Wendy Williams Faces Major Backlash for Mocking Joaquin Phoenix's 'Cleft Palate'

Wendy Williams is under fire for her commentary again.

While discussing her attraction to the star, the Wendy Williams Show host mocked Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix‘s apparent cleft palate during her show on January 7, and the segment is now getting traction on social media as of Wednesday (January 15).

“When he shaves off his mustache he’s got a hairline fracture. He’s got one of those — what do you call it? Cleft lip, cleft palate,” she said before hooking her finger to her lip to mock the condition.

Joaquin does have a scar on his lip, but has never directly addressed the cause.

“For a solid 10 seconds she used her finger to mimic a cleft lip while the audience laughed. Imagine how my 5 year old would take it if he saw it? @WendyWilliams. I only speak on it bc I’m personally informed and educated on the topic. #bebetter Do work Twitter,” wrote one person who saw the segment, which quickly went viral.

“Waiting for @FOXTV and @BET to let @WendyWilliams [know] that her actions/comments towards the cleft community are not okay,” wrote Canadian football player Adam Bighill on Twitter.

“Mimicing [sic] 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?” added British TV personality Carol Vonderman.

Wendy has not yet responded to the social media backlash.