Some interviews require a little poking and prodding for information from a celeb, but that’s not the case with Queen-of-All-Media Wendy Williams. She loves the art of talk and it shows. She’s currently on her Say It Like You Mean It Summer Tour, making a stop in Charleston today to promote The Wendy Williams Show at its new home on WCBD 2. She’ll be at the Northwoods Mall Dillards from on Mon. Aug. 8 from 2-3 p.m. Starting Sept. 12, her show will air on the network at 2 p.m.

City Paper: What’s the most common question you get asked?

Wendy Williams: (in her trademark voice) How you doin?

CP: That makes sense.

WW: I get asked that at least several times a day and I love it every single time, because it is the official greeting of The Wendy Williams Show. Aside from that, I guess I get asked about how do I balance family and my career. Who are my favorite guest stars, and I don’t have any favorites. I’m thankful for all the guests that are gracious enough to come on the show. We’re on our third season of the show, but I still consider us very new and that’s the purpose of the Say It Like You Mean It Tour, to thank all my Wendy watchers for supporting this show. … The purpose of this show is to thank the viewers but hopefully gain some new ones as well. I thought what better way to attract new fans than to rent out a tricked-out bus in Pepto-Bismol pink with me on the outside and a disco ball for our Say It Like You Mean It tour. And that’s the phrase that is part of the theme song.

CP: Oh, I know.

WW: Exactly. That phrase is never to be taken out of context, in a mean way. It’s basically ‘life is short, say it like you mean it.’ There is no time for dancing around in 2011. When we are at the Northwoods Mall next to the Dillards, we will be doing a mini-version of the show.

CP: Are you reading any particular magazines for gossip on the bus?

WW: I love Enquirer, The Globe, Star, and InStyle magazine as well as the New Yorker. I love InStyle magazine and I also write a column for them. I read Essence and, even though some would suggest you outgrow it once you hit 30, I read Glamour. … I’m a New York Times bestseller and I’ve written five books and I can tell you that the art of reading is gone. I know we can cut to the chase by going to all of our favorite websites, but by not buying them we’re putting people out of business. I’m a reader, I like to rip-and-tear. I’m very choosy about what I do with my magazine afterwards.

CP: You mentioned fashion. What are your least favorite fashions?

WW: Aside from that meat dress that Lady Gaga wore? There aren’t any bad fashions, but there are some that look cute on some and not work on others. … As a fashion watcher, I don’t see any bad style but good people wearing the wrong fashion. What may look great on me may not look great on Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

CP: Did you pick a personality when you were on radio?

WW: I never picked a radio personality just like I never picked a radio name. God bless my radio brothers and sisters, but I was never cool enough to call myself Wacky Whoa Wendy or something like that. Wendy Williams is my real name and we all have different sides to our personality.

CP: You were 16 in 1979. What music were you digging back then?

WW: I was a sophomore in high school. I grew up in Ocean Township, N.J. and was only one of four people to graduate. I’m setting up the picture so that you understand that I cared for the Grateful Dead, I listened to Earth, Wind, and Fire, and rap music was around the Bronx so I was definitely of the rap generation and disco was dying in 1979. I have a pretty eclectic taste in music.

CP: I’d imagine so.

WW: We’re pulling into the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and as a foodie, I need to pay close attention to the menu. 

Help keep the City Paper free.

No paywalls.
No newspaper subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations from downtown to North Charleston to Johns Island to Summerville to Mount Pleasant.

Help support independent journalism by donating today.