New York, September 7, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
An old interview featuring Nicole Murphy and Wendy Williams has recently resurfaced online, drawing attention to Murphy’s infamous scandal with director Antoine Fuqua and showcasing Wendy Williams’ sharp interview skills.
In the vintage clip, Williams doesn’t shy away from addressing the hot topic. She dives straight into the controversy surrounding Murphy, who was famously caught kissing Antoine Fuqua—a renowned director who happens to be married. True to her bold style, Williams opens the segment with, “Okay, Nicole…here we go. Nicole was a hot topic for kissing a married man!”
Armed with photos and detailed information, Williams presses Murphy for answers. Murphy, visibly uncomfortable, attempts to explain herself, eventually admitting, “It was a moment, girl. You learn from your mistakes.” She goes on to express regret for the kiss, acknowledging, “I regret it. Yeah. It was a mistake. I’m human.”
However, Williams isn’t convinced. She retorts, “I mean… people don’t kiss their family friends like that,” referencing social media rumors suggesting that Murphy and Fuqua were close family friends. Murphy quickly denies these rumors, insisting, “That’s not the case. I did not release that statement, Wendy.” She further clarifies that the speculations about their relationship were false.
Despite Murphy’s denials, Williams remains persistent, presenting another photo of the kiss as “exhibit B.” Murphy, in an attempt to lighten the mood, playfully pretends to grab Williams’ neck and reiterates, “It was a moment. You learn from your mistakes, I regret it.”
Williams, not letting up, questions whether Fuqua had indicated he was planning to divorce his wife, actress Lela Rochon. Murphy hesitantly responds, “Listen, at the moment maybe I had a different impression of the situation,” but avoids giving a direct answer when Williams repeatedly asks, “what was your impression?” Murphy maintains that she “did not” break up a marriage.
At the time of the incident, as reported by Atlanta Black Star, Murphy issued an apology to both her family and Fuqua’s for her actions. Despite the scandal, Fuqua and Rochon remain married. Rochon is currently enjoying a resurgence in her career, starring in the BET+ series spinoff, “The Family Business: New Orleans.”
The clip’s resurfacing serves as a reminder of the unique and engaging presence Wendy Williams brought to television. Her ability to conduct prepared, probing, and sometimes messy interviews set her apart in a way that is rare in today’s TV landscape.
While other daytime shows like “The Jennifer Hudson Show” and Sherri Shepherd’s solo series have found success, the kind of incisive and entertaining interviews Williams was known for are a rarity now.