Wendy Williams, renowned for her dynamic presence as a talk show host and media personality, has had a colorful and often turbulent personal life. While much of the public is familiar with her long marriage to Kevin Hunter, which ended in a high-profile divorce in 2020, fewer people know about her first husband, Bert Girigorie. Their short-lived marriage took place decades ago, long before Wendy Williams became the household name she is today. This article sheds light on the man who was her first husband, exploring their relationship and the challenges that led to their split.
Bert Girigorie Personal Information
- Full Name: Bert Girigorie
- Profession: Sales and Marketing Professional
- Company: G2 Marketing Inc.
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Marital Status: Divorced from Wendy Williams (married in 1994, divorced in 1995)
- Known For: First husband of Wendy Williams
- Education: Not publicly available
- Public Appearances: Rare, occasional interviews regarding marriage to Wendy Williams
Who Is Bert Girigorie?
Before Wendy Williams became a media giant, she crossed paths with Bert Girigorie, a sales and marketing professional. The two met while working at a radio station in New York City in the early 1990s. Bert, who is now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, runs his own digital marketing agency, G2 Marketing Inc., catering to professionals and businesses.
In many ways, Bert Girigorie’s life stood in stark contrast to Wendy’s meteoric rise in the entertainment world. He has maintained a relatively low profile, focusing on his career in sales and marketing while keeping much of his personal life private. Despite his lack of celebrity, Bert became an integral part of Wendy’s personal journey as her first husband.
Wendy Williams and Bert Girigorie’s Relationship
Wendy and Bert’s relationship blossomed in the early 1990s, a time when Wendy was still carving out her place in radio. After two years of dating, the couple married in 1994, seemingly marking the beginning of a new chapter in both their lives. However, it didn’t take long for cracks to appear in their relationship.
According to Girigorie, who later spoke in interviews about their marriage, things began to change almost immediately after they exchanged vows. He described Wendy’s behavior as bizarre and hard to comprehend, which led to confusion and tension early in their marriage. Bert claimed that he had no knowledge of Wendy’s alleged drug use at the time but, in hindsight, he speculated that this may have played a role in the difficulties they faced.
The End of the Marriage
The marriage between Wendy Williams and Bert Girigorie was brief, lasting only five months before they separated. They officially divorced in 1995, leaving behind what Bert described as a confusing and difficult time. In a 2019 interview with RadarOnline, Bert opened up about his experience, expressing that he was “at a loss” over the troubled behavior he witnessed during their marriage.
“It was very bizarre,” Girigorie said. “She just turned into a different person. I didn’t understand a lot of things that she did. I didn’t understand what her motivations were.” He explained that their relationship began to unravel quickly, culminating in a significant argument that created a deep rift between them.
Bert also mentioned that after the breakup, he came to realize that Wendy’s alleged substance abuse could have been a factor in the turmoil they experienced. “I know she said she was doing drugs, but she kept that away from me,” he said. Though he admitted to seeing strange behavior, he was unaware of its root cause at the time.
Their marriage ended amicably in the legal sense, but Bert’s account suggests that the emotional strain of their brief union had a lasting impact on both of them.
Wendy Williams’ Life After Bert Girigorie
Following her divorce from Bert Girigorie, Wendy Williams continued to build her career in radio, eventually becoming a powerhouse in the talk show industry. In 1999, she married Kevin Hunter, a relationship that would span two decades and dominate much of her personal narrative in the public eye. Together, they had a son, Kevin Hunter Jr., but the marriage ended in divorce in 2020 amid allegations of infidelity on Hunter’s part. Despite the ups and downs, Wendy’s career flourished during her time with Kevin, with The Wendy Williams Show cementing her status as a leading figure in daytime television.
While her second marriage garnered much more attention, the short-lived union with Bert Girigorie remains an important chapter in Wendy’s life—one that predates her fame and public battles.
Bert Girigorie: Life After Wendy Williams
In the years since his divorce from Wendy, Bert Girigorie has led a quieter life, far removed from the spotlight that often surrounds his ex-wife. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bert focuses on his career as a marketing professional. He runs G2 Marketing Inc., a digital marketing agency that provides services to various professionals and businesses. His ability to keep a low profile, even in the face of media interest in his brief marriage to Wendy, reflects his desire to lead a private and professional life outside the glare of celebrity culture.
While he has occasionally spoken about his marriage to Wendy in interviews, Bert has largely stayed away from any involvement in her subsequent media appearances or the public drama surrounding her more recent personal struggles.
Wendy Williams’ Ongoing Health Challenges
In recent years, Wendy Williams has faced a series of significant health challenges. Diagnosed with Graves’ disease and lymphedema, Wendy has been vocal about her struggles with autoimmune disorders. More recently, her care team announced that she had been diagnosed with both frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, two debilitating conditions that affect communication and cognitive function.
Wendy’s health issues have led her to step back from her television career, leaving many fans concerned about her well-being. Despite these challenges, she remains a figure of resilience, maintaining her sense of humor and continuing to receive the care she needs.
Conclusion
Though Bert Girigorie’s marriage to Wendy Williams lasted only a few months, his story offers a unique glimpse into Wendy’s life before her rise to fame. Their brief relationship, marked by confusion and turmoil, stands in stark contrast to the public persona that Wendy later cultivated as a larger-than-life talk show host. While Bert has moved on to build a successful career away from the spotlight, Wendy has continued to face the highs and lows of fame, health issues, and personal struggles.
Their story serves as a reminder that the complexities of relationships, even those that end swiftly, can leave lasting impressions. Today, Bert Girigorie remains a private figure focused on his professional endeavors, while Wendy Williams continues to navigate the challenges of life under public scrutiny.
