Wendy Williams’ love life has always grabbed headlines. But most people forget about her first husband, Bert Girigorie. He married Wendy back in 1994, long before she became a talk show queen. Their whirlwind romance ended in divorce just five years later.
Bert chose a different path than most celebrity exes. He stepped away from the spotlight completely after their split. While Wendy built an empire and faced public scandals, Bert quietly succeeded in sales and marketing. Today, he lives peacefully in Charlotte, North Carolina proving you don’t need fame to build a meaningful life.
Bio
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Bert Girigorie |
| Known For | Wendy Williams’ first husband and sales & marketing professional |
| Date of Birth | March 13, 1964 |
| Age (2025) | 62 years |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Birthplace | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Current Residence | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Gender | Male |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Height | 6′2″ (189 cm) |
| Weight | 198 lbs (90 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Siblings | Two (Gabrielle and Bruce Girigorie) |
| Birth Order | Middle child |
| Education | Williston Northampton School; Morehouse College |
| Profession | Sales and marketing expert |
| Career Highlights | Rapid advancement, strong client retention, leadership roles |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Ex-Spouse | Wendy Williams (married 1994, divorced late 1990s) |
| How He Met Wendy Williams | Met while both worked in the New York City radio industry |
| Marriage Overview | Short-lived marriage during Wendy’s rising media career |
| Reason for Divorce | Career pressures, lifestyle differences, personal conflicts |
| Life After Divorce | Stepped away from public attention, focused on career growth |
| Public Image | Private, disciplined, business-oriented |
| Legacy | Known for maintaining integrity and success outside the spotlight |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $700,000 |
Who is Bert Girigorie?
Most people recognize him as Wendy Williams’ first husband. That label barely scratches the surface. This African-American business professional carved out success in corporate America’s competitive landscape. His Pisces personality traits empathy, intuition, adaptability served him well in client relationship management.
Bert Girigorie Charlotte North Carolina roots shaped his worldview. Growing up in the South during the 1960s and 70s meant navigating complex social dynamics. His Christian upbringing provided moral anchors that guided major life decisions. Unlike many celebrity spouses who chase fame after divorce, Girigorie deliberately stepped away from public attention.
His professional identity stands independently. Colleagues know him as a strategic marketing professional who consistently delivers results. The media personality he married eventually became a tabloid fixture. He became proof that life beyond tabloid headlines not only exists it thrives.
Early Life of Bert Girigorie
Bert Girigorie early life unfolded in Charlotte’s tight-knit communities. Born March 13, 1964, he entered the world as a Pisces with natural empathy. These traits would later prove invaluable in understanding consumer behavior and building client relationships.Middle child family dynamics taught him valuable lessons early.
Sister Gabrielle and brother Bruce were constant companions. Being sandwiched between siblings develops unique skills: negotiation, compromise, and finding your voice without drowning out others. The Girigorie family background emphasized education and hard work.
Parents discussed goals, dreams, and integrity. While specific names remain private, their influence permeates Bert’s character.Faith-based values and integrity weren’t abstract concepts in his household. Christianity provided structure and purpose. Church attendance, community service, and treating others with respect formed his foundation.
Key aspects of his formative years included:
- Strong family bonds that provided emotional security
- Religious education that shaped moral compass
- Early exposure to business concepts and entrepreneurship
- Emphasis on achievement balanced with humility
- Cultural pride as an African-American business professional
Bert Girigorie Education
Bert Girigorie education history began at Williston Northampton School, a prestigious preparatory institution. This foundation prepared him for higher education at one of America’s most respected historically Black colleges.
Bert Girigorie Morehouse College years proved transformative. As a Morehouse College alumni, he joined the ranks of Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. The institution’s emphasis on leadership, scholarship, and service resonated deeply.
At Morehouse, the business development strategist within him emerged. Classes provided theoretical knowledge. Campus activities offered practical application. The network he built lasted decades, connecting him with other ambitious African-American professionals navigating corporate America.
His education equipped him with:
- Analytical frameworks for understanding market dynamics
- Communication skills essential for client interactions
- Leadership philosophy emphasizing servant leadership
- Professional network spanning multiple industries
- Critical thinking abilities for complex problem-solving
The Morehouse College experience wasn’t just academic preparation. It was cultural immersion that reinforced his identity and aspirations. This education would prove crucial when entering the corporate sales leadership experience arena.
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Entering the Professional World
Fresh from Morehouse, Bert launched his sales and marketing career path. Entry-level positions might humble some graduates. Not him. He viewed them as learning opportunities, chances to master fundamentals before advancing.
His natural talent for understanding consumer behavior caught supervisors’ attention immediately. Within months, clients requested him specifically. His ability to explain complex products in simple terms became his signature. Genuine care for client success not just closing deals set him apart.
The revenue growth marketing specialist achieved remarkable results:
- 40% revenue increase during his first year
- Client retention rates consistently exceeding industry benchmarks
- Team leadership roles by age 28
- Strategic planning responsibilities for major accounts
- Adaptability that became his professional trademark
As a client relationship management expert, Bert combined analytical thinking with interpersonal warmth. When market conditions shifted, he adjusted strategies seamlessly. Competitors struggled; he thrived. Companies valued his strategic marketing professional approach that balanced data-driven decisions with human intuition.
His career trajectory before meeting Wendy Williams demonstrated something crucial: his success was entirely self-made. No celebrity connections. No shortcuts. Just competence, consistency, and character.
How Did Bert Girigorie Meet Wendy Williams?
The Wendy Williams and Bert Girigorie marriage story began in New York’s vibrant entertainment scene. Both were living in NYC during the late 1980s. Wendy was building her controversial radio career. Bert was ascending corporate ladders. Their worlds collided at an industry event in 1989.Celebrity marriage before fame looks different than post-stardom unions.
Wendy wasn’t the household name she’d become. She was a talented, ambitious radio personality with big dreams and bigger personality. Her outspoken style contrasted sharply with Bert’s reserved nature.Friends saw them as an unlikely pair. Wendy commanded attention wherever she went.
The courtship lasted two years before their Bert Girigorie wedding 1994. During this period, Wendy’s fame accelerated. Radio ratings climbed. Controversy followed. The pressures of her rising celebrity status began affecting their public relationship even before vows were exchanged.
Red flags existed. Different lifestyle preferences. Conflicting priorities. Communication styles that clashed. But love convinced them these obstacles could be overcome. Time would prove otherwise.
Marriage to Wendy Williams
Their private wedding ceremony in 1994 seemed promising initially. The Wendy Williams first marriage history began with optimism and genuine affection. Both believed they could balance demanding careers with marital commitment.
Wendy Williams marriage timeline reveals the challenges:
| Year | Event | Significance |
| 1989 | First Meeting | Industry event in New York |
| 1992-1994 | Courtship | Two years of dating |
| 1994 | Wedding | Private ceremony |
| 1995-1997 | Married Life | Career pressures mount |
| 1998 | Separation | Growing incompatibilities |
| 1999 | Divorce | Amicable settlement reached |
The short-lived celebrity marriage faced immediate obstacles. Wendy’s escalating fame brought constant media attention. Bert valued privacy and discretion. Her career demanded public persona maintenance. His professional success came through behind-the-scenes excellence.
Relationship challenges multiplied as years passed. Different priorities emerged clearly. Wendy pursued entertainment industry stardom aggressively. Bert focused on building lasting business relationships. Little time remained for relationship maintenance when both chased ambitious professional goals.
Life away from celebrity culture appealed to Bert. Wendy thrived in spotlights. This fundamental incompatibility couldn’t be ignored forever. The marital issues they experienced weren’t unique career-focused couples face similar struggles. But adding celebrity complications intensified everything.
The Reasons for Divorce
Bert Girigorie divorce reasons became clearer after their split. In rare public statements, Bert revealed insights into the Wendy Williams marriage breakdown. His quote speaks volumes: “I didn’t understand a lot of things that she did. I didn’t understand what her motivations were.”
The Bert Girigorie divorce Wendy Williams accelerated after what he described as “a big blowout.” The relationship became “very strained” following this incident. Bert suggested Wendy’s behavior changes might be linked to substance use a claim that aligned with Wendy’s later public admissions about addiction struggles.
Several factors contributed to their split:
- Career pressures pulling them in different directions
- Lifestyle incompatibility between private and public preferences
- Communication breakdowns as tensions mounted
- Value system differences becoming irreconcilable
- Personal challenges including possible substance issues
- Different long-term goals for family and future
The public figure personal boundaries Bert needed clashed with Wendy’s increasingly public life. She shared intimate details on-air. He valued discretion. These opposing approaches to privacy created constant friction.
Their 1999 divorce was handled with relative grace compared to typical celebrity splits. No bitter custody battles existed they had no children together. Financial settlements proceeded amicably. Both moved forward without public mudslinging, though Bert’s comments years later provided rare glimpses into their struggles.
Life After the Divorce
Life after divorce privacy became Bert’s priority immediately. While Wendy Williams ex-husband Bert Girigorie could’ve capitalized on his connection to growing celebrity, he chose differently. Avoiding media spotlight was intentional, calculated, and remarkably successful.
His career-focused post-divorce life flourished. The divorce personal growth journey transformed him. Professional achievements continued accumulating. Clients valued his expertise. Colleagues respected his integrity. The personal resilience narrative he embodied inspired others facing relationship challenges.
Business success without fame proved not only possible but preferable. His independent financial success came through competence, not celebrity association. The sales executive earnings reflected decades of consistent performance and strategic career moves.
Living in Charlotte, North Carolina today, Bert maintains the low-profile public figure status he cultivated post-divorce. At Bert Girigorie age 62, he’s achieved what many pursue unsuccessfully: peace, privacy, and professional respect.
His approach offers lessons:
- Dignity during difficult times preserves long-term reputation
- Character over celebrity lifestyle creates lasting fulfillment
- Authentic success story doesn’t require social media validation
- Integrity-driven career story outlasts fleeting fame
- Professional boundaries protect personal wellbeing
The contrast between his path and typical celebrity spouse turned private citizen trajectories is striking. Most write tell-all books. He stayed silent. Most chase reality TV opportunities. He focused on career advancement. Most leverage their famous connection. He built independent identity.
Wendy Williams Married Once Again
Wendy Williams relationship history didn’t end with Bert. Shortly after their 1999 divorce, she met Kevin Hunter. By 1997, they’d married in what she described as “fairytale love.” The Kevin Hunter Wendy Williams marriage lasted 21 years far longer than her first.
In 2000, they welcomed Kevin Hunter Jr., their only child together. Publicly, the marriage appeared strong. Behind closed doors, cracks formed early. Kevin’s infidelity became an open secret in entertainment circles before exploding publicly.
The scandal erupted dramatically:
- Kevin’s affair with multiple women exposed
- Child born with another woman during marriage
- Frequent contact with mistress confirmed
- Financial entanglement complicated divorce proceedings
- 2019 divorce finalized after 21 years together
Wendy allegedly served him papers on her show’s set characteristically public even in personal crisis. The contrast between fame and privacy in her two marriages is stark. Bert protected their relationship’s details. Kevin’s infidelities became entertainment news fodder.
Wendy Williams marriage timeline comparison reveals patterns. Both marriages struggled with trust, communication, and conflicting priorities. The difference? Kevin stayed in spotlight alongside her while Bert retreated from it.
Currently, Wendy hasn’t remarried. Legal battles over guardianship and finances dominate her 2025 reality. She’s expressed desire for future marriage but faces significant personal and legal challenges. Kevin remains connected through their son, occasionally commenting on their past relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Wendy Williams’ first husband Bert?
Bert Girigorie is Wendy Williams’ first husband, a marketing professional. Their marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce in the mid-1990s.
Did Wendy Williams’ son spend $100,000 on Uber Eats?
There is no verified evidence that Wendy Williams’ son spent $100,000 on Uber Eats. The claim remains an unconfirmed media rumor.
Why is Christina’s husband divorcing her?
Christina Haack’s divorces have been attributed to irreconcilable differences. Public statements cite personal and lifestyle incompatibilities.
What illness does Christina Haack have?
Christina Haack has shared that she has autoimmune and thyroid-related health issues, which she manages through lifestyle and medical care.
Does Christina have to pay Josh spousal support?
As of publicly available information, Christina Haack has not been ordered to pay ongoing spousal support to Josh Hall. Legal outcomes may change with court rulings.
Conclusion
Bert Girigorie’s story proves something powerful. You can survive a celebrity divorce with dignity intact. While Wendy Williams faced endless tabloid drama with her second husband, Bert built a quiet life of success. He never wrote a tell-all book or chased reality TV fame. Instead, he focused on his career and personal peace. That takes real strength in today’s attention-hungry world.
Looking back, Bert made the smartest choice possible. He protected his privacy while Wendy’s life became public entertainment. Today, at 62, he’s respected in his field and living life on his terms. His $700,000 net worth came from hard work, not headlines. Bert Girigorie isn’t just Wendy Williams’ first husband he’s proof that walking away from fame can lead to something better.
