FORMER US talk show host Wendy Williams has never been shy talking about her turbulent life with her fans.
But her son Kevin, 23 has lived most of his life out of the spotlight of his famous parents Wendy and his father Kevin Hunter Sr.
Who is Wendy Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr?
Kevin Hunter Jr. was born on August 18, 2000, and has stuck by his mother even through some of the hardest times.
Wendy, 59, describes him as her “hard-won child” after she went through multiple miscarriages before finally triumphantly giving birth to Kevin.
She said in 2015: “I fought tooth and nail to be a mother. I suffered several miscarriages including two at five months.”
The 23-year-old attended a university in Miami, after leaving his family home in New Jersey before his parent’s bitter divorce.
He has tried to keep out of the public eye as much as possible with him having just nine public photos on his Instagram account.
Including a picture of him and his beloved mother, one with Diddy and others of himself enjoying his life.
Kevin has recently spoken about his mother in documentaries and exclusively to The Sun in rare public showings.
What has Kevin said about his mother’s health issues?
Kevin Jr has been stern with his mother over the recent news of her dwindling health.
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He said he “would not be in her life” unless she got help for her alcohol issues.
The U.S. Sun exclusively reported on Thursday morning, Wendy was diagnosed with alcohol-related brain damage in 2019 during a rehab stint in Florida.
An insider explained that there was a brain scan done as part of Wendy’s rehab stay in Delray Beach.
“The doctor explained to them that Wendy was suffering from alcohol-related brain damage. They told her that her alcohol abuse had done permanent damage to the layers in her brain,” the insider said.
The star then got diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023 but it was kept hidden from the public until last week.
A source close to the family told The Sun: “Wendy’s relationship with Kevin Jr has been strained. He gave her an ultimatum. He told her he won’t be in her life unless she fixes herself.”
The source added their relationship has been rocky over the past few years.
“Her son has been doling out the tough love, telling Wendy, ‘Get yourself help, mom,'” said the source.
Speaking exclusively with The U.S. Sun in June 2023, Kevin Jr. said: “I know there are all sorts of things happening that I know in her right mind, she would never agree to.
“As hard as it is seeing her being taken advantage of, I know that if I’m making sure she, as a person, is okay, that is the important thing.
“Because eventually, she’s going to realize the craziness that’s been going on.”
What is the documentary Where is Wendy Williams?
Where is Wendy Williams? focuses on Wendy’s life after she left her successful talk show following the tragic health diagnosis.
The show – which aired last weekend – features her son, Kevin Jr as he also helped to produce the docu-series.
As per the official synopsis on Lifetime, the website reads: “The documentary provides a raw, honest and unfiltered reality of Wendy’s life after she was placed under financial guardianship, shedding light on the vulnerabilities that has turned Wendy into the Hot Topic herself.
“Suffering mental and physical issues, Wendy’s delicate state of mind, erratic behavior and declining health were all captured by the cameras.”
It aims to answer the questions a lot of her fans have had over the years including how she is doing now and who truly has her best interests at heart.
Episodes of the docu-series can be streamed on Lifetime.
When was Wendy Williams diagnosed with dementia and aphasia?
Wendy was diagnosed with the two tragic health issues last year, say her care team.
However they were kept hidden from the public until Thursday, 22, February, when her carers released a statement.
They said: “The conditions have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.
“Wendy is still able to do many things for herself. Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed.”
The team say they released the shock news “to correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health”.
Frontotemporal dementia is a tragic illness that is currently incurable.
The brain disorder affects language and communication skills and gets worse overtime as it can’t be treated with any traditional methods to slow down its progession.
Aphasia is a nervous system syndrome that also affects the body’s ability to communicate.
Often people suffering from the horrible issue struggle to speak about their emotions and in some cases lose the ability to speak and write.
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Hollywood icon Bruce Willis had to give up his career for the same medical issues.
Williams has dealt with a number of ongoing health issues in her life, including Graves’ disease, lymphedema and alcohol abuse.
