bolingo Balance, a holistic store in Newark run by Victor Bowman, the son of the late Dr. Sebi. This visit marks a significant moment, as it's the first time the former talk show host has been publicly seen since her last sighting in March 2023.
Bolingo Balance is known for its focus on holistic health, and Williams was spotted there looking “sharp, upbeat, and aware,” according to an employee. The staff member described her as “very bubbly” and engaging, though she was relatively new to the store's offerings. Her son, Kevin Jr., took on the role of explaining the various products and treatments available. Williams was interested in learning about circulation improvement but chose not to delve too deeply into specifics during her first visit. She expressed interest in returning soon to explore further.
Victor Bowman shared a heartfelt post on Facebook with a photo of himself and Williams, praising her visit with a warm caption: “Wendy Williams come to my store 🏬 much love Queen 👸🏾.” The store’s Instagram account also celebrated her visit with a caption that read, "Much love to Wendy Williams and her son ❤️.” The post included a nostalgic note about meeting Kevin in Usha village, referencing a conversation with his father.
In response to the Instagram post, Williams' son left a series of emojis in the comments, including prayer hands and thumbs-up symbols, showing appreciation and support.
This public outing is particularly notable given Wendy's recent health struggles. The last time she was photographed before this was in March 2023 when she was spotted returning to her apartment in New York City. Her public appearances have been sparse since she ended her run on "The Wendy Williams Show" in July 2021. The show concluded amid her ongoing health issues, including Graves' disease, lymphedema, and alcohol abuse. In the wake of these challenges, guest hosts filled in before the show was ultimately canceled in June 2022.
Between her last sighting in March 2023 and her recent appearance, Wendy's condition took a significant turn. Reports revealed that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Her sister, Wanda Finnie, and niece, Alex, shared with PEOPLE in February that Wendy was not fully informed about her diagnosis after being placed in a facility for cognitive issues. They mentioned that they hadn't received updates on her condition since late 2021. Finnie also noted that after Wendy's court-ordered guardianship began in April 2022, family communication was severely restricted.
The legal and financial complexities surrounding Wendy continued to unfold. Court documents released in the following months detailed ongoing disputes between Wendy’s legal and financial guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, and A+E Networks, the parent company of Lifetime. These documents also touched on the controversial documentary about Wendy, "Where Is Wendy Williams?" and the contentious issues surrounding her finances.
In recent developments, Wendy's NYC penthouse was sold in May 2024. By July, she celebrated her 60th birthday, but sources revealed to PEOPLE that her family was deeply concerned and supportive, despite being largely cut off from direct contact due to ongoing legal battles. A source mentioned, "Wendy Williams’s family is unable to speak on her current condition and location due to ongoing litigation and the fact that they have largely been denied contact."
As of now, a representative for Wendy’s attorney has yet to respond to requests for further information about her situation. This latest sighting at Bolingo Balance not only marks Wendy’s return to the public eye but also provides a hopeful glimpse into her efforts to engage with holistic health practices amid ongoing challenges.
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