Wendy Williams: Axed From ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ a Cover Girl and Still Smiling

By Yvette Caslin
Apr 06, 2011
2:22 pm

Talk show host Wendy Williams was cheerful when she and her dancing partner, Tony Dovolani, received their pink slip on “Dancing with the Stars.” Since the premiere of this season’s show, Williams has been receiving criticism from the media and viewers saying she lacked “a true emotional connection to her dance” and was “feet flopping instead of dancing.”

Williams opted out of the traditional “final dance” that contestants are expected to perform after elimination, choosing instead to greet and shake hands with guests in the audience.

Wendy Williams: Axed From ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ a Cover Girl and Still Smiling — Wendy and her dance partner-teacher Tony Dovolani

The New Jersey native fired back during her exit, saying to People magazine while backstage, “I don’t feel like I deserved any of the scores that I got, but still I am ironically pleased to be going home. I have neglected [my] 10-year-old son [Kevin Jr.]. I have a 12-year marriage, and I’ve got a talk show that demands my attention.”

What’s next?

Williams graces the May 2011 cover of Essence magazine’s first-ever “Girlfriends Issue.” She opens up about friendship, family and the driving force behind the talk show queen’s appeal. The two covers were photographed by none other than the phenomenal celebrity photographer Derek Blanks. –yvette caslin