Famous TV talk show host Wendy Williams has apologized to Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ linebacker Adam Bighill for cleft lip and palate remarks.
Williams made the comments and gesture when discussing Joaquin Phoenix on The Wendy Williams Show on January 7.
“He’s got one of those, what do you call it? A cleft lip, cleft palate. Now I find it to be very attractive,” Williams said while holding her lip up.
For a solid 10 seconds she used her finger to mimic a cleft lip while the audience laughed. Imagine how my 5 year old would take it if he saw it? @WendyWilliams
I only speak on it bc I’m personally informed and educated on the topic. #bebetter Do work Twitter pic.twitter.com/whfBbCVZE4
— Matt Groark (@groarkboysbbq) January 8, 2020
Bighill vowed to post publicly daily asking for an apology and charitable donation.
“It really is getting her to recognize what she did and speak on it,” Bighill told CTV News. “And the people who watch that show are going to be able to realize that we are all part of ending bullying, we are all part of it, and that will be a great message to go out to everybody as well.”
????????The comments made and actions made by @WendyWilliams regarding people with a cleft lip/ palate are just terrible!
I will be making a post daily about this issue until she publicly apologizes and makes a charitable donation meaning. @CLAPACOMMUNITY https://t.co/lT2AZ48XJX
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 10, 2020
This is @WendyWilliams making fun of the cleft community on her TV show. ????????????????
Are you kidding me??? We all have a responsibility to #EndBullying
With her platform, like myself, we have a much higher responsibility when it comes to our actions. This is just terrible. pic.twitter.com/JrlS0RJs5D
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 10, 2020
Sad to see what is in TV these days, There is no way @TheEllenShow would do something like this. She is the CLASS of her industry, and uses her platform for so many amazing things! Makes me appreciate her show even more then I already do! https://t.co/ZRT0U2Di3c
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 10, 2020
DAY 2
Thank you everyone for coming together, I can’t tell you what it means to me to see your love/support!! Well over 30k ppl have been a part of this! @WendyWilliams still owes a public apology to every1 of the cleft community. Please see my message/thoughts in the pics below pic.twitter.com/SXntjtaKBP— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 11, 2020
Day 3
We are still waiting for a @WendyWilliams apology to the cleft community.Outside of that, seeing everyone come together on social media to rally around her comments and actions has been truly amazing.
It’s clear we are making progress towards being able to #endbullying pic.twitter.com/lIXUa5i1vs
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 12, 2020
Day 4
Media is rolling in! See the interview I did today regarding @WendyWilliams comments and actions toward the cleft community!Thank you for helping amplify our collective voice, asking for an apology and a donation. Until it happens, I won’t stop! https://t.co/SK9HyK0Ci0
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 14, 2020
Day 5
Waiting for @FOXTV and @BET to let @WendyWilliams that her actions/comments towards the cleft community are not okay.@steeletalk had me on her show today, and we talk in depth about it. Watch and share!! ❤️????????????????https://t.co/oe91b0JI3B— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 15, 2020
“I was bullied growing up, so I’m used to it now as an adult … but the fact is bullying usually comes from kids who don’t necessarily know better, or know how to control their feelings or power. Wendy Williams is a grown woman … who should know how to act better,” Bighill told CBC.
“I’m sure she didn’t intend for it to be so damaging, but the fact is that she has no idea what people go through and how much this hurts people.”
The Grey Cup champion defender held to his word and used social media each day to politely raise awareness that Williams’ comments were off target. After a week, Williams delivered an apology and donation on the same day Bighill’s son Beau went in for surgery to have his lip procedure in Winnipeg.
. @Bighill44 We’re thinking about Beau today as he is in surgery. I want to apologize to the cleft community and in Beau’s honor, our show is donating to @operationsmile and @AmerCleftPalate and encourage our Wendy Watchers to learn more and help support the cleft community.
— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) January 16, 2020
Thank you @WendyWilliams for your apology, your donation, and for thinking of Beau today for his surgery. I forgive you, and I encourage others to as well. I wish you all the best. https://t.co/JmYnRb8C8t
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 16, 2020
Bighill used social media without name-calling to create a positive impact.
