Wendy Williamsis splitting from longtime love and managerKevin Hunter.
The daytime talk show host filed for divorce Thursday after two decades of marriage, a source confirms to PEOPLE.
“Thank you to everyone for respecting the family’s privacy during this time. Kevin is supportive of Wendy and they are working through this process together,” the personal representative forWendy Williamstold PEOPLE in a statement. “No additional comment will be provided at this time.”
A representative for her show released the following statement: “Wendy and her family have been a part of Debmar-Mercury for over 10 years,. We respect their privacy regarding personal matters. As always, we remain committed to bringing an entertaining and topical show to our viewers.”
Williams, 54, and Hunter, 46, wed on Nov. 30, 1997, and share son Kevin Jr., 18.
Earlier Thursday, Williams hosted her showwithout wearing her wedding ring— or mentioning any marital issues.
And shetook an extended hiatusfromTheWendy WilliamsShowfrom January until March, saying she needed to recover froma fractured shoulder and take care of herself due to her battle withGrave’s disease, anautoimmune disease that affects the thyroid.
In 2017, Williams told PEOPLE that Hunter had been apillar of strengthas she grappled with her diagnosis.
“My husband was extremely concerned,” she said. “He’s not just my husband, he’s my business partner, one of the executive producers on the show and he’s also my manager. He and I are glued at the hip.”
“He was with me every step,” she added. “For him, seeing me go through all of this, it’s really been trying on him. I’ve been concerned about him. I’m like, ‘Don’t worry about me!’”
Kevin Hunter and Wendy Williams.John Lamparski/WireImage
But they had their struggles: Hunter cheated on Williams after she gave birth to their son, a painful period she described in her memoirWendy’s Got the Heat.
When shecame back from hiatuslast month, she once again refuted reports of a split.
“I’m still very much in love with my husband and anyone who’s been married … you know.”
“Marriages have ebbs and flows, marriage isn’t easy. And don’t ask me about mine until you see this gone,” she added, gesturing to her wedding ring. “And it ain’t going anywhere, not in this lifetime.”
This was Williams’ second marriage.
source: people.com
