Radio Talk Show host in flap over inappropriate advice

By Antoine Craigwell

Members of the Black gay community are up in arms and clamoring for the management of WBLS 107.5FM and its main company ICBC Holdings, Inc., to censure and educate popular radio talk show host, Wendy Williams, on HIV issues. In an insensitive Don Imus-like manner, Williams provoked the ire of the Black gay community when she casually dismissed one of her callers who, on her Advice Hour show, asked her for advice on dealing with a HIV positive situation.


 

According to Sheldon DeSouza, communications co-chair for the Black Gay Men Network, an online network of professional Black gay men under the umbrella of the National AIDS Institute, he was listening to the Wendy Williams show on Wednesday, May 13, when a caller from New York, a 23-year-old African-American man, spoke of being involved with and dating for about a month, a man he met.
He said the man told him that he was HIV-positive. The caller asked Williams what he should do. Despite the fact that the young man declared that he had not had sex with the man, Williams launched into a tirade about him being kept in the dark and tricked into having sex without being fully informed of the other man's HIV status and the caller should "dump" the HIV-positive suitor.

The caller said that the HIV-positive man, who is serious about pursuing a relationship with him, felt it important to inform him in advance before taking their relationship to the next level, having sex.

Instead of congratulating the caller on his decision, to at least find out how to handle the situation, the gist of the conversation between Williams and the young man went like this:

Caller: So what should I do Wendy?
Williams: I can't tell you what to do, but if that were me he would turn around and find skid marks.

Caller: But Wendy he is very generous with me and treats me great.
Williams: How many people in the room agree with me?

Williams: Everyone in the room has their hand in the air; some people have both hands in the air. (Laughter)

Williams: At 23 you don't need to deal with someone who is HIV positive. Hmmmm .... somebody is saying you should definitely dump him with a quickness. (Laughter)

 

On his arrival home, DeSouza said he immediately called the radio show and 45 minutes later spoke with Williams to express his disappointment with her advice. He said he outlined eight different points in his on-air conversation with Williams, including telling her that he is gay, masculine, highly educated, secure, and not on the "down low," at the end of which Williams supposedly said that she and DeSouza would have to agree to disagree. When he had ended his call, several subsequent callers expressed their ignorance of the difference between HIV and AIDS, one caller referring to DeSouza as a "donkey."

DeSouza suggested that the Black gay community register its outrage at this misinformation and discrimination by calling 866-GET-WENDY or even faxing their disagreement to 866-936-3932.

On the Network's Website, Phill Wilson, CEO, National AIDS Institute, along with congratulating DeSouza for standing up to Williams' ignorance and bad advice, suggested four steps which include contacting Rashad Robinson of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and promised to personally reach out to Skip Finley, vice chairman of ICBC Holdings; that members of the Network should flood the radio station with calls; should send a letter to Williams; and he would reach out to assist Williams with her HIV education.
Other Network members as well as voicing their disapproval of Williams' advice, commented on the passivity and complicity of the Black gay community with this ignorance. One member mentioned that Williams' as a gossip monger was rejected for her ignorance and divisiveness by radio listeners in the Philadelphia market. Another member commented that while he found her quick witted candor entertaining, especially with her use of "How You Doin'?" which at first appeared harmless as a subtle recognition of and made her an ally of the gay community, he realized over time, after listening to the show, that Williams tended to use the phrase as a derogatory tool in her bag of put-downs masked as comedic wit

"Wendy manufactures gossip which by its very nature is toxic. She is in a position of great influence and has the ability to uplift and raise our consciousness despite being a purveyor of gossip. The sad reality is that judging by the gay listeners that have gone on air, it appears that the majority of her gay audience have low self esteem and they do not realize how toxic her demeanor and jokes are to the black gay community," said the commentator.

He said that Williams has a great opportunity to illumine the darkness of ignorance and on the value of honesty, and to continue to change the perception that someone who is HIV-positive is not facing a death sentence. Williams, through her radio show, he added, is in a position of power and influence, which she could use to encourage acceptance and understanding of homosexuality in the Black community, and which could make it easier for some Black men to open their closet doors.

Another Network member posted contact information of decision makers at WBLS and at ICBC Holdings, where he suggested people should send their protests and bring this matter to the attention of advertisers
 
ICBC and WBLS mailing address:
3 Park Avenue, Floor 41
New York, NY 10016
Main number 212-447-1000

Deon Levingston
VP & General Manager
WBLS 107.5 FM
212-592-0427
Deon@wbls.com

Skip Dillard
Operations Manager / Program Director
WBLS 107.5 FM
212-592-0534
skipdillard@wbls.com

Or, to WBLS parent company ICBC Holdings, Inc.:

Charles Warfield
President and Chief Operating Officer
ICBC Holdings, Inc.

Pierre M. Sutton
Chairman and CEO
ICBC Holdings, Inc.