Wendy Williams Makes Rare Public Appearance at Son Kevin Hunter Jr.’s Graduation Amid Dementia Battle

Wendy Williams returned to the spotlight for her son, Kevin Hunter Jr.

The former talk show host, 60, attended Kevin’s college graduation from Florida International University in Miami on Thursday, December 19, per pictures obtained by People and TMZ.

Williams was seen clad in a sparkly dress and adorned with jewelry, including a “W” necklace and an oversized ring, for the special occasion. The star sat alongside family and friends in a mobility scooter customized with a Louis Vuitton monogrammed cup holder.

Williams shares Kevin, 24, with her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter. The couple were married for 20 years before Williams filed for divorce in April 2019. Their divorce was finalized in January 2020.

The former Wendy Williams Show host’s appearance at her son’s graduation marks a rare public sighting after she largely stepped back from the spotlight in 2022 amid various health issues.

In February, Williams revealed that she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

“As Wendy’s fans are aware, in the past, she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves’ Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health,” her representatives said in a press release at the time.

According to the press release, Williams underwent multiple tests in 2023 after her memory began to fail after she started to “lose words” and “act erratically.”

“Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she requires,” the statement added. “The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.”

In November, Williams’ court-appointed guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, said in a court filing that the beloved star had become “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled and legally incapacitated” amid her battle with early-onset dementia

The health update was part of Morrissey’s legal battle with A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment and other affiliates involved with releasing the Where Is Wendy Williams? docuseries, which aired in February.

“This case arises from the brutally calculated, deliberate actions of powerful and cravenly opportunistic media companies working together with a producer to knowingly exploit [Williams],” Morrissey claimed in court docs obtained by Us Weekly, referring to the former talk show host’s dementia diagnosis. “FTD is a progressive disease, meaning that there is no cure and the symptoms only get worse over time.”

Morrissey alleged that the media companies “filmed without a valid contract” and released the docuseries without her consent. She also said that Williams was in a “highly vulnerable” state and she was “clearly incapable of consenting to being filmed, much less humiliated and exploited.”

Williams’ struggles first made headlines in February 2022 after news broke that she was taking a hiatus during season 13 of The Wendy Williams Show. The show officially ended in June 2022.