Up close and personal with Wendy Williams

The Beat By Yanina Carter

Wendy Willams biopic was a brutally honest look into her story from a child to her success with 10 years on television.  I was so impressed with the biopic and documentary, “What A Mess”. It is obvious that she didn’t hold back any punches, even if it was directed to herself.

Patty Jackson, radio personality on WDAS said, ”I loved it. She was very brave in telling her truth.” And that is exactly what she did. If you have seen the feature length documentary, Wendy Williams, the self-anointed Queen of all Media, sheds her private persona and speaks directly to the camera, discussing every inch of joy and humiliation she has experienced since childhood. From her apartment in Manhattan, we’re with Wendy during the course of her divorce, as she deals with being a ‘Hot Topic’ and finds a way to right her ship again. It’s a raw look with never-before heard truths about Wendy’s notorious feuds with celebrities, her shocking divorce, her childhood and the private darkness she has endured (being raped by a rapper).

Lou Scandrick, who works in entertainment/events was anticipating the documentary. “I really enjoyed these presentations. Wendy was really forthright in telling her story…and I am so glad she did this.” She added, “Most people blasted Wendy for not dishing the dirt on herself, it took her so long to address her messy divorce, but eventually she did. Lou continued, “This documentary came out at the right time.

Sherry Riddick said “I am proud of her. It took a lot of courage to pour her soul out, but she did. I found out stuff I never knew about her, and it was shocking.“ She added, Overall, both shows were put together very well.”

This is the story of a self-made woman who finds herself at the start of a new life, uncertain of the future, but ready to reclaim her crown.

I was so impressed with the depth she went and humbling herself to share it. Though she didn’t want any pity from folks…I am surprised at how industry folks treated her and her struggle to be herself.  I must say the documentary  was great. “I remember her struggle and it was real, “said another deejay from Wendy’s era. The documentary was produced by eOne and Creature Films for Lifetime. Executive producers include Wendy Williams, Tara Long, Mark Foo share itrd, Kevin Lopez, Sarah Girgis and Joie Jacoby. Brie Miranda Bryant and Gena McCarthy serve as executive producers for Lifetime.

Speaking of Lifetime, next week I will be interviewing Meagan Good about the her new movie, “Death Saved My Life”, on Lifetime Saturday, February 13^th, based on a true story of domestic abuse.

Following that movie will be the “Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina: Didn’t We Almost Have It All”, documentary. Lifetime is kicking butt…keep on delivering us this greatness.

In other business, Zoe Saldana recently talked about playing Nina Simone in the 2016 biopic, “Nina”. In an Instagram Live conversation with Pose co-creator Steven Canals, Saldana said she regrets playing Simone. The movie was met with much controversy due to the fact that Saldana had to darken her skin tone and wear prosthetics to play the iconic singer.

Saldana told Canals, “I should have never played Nina. I should have done everything in my power with the leverage that I had 10 years ago—which was a different leverage but it was leverage nonetheless—I should have tried everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play an exceptionally perfect Black woman.” Well That’s The Philly Beat.