‘The Wendy Williams Show’: Sherri Shepherd Returns To Guest Host Following Emergency Surgery – Update
UPDATED, 7 AM: Sherri Shepherd returns today as guest host of The Wendy Williams Show following emergency surgery for appendicitis, a spokesperson for the show told Deadline. Michael Rapaport filled in for Shepherd on Monday as she recovered from the surgery. Shepherd has been among a rotating list of guest hosts for the show while Williams recovers from complications of Graves Disease.
PREVIOUS, Dec. 13: Sherri Shepherd, who was scheduled to guest host for the ailing Wendy Williams as host of The Wendy Williams Show this week, has undergone emergency surgery for appendicitis and is unable to appear.
“Due to appendicitis, Sherri Shepherd underwent an emergency surgery yesterday,” Shepherd’s publicist said in a statement to Deadline. “The procedure was successful, and Ms. Shepherd is doing fine and resting. She is absolutely devastated that she will not be able to guest host The Wendy Williams Show today, but she is following doctors’ orders and expected to make a full recovery. Thank you all for understanding and respecting her privacy.”
A spokesperson for The Wendy Williams Show says Michael Rapaport will be filling in for Shepherd and that Shepherd hopes to be back on the show later in the week.
Shepherd has been among a rotating list of guest hosts for the show while Williams recovers from complications of Graves disease.
The show’s scheduled September 20 Season 13 premiere was delayed for weeks after Williams tested positive for a breakthrough case of Covid-19. Prior to her Covid diagnosis, the show said Williams would be stepping back from promotional activities ahead of the premiere due to “ongoing health issues.”
Williams has battled various maladies over during the past few years. Her battle with Graves disease, an immune system disorder, dates to 1999, and her show went on hiatus in 2018. She also passed out on live TV in 2017 during the show’s Halloween episode, an incident that was attributed to dehydration.
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The show was on hiatus in 2020 because of the pandemic but had a brief remote stint with Williams broadcasting from her New York apartment. Later, production again was paused for several weeks so Williams could be with her family following her mother’s death.
The nationally syndicated Wendy Williams Show is produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury and has been renewed through the 2021-22 season by the Fox Television Stations.