Story by Amir Shaw
Images by Michael Melendy for Steed Media Service
Cabbies, bus drivers and impatient motorists are inching along at a snail’s pace through Manhattan’s crowded streets. Strident voices and blaring horns abound. However, the cacophony outside, which is the theme music for the Big Apple, can’t match the ruckus that will take place on the No. 1 rated radio show during the afternoon commute. The “Queen of All Media” has just taken control of the mic at WBLS-FM and the entire city of New York is listening.
Wendy Williams has mastered the art of commanding attention. Her brash, in-your-face theatrics are unleashed daily on “The Wendy Williams Experience.” From 2–7 p.m., she provides edgy commentary, celebrity gossip, and no-holds-barred interviews on the nationally syndicated show. Throughout the broadcast, it’s evident that Williams lives by the law of unpredictability.
“There’s nobody else like Wendy Williams,” says radio personality Rashan Ali of Radio One. “Wendy Williams has transcended media tremendously. She’s very comfortable with herself and you have to respect her for that. When you go on her show, you better think twice about what you are going to say and wear because she will expose you.”
Bun B’s PhotogalleryThe New Jersey-born maverick has definitely earned the right to be a bit frank. As a student at Northeastern University in Boston, Williams worked tirelessly to hone her broadcasting skills by taking a job at the college radio station and interning with Matt Siegel at Kiss 108 in Boston. She set herself apart from other interns by arriving at the station hours before Siegel’s 5:30 a.m. show. “I understand what it means to do a lot of grunt work,” says Williams. “I was an intern and an overnight disc jockey. When I took my first job, I only made $3.25 per hour. So I will never lose my compassion for the jocks that are starting out in radio.”
Upon graduating from college, she was hired at WVIS in St. Croix and later worked for WOL-AM in Washington, D.C., and WKRS in New York. But it was Williams’ gigs at HOT 97 and WBLS that allowed her to establish herself as a perennial radio personality. She eventually developed a steadfast following that listened faithfully while she critiqued celebrities. However, Williams believes that a lot of entertainers are targeted by the media because they are forced to present a false persona to the public.
It’s important to stay true to who you were before you made it,” Williams suggests. “Because if you create a persona that’s not really you, people will find out and it can get you into trouble. You also can’t have the illusion that you are better than anyone else. People will always fall in love with the next person as easily as they fell in love with you.”
Bun B’s PhotogalleryCoincidentally, the topsy-turvy relationship between celebrities and fans often mirrors the rocky affairs that take place between radio owners and disc jockeys. “Radio is an honorable profession, but when it comes to business, I’m disgusted with the industry on every level,” she reveals. “The industry is now hiring people who are not qualified for what they are being employed to do. That’s happening because bigger businesses are taking over and there isn’t much money in radio. Unless you’re at the top tier, you’re ‘hood rich and barely making it.”
The fickle nature of the industry compelled Williams to further her brand by seeking other business ventures outside of radio. Since 2003, Williams has written four books (The Wendy Williams Experience, Wendy’s Got the Heat, Drama is Her Middle Name, Is the B… Dead or What), released one album (Wendy Williams Brings the Heat Vol. 1), has a show on VH-1 (“Wendy Williams is On Fire”), and a biopic based on her life (“The Queen of All Media”) will be released this fall.
“What makes the Wendy Williams brand work is my natural curiosity about a lot of things,” she says. “I’m still writing books and I’m now shopping for a boutique deal to publish books. With The Experience Books, I will be able to publish my own books and we are going to accept manuscripts from other writers.”
The business-minded shock jock recently introduced herself to a wider audience with the launch of her highly anticipated daytime talk show on Fox. “The Wendy Williams Show” is an extension of her controversial radio show. “I was pleased to have worked with Debmar-Mercury,” Williams says. “They are a reputable team of guys who knew a lot about ‘The Wendy Williams Experience’ and thought that it would be a good idea to bring the product to television. I now have room to do more things. Nothing will come before its time. I wouldn’t have been ready for this job 10 years ago. I was able to get years of practice on the radio. My interviews will be unique, I’m still doing celebrity news, and I will be giving advice. It’s not going to be boring. It’s live TV and it’s Wendy.”
Bun B’s PhotogalleryBut as Williams continues her quest to conquer all media, she and her husband (Kevin Hunter) find themselves embroiled in a potentially career-damaging lawsuit. Nicole Spence, Williams’ talent booker and publicist, filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Williams and Hunter in June. “I can’t elaborate on the lawsuit at this point because everything is being handled legally,” Williams says. “But when I’m able to discuss the ordeal, I will talk. The only thing that I know is that my husband and I are very happy. He is still my manager and we are both executive producing the ‘The Wendy Williams Show.’ Our son is happy and healthy and the three of us are good. Right now, we are better than ever.”
Despite the drama, Williams continues to perform at the top of her game. She understands the importance of balance and will never take her job too seriously.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunities that my radio show and books have provided,” she admits. “I always carve out a personal life because entertainment can be lonely and superficial once the microphones and cameras are turned off. I make sure that I have a life outside of this business. Many entertainers don’t have personal lives. You have to surround yourself with people who love you for you. Bumps happen in life, but we all recover. I’m happy to be at a decent place in my life. What can I say? It’s good to be Wendy.”
