Kevin Hunter’s $7M Lawsuit Win Reversed in Wendy Williams Show Legal Battle

Kevin Hunter, the former husband of Wendy Williams, just hit a legal speed bump in his lawsuit saga.

A federal appeals court has officially overturned Hunter’s $7 million legal win against The Wendy Williams Show producers, ruling that his claim of marital status discrimination didn’t meet the legal threshold under New York law.

💼 What Was the Lawsuit About?

In 2021, Hunter sued Debmar-Mercury and executive producers Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, alleging that he was unfairly terminated as an executive producer on the popular daytime show shortly after his divorce from Wendy Williams in 2019.

Hunter claimed he was cut off solely because of his marriage ending — despite his alleged contributions to show segments like “Hot Topics”, “Shoe Cam”, and other production duties.

In 2023, a lower court sided with Hunter, allowing the lawsuit to proceed and resulting in a $7 million ruling in his favor. But that legal victory didn’t last long.

Buy Now

⚖️ Why the Appeals Court Reversed the Decision

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit disagreed with the original ruling.

Here’s why:

• New York’s “marital status” protections under anti-discrimination laws apply only to a person’s general status (i.e., single, married, divorced).

• Hunter argued he was discriminated against because he was no longer married to Wendy Williams — not just because he was divorced.

• The court concluded that this specific relationship status is not protected under state law.

“Being married to a particular person is not a protected class,” the judges clarified.

So, while Hunter may have felt targeted after the split, the law didn’t back his argument that producers violated employment protections.

⏳ What Happens Next?

The case has been remanded back to the lower court. This means it’s not completely over, but Hunter now faces a major hurdle. He’ll need to reframe or supplement his arguments to meet the legal requirements if he wants the case to move forward.

👀 Why This Matters

This reversal could impact future lawsuits involving employment and personal relationships, especially when executive roles are intertwined with high-profile marriages like that of Wendy Williams and Kevin Hunter.

Plus, with Williams’ personal life — including her ongoing health issues and the fallout from the show’s cancellation — already under the public microscope, this ruling adds another twist to the ongoing drama surrounding the former TV couple.

---

💬 Final Thoughts:

Kevin Hunter’s legal battle over his $7 million claim may not be over, but the recent appeals court ruling has significantly weakened his position. As the case heads back to the lower courts, all eyes will be on what legal route Hunter takes next — and whether justice, in his view, will ever truly be served.