Wendy Williams has talked for the first time about how she was date raped.
While promoting her upcoming Lifetime biopic, Wendy Williams: The Movie, the 56-year-old talk show host told reporters she was sexually assaulted by R&B singer Sherrick, who was popular in the late Eighties and died in 1999.
The former DJ added that she was ‘mesmerized’ by him when they met and she agreed to go on a date with him before she was raped, according to People.
A horrible incident: Wendy Williams has talked for the first time about how she was date raped. Seen in 2019
She said she was sexually assaulted by R&B singer Sherrick who died in 1999
Wendy did not say when this happened, but Sherrick’s career was active in the late Eighties which means Wendy was likely in her early twenties at the time.
Speaking to reporters during a panel promoting the movie – which will air on January 30 – Wendy said: ‘He mesmerized me with his twinkling eyes.’
She added, ‘He flipped the interview around to where he was interviewing me.
‘I was just gaga over this man and he asked me to go to an opening party, an album release party, with him that night.’
She then said, ‘And before the party, I was date raped by him.’
Sherrick, who was born F Lamonte-Smith in 1957, had one hit song, Just Call. The artist died in 1999 at the age of 41 after over a decade of drug problems.
He left behind his wife Lynne Conner-Smith and three children, Kiriandra, Paris and Chance Smith.
Tough to live through: The former DJ added that she was ‘mesmerized’ by him and agreed to go on a date with him before she was raped
Scary: ‘I was just gaga over this man and he asked me to go to an opening party, an album release party, with him that night.’ She then said, ‘And before the party, I was date raped by him.’ Seen on her show last year
Wendy also revealed she was date raped in college. She attended Northeastern University in Boston from 1982 until 1986.
Williams added, ‘Those types of things happen to girls all the time. And they’ve been happening a lot, to a lot of our mothers, grandmothers, great-great-grandmothers and their great-great-grandmothers, too.’
The biopic will also feature Wendy’s relationship and eventual divorce from Kevin Hunter, whom she married in 1997 and divorced in 2019.
And although the romance ended poorly, Wendy insisted she has ‘no regrets’ about their time together.
Her ex: The biopic will also feature Wendy’s relationship and eventual divorce from Kevin Hunter, whom she married in 1997 and divorced in 2019. And although the romance ended poorly, Wendy insisted she has ‘no regrets’ about their time together. Seen in 2018
The way they were: Left to right, Kevin, Wendy and their son Kevin Hunter Jr in 2017
She added: ‘The life that I’m living right now is my best life, and I have no guilt about saying that. I don’t regret meeting Kevin, I don’t regret falling in love, I don’t regret staying with him for all 25 years, 21 of them married.
‘I like who I am, so I have no regrets.’
Wendy will be played in the movie by Ciera Payton, while Morocco Omari will star as Kevin Hunter.
The actress playing the media star: Wendy will be played in the movie by Ciera Payton
A look at the show: Here Ciera as Wendy is all made up for TV in the trailer for the Lifetime film
The talk show host executive-produced the film, and is pleased she was able to ‘clear up half-truths and untruths’.
She said: ‘I was able to clear up half-truths and untruths. Just when you think you know, you watch a biopic and you learn a whole lot more — and for mine, I wanted to be very truthful.’
Wendy Williams: The Movie premieres Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.
Coming this month: Wendy Williams: The Movie premieres Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime