Wendy Williams To Take Break From Show After Announcing Graves Disease Diagnosis

The big announcement came live on camera during a show on February 21. Wendy Williams sat in front of a camera and spoke directly to her audience, both those watching in the studio and those watching from home. She explained that she had been diagnosed with Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Williams was reportedly seeing symptoms for a while, but the symptoms of Graves' disease aren't always distinct enough to result in an early diagnosis. That said, according to Williams in her live announcement, viewers noticed an issue with her eyes before she did herself. Her doctor prescribed a three-week vacation, after which she intends to return to The Wendy Williams Show. Repeats of past episodes will air until she's back on the air.