Sherri Shepherd will not be taking over hosting duties at The Wendy Williams Show this week.
The actress, 54, was scheduled to take the reins at the chat show, starting Monday, December 13, to Friday, December 17. However, there was a change of plans after Shepherd was rushed to the hospital on Sunday, December 12, to undergo emergency surgery for appendicitis, it was reported.
“Due to appendicitis, Sherri Shepherd underwent an emergency surgery yesterday," the 30 Rock star's publicist said in a statement to Deadline on Monday, December 13. Shepherd was set to guest host the syndicated talk show while Wendy Williams recovers from complications of Graves disease.
"The procedure was successful and Ms. Shepherd is doing fine and resting,” her representative reportedly continued. “She is absolutely devastated that she will not be able to guest host The Wendy Williams Show today, but she is following doctors orders and expected to make a full recovery. Thank you all for understanding and respecting her privacy.”
As the comedian recovers, producers have brought in funny man Michael Rapaport to temporarily take her place, per a spokesperson, with the hopes that Shepherd — who scored the highest ratings of the season during her first stint as guest host — will return later in the week.
Rapaport offered viewers an update on Shepherd's health on the Monday episode, saying: "She's feeling fine today, and she is resting. Get well soon Sherri."
As OK! previously reported, Willams has been absent from her famed purple chair since the start of Season 13, due to ongoing health issues, and has no plans to return until at least February 2022, if at all.
“Even if she did come back, she’d be a lame duck because her show isn’t renewed beyond this season,” a source close to production candidly told Page Six, as her health woes continue to take a toll on her well being.
In the 57-year-old's absence, the show has continued to bring on a bevy of guest hosts, such as Shepherd, Rapaport, Leah Remini, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Whitney Cummings and Jerry Springer, amongst others.
Season 13 of the beloved talk show was originally set to launch on September 20 but was delayed after the New Jersey native tested positive for a breakthrough case of COVID-19. Prior to her diagnosis, the show announced Williams was stepping back due to "ongoing health issues."
