It's been nearly a year and a half since Wendy Williams was photographed in public, and only six months since her team revealed that the famous talk show host had been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia.
But last week, Williams, 60, made an appearance at a New Jersey holistic health store, accompanied by her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., who is a friend of the store's owner and a frequent customer at the store, sparking online buzz.
The store manager told Fox News Digital that Hunter Jr. [his mother] More about natural living…more about herbs.”
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Wendy Williams smiles as she poses for a photo at her African Bio Cell Mineral Foods store in Newark, New Jersey. (African Biomineral Cell Food Store Instagram)
Wendy Williams' son, Kevin Hunter Jr., took his mother to a store they frequented in New Jersey hoping to show her a more holistic way of life. (African Biomineral Cell Food Store Instagram)
He described Williams as “bubbly” and “very friendly”, as she posed for photos smiling and carrying a bouquet of flowers, white moon boots and her trademark pink lipstick.
“She was very strong, very articulate, and completely self-sufficient,” he said. “There were no signs of dizziness or anything like that about her physical condition.”
The store manager acknowledged that he was unaware of Williams' health condition when she was in the store, telling Fox News Digital that he was “surprised” that people were asking about her health because “she seemed normal.”
A representative for Williams did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Wendy Williams was spotted out and about in New York City in March 2021 wearing a patterned mask. (Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty Images)
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In February, Williams' team spoke publicly about the severity of her health issues.
“As Wendy's fans know, she has spoken publicly about her struggles with illnesses including Graves' disease and lymphedema, as well as other significant health issues,” her team said in a statement. Williams had been absent from her talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, on and off since fainting on air in 2017. During a 2019 episode, she revealed that she was living in a sober living facility.
“The Wendy Williams Show” aired for 13 seasons. (Lahav Segev/WireImage/Getty Images)
“Over the past few years, questions have been raised about Wendy's ability to process information and many have speculated about her condition, especially when she began to lose her speech, behave erratically at times and have difficulty understanding financial transactions,” the statement continued.
“In 2023, after undergoing a series of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Aphasia, which affects language and communication skills, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder that affects behavioural and cognitive function, have already caused significant disruption to Wendy's life.”
Wendy Williams was last seen in public in March 2023, and was photographed here a month prior in New York City. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)
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Following the announcement, Williams expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital: “I am so grateful for all the love and kind words I've received after sharing my diagnosis with aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Truly, the response has been overwhelming. The messages shared have touched my heart and reminded me of the power of unity and the need for compassion. I hope my story can help others living with FTD.”
“I would also like to thank the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Association for their kind words of encouragement and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of FTD. I continue to need my personal space and peace to survive. Please know that I am deeply grateful for your positivity and encouragement,” she concluded.
Wendy Williams' bizarre behavior has raised questions about her health. (Astrid Stawiarts/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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Williams has also spoken publicly about her struggles with alcohol and drug abuse.
