Wendy Williams has apologized for comments and gestures she made about Joaquin Phoenix's cleft lip.
On the post-Golden Globes episode of the Wendy Williams Show (which aired January 7), the host told her audience that she was strangely attracted to Phoenix.
"When he shaves off his mustache he's got a hairline fracture. He's got one of those — what do you call it — cleft lip, cleft palate," she said, then went on to simulate the birth defect by pushing her own lip up with her finger.
The action generated plenty of backlash online, including repeated requests for an apology from Winnipeg Bluebombers football player Adam Bighill.
On the post-Golden Globes episode of the Wendy Williams Show (which aired January 7), the host told her audience that she was strangely attracted to Phoenix.
"When he shaves off his mustache he's got a hairline fracture. He's got one of those — what do you call it — cleft lip, cleft palate," she said, then went on to simulate the birth defect by pushing her own lip up with her finger.
The action generated plenty of backlash online, including repeated requests for an apology from Winnipeg Bluebombers football player Adam Bighill.
Bighill's own son was recently born with a cleft lip and underwent surgery to repair it yesterday (January 15).
Williams has since reached out to Bighill, apologizing and wishing his son Beau well. She also pledged to donate to two organizations that support children born with cleft lips and palates on behalf of The Wendy Williams Show.