Wendy Williams apologises for mocking Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘cleft palate’

Singer Cher has called for the TV host to be fired

Wendy Williams has publicly apologised after she was criticised for mocking Joaquin Phoenix’s cleft palate.

During the “Hot Topic” segment of The Wendy Williams Show on 7 January, Williams said that she found the Joker star “oddly attractive”, noting that she even liked the actor’s scar.

“He knows how to transform, when he shaves [his beard] off, the way he looks at you,” Williams said.

“And he’s got the good nose that dips way down, like he’s happy with it and so am I.”

“When he shaves off his moustache he’s got a hairline fracture. He’s got one of those — what do you call it — cleft lip, cleft palate.”

Williams came under fire for mocking Joaquin Phoenix's 'cleft palate' (YouTube)

The 55-year-old presenter then crudely hooked her finger under her lip as if she was suffering from the condition, adding: “He’s got this. I find it to be very attractive.”

While Phoenix has never formally spoken about the cause of the scar on his lip, social media users were quick to condemn Williams’ actions.

British TV personality Carol Vorderman spoke out on Twitter, telling Williams: “As Ambassador for Cleft Lip and Palate Association, I really am disgusted by this @wendywilliams.

“Mimicking 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?.”

Meanwhile, Canadian football player Adam Bighill tweeted the talk show host several times since the clip aired, asking for an apology.

Bighill and his son were both born with bilateral cleft lip and palate, for which his his four-month-old underwent surgery on Wednesday.

“Today is Beau’s big day. He is getting his lip repaired today in Winnipeg by the fantastic Dr. Ross,” Bighill wrote on Twitter, sharing a photo holding his baby.

“Thanks to everyone who has reached out, and in advance, thanks for any of your well wishes for Beau. He is so loved!”

Later, he wrote in another tweet that he was still waiting for Williams to apologise

Williams finally responded to the sports star with an apology “to the cleft community,” sharing that The Wendy Williams Show has donated to two charities in Beau’s honour.

“.@Bighill44 We’re thinking about Beau today as he is in surgery,” Williams wrote.

“I want to apologise to the cleft community and in Beau’s honour, our show is donating to @operationsmile and @AmerCleftPalate and encourage our Wendy Watchers to learn more and help support the cleft community.”

However, not everyone accepted Williams’ apology, including singer Cher who called for the host to be fired.

“DOES AN APOLOGY MAKE UP FOR THIS?” she wrote alongside a screenshot of Williams using her hand to pull up her own lip.

“BEFORE THEIR TEENS MUCH OF THE TIME THEY ARE IN PAIN, AFRAID, BUT HAVE HOPE THEY WILL LOOK NORMAL. THE FEAR THEIR PARENTS GO THROUGH IS UNBEARABLE.

“IF YOUR MUM SAW WHAT YOU DID SHE’D BE ASHAMED. MY MUM TAUGHT ME TO LOVE & HELP PPL IN PAIN. WHO ARE U, U SHOULD B FIRED. [sic]"

In a second tweet, Cher reminded Williams of how much people with clef palates go through.

“THEY GO THROUGH HELL, THEIR PARENTS. GO THROUGH HELL. F**k Her Apology [sic]" the singer wrote.

According to the NHS, a cleft lip and palate is the most common facial birth defect in the UK, affecting around one in every 700 babies.

A cleft is defined as a gap or split in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate) and is the result of the baby's face not joining together properly during development in the womb.