Today is Wendy’s birthday and on her 60th birthday we know she would have been doing it big!
According to PEOPLE a source with knowledge of the situation told them that Williams’ family is “rooting” for her as she celebrates her 60th birthday on Thursday, July 18.
Her birthday comes as Williams remains under a court-ordered guardianship amid her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
“Wendy Williams’s family is unable to speak on her current condition and location due to ongoing litigation and the fact that they have largely been denied contact,” the source says. “But they are all rooting and praying for Wendy and want to express their well wishes as she celebrates her 60th birthday.”
The source adds, “She was, is and always will be an icon.”
Tributes have been pouring in for Williams on her big day, with television network Fox Soul writing on social media,
“Happy birthday to talk show legend, Wendy Williams ???? We love you!”
Happy birthday to talk show legend, Wendy Williams ???? We love you! #FOXSoul pic.twitter.com/6XkAi9RxTz
— FOX SOUL (@foxsoultv) July 18, 2024
Cultural commentator Evan Ross Katz shared a heartfelt message to William on Instagram, along with two throwback photos of her on her namesake talk show.
“Happy 60th birthday to the unyielding queen of daytime, the icon, the legend, the moment: Wendy Williams. We love you. We miss you. Pop culture just isn’t the same without your commentary. Wishing you health and happiness always,” he wrote in the caption.
Williams’ family has been struggling to keep in touch with the former talk show host since April of 2022 when her court-ordered guardianship began.
In February, Williams’ sister Wanda Finnie told PEOPLE that she wasn’t made aware of her diagnosis after she was placed in a facility to be treated for cognitive issues.
At the time, Finnie stated that the family hadn’t received information on Williams’ diagnosis since the fall of 2021 when the star spent time in Florida with family.
“When she was in Florida, there were a number of people involved. Even beyond family, there were doctors involved, people in Wendy’s professional world that were involved,” Finnie said. “She had a health team in place, nurses in place and she had family in place. She was getting healthier.”
The family alleged that Morrissey is the only person who currently has unfettered access to her.
“How did she go from this aunt or sister that we love and is healthy one minute to this person who’s in and out of the hospital?” Finnie asked. “How is that system better than the system the family could put in place? I don’t know. I do know that this system is broken. I hope that at some point, Wendy becomes strong enough where she can speak on her own behalf.”
Amid the announcement of her diagnosis, Williams thanked fans in a statement exclusively obtained by PEOPLE for their “overwhelming” support.
“I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD),” she wrote in a statement shared by her care team. “Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion.”
Happy 60th Birthday to the iconic Wendy Williams!
Her 2011 interview with Aretha Franklin was truly one-of-a-kind.
Full interview: https://t.co/TMlUSyBT2L pic.twitter.com/0ZLTwbiszD
— 365 Days of Aretha Franklin (@365DaysOfAretha) July 18, 2024
and
Happy 60th birthday to the iconic Wendy Williams. pic.twitter.com/iEHji9yQ20
— VesneRivasTatoo (@VesnaRivule) July 18, 2024
and
happy birthday to the one and only “how you doin’” lady, killer aficionado, and queen of daytime TV — wendy williams ????
to celebrate, here is the media legend wearing versace s/s 2017 in “the wendy williams show: season 8”, where she turned 53! pic.twitter.com/wF9zH2KfI8
— Nathan (@muglerize) July 19, 2023
Happy birthday Wendy
