Throwback: Remember the Infamous Wendy Williams and Whitney Houston Interview?
Wendy Williams’ knack for giving her opinion and dishing celebrity gossip has landed her on the naughty list of many. Throughout the years, many celebrities have feuded with Williams, calling her out on her approach to journalism. One of which is Whitney Houston. The two famously butt heads during an interview on Williams’ radio show.
Whitney Houston and Wendy Williams had a long and tense history that exploded during an interview
Before she was dishing out hot topics as a daytime talk show host, Williams was one of the most notorious radio personalities. She spent over 20 years hosting shows during the afternoon drive in tops markets, including in Philadelphia and New York. Williams became known and oftentimes hated for revealing the scandalous secrets of the top celebrities.
One person who remained on Williams’ lips during her radio career was Houston. Williams often reported stories on Houston’s drug use, her seemingly erratic behavior, and the tumultuous moments of Houston’s marriage to Bobby Brown. Despite such, she begged Houston to come on her radio show.
Houston finally agreed to a phone interview with Williams in 2003 and from the start, the interview was tense. The legendary singer confronted Williams about constantly speaking about her personal life and scolded Williams for doing so to her and others.
Williams did not back down, she asked Houston about Brown’s trouble with the law and how it impacts their only child together. Houston snapped back, threatening Williams and cursing throughout their conversation.
By the end of the interview, however, both women shared their love and admiration for each other and agreed to finally meet in person. Houston also thanked Williams for supporting her music and constantly playing her records on her shows.
Wendy Williams maintains that she’s a lifelong fan of Whitney Houston
The 2003 interview with Houston was Williams’ first and last time interviewing the star. Still, Williams has always said she’s a fan of Houston’s and when she landed her daytime talk show, she often spoke of Houston during her Hot Topics segment. She also brandished a fan with Houston’s face on it during the early days of her show.
Williams took Houston’s 2012 passing hard. She poured her heart out about Houston during her show in the aftermath of Houston’s death.
Through tears, Williams explained that she always felt a connection with Houston as they both are from New Jersey and had experiences with drug addiction. Williams’ heartbreak was evident.
“There’s one thing through my connection with Whitney is that I wished for us to both be really sober and really aware and I knew I’d meet her one day, but I always pictured that time to be in our late 50’s, 60’s, with her being the number one spokesperson for say no [to drugs],” Williams says. “I just for some reason thought that that’s what she would do…I just thought we would meet and we would hug and we’d be sober and older.”
As for why Williams donned a fan with Houston’s face on it, Williams’ explanation is admirable. “It was never because I thought that she would ever come to our show because it’s just not why I was doing it,” Williams says. “I was doing it because I was still hearing things regarding Whitney and in my own cooky, crazy way, this was my way of showing love.”
Williams remains a Houston fan today.
