TV host Wendy Williams came under fire this week for making fun of the scar on actor Joaquin Phoenix' lip.
Speaking on 'The Wendy Williams Show' earlier this week, she said she found the 'Joker' star "oddly attractive."
She said: "He’s got one of those, what do you call it? Cleft lip, cleft palate."
She then used her fingers to pull her upper lip into a position which mimicks the appearance of cleft palate birth defects.
The clip went viral and many called out the talk show host for mocking the condition.
@WendyWilliams - as the mom of an 11 yr old girl who was born with cleft lip & palate, I was horrified to see you make this gesture regarding Joaquin Phoenix’s cleft! These are the kinds of bullying gestures my daughter has dealt with since preschool. SHAME ON YOU. pic.twitter.com/uA46bRfa6i
— Julie 🧢 (@JulieS8921) January 8, 2020
As Ambassador for Cleft Lip and Palate Association @CLAPACOMMUNITY I really am disgusted by this @wendywilliams.. Mimicing a cleft lip, and making a joke about it, is disgraceful. Have you any idea the pain and operations a child with cleft must go through as they grow? Please RT https://t.co/bINZItpWgI
— Carol Vorderman (@carolvorders) January 9, 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
Canadian American football player Adam Bighill, whose son Beau was born with the defect, slammed Wendy on Twitter.
Today is Beau’s big day. He is getting his lip repaired today in Winnipeg by the fantastic Dr. Ross. Thanks to everyone who has reached out, and in advance, thanks for any of your well wishes for Beau. He is so loved! #cleftstrong #1in700 #cleftcutie pic.twitter.com/n3MxaLvl5f
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 15, 2020
Thank you @FarhanLaljiTSN at the end of the day this is something we can all rally behind, and that’s a mission to #endbullying . @WendyWilliams comments/actions towards the cleft community clearly promotes bullying. @saints @nfl @cfl https://t.co/SPNmBkdxIn
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 15, 2020
Williams has since apologised and sent well wishes to Beau for his surgery.
She said that her show will be donating to the cleft lip and cleft palate nonprofits Operation Smile and American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.
. @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
Phoenix has never openly discussed the mark on his lip so it may not be a surgically fixed cleft but a scar he was born with.
