Wendy Williams is under fire for mocking Joaquin Phoenix's "cleft lip"

Wendy Williams is not exactly known for her classy delivery on sensitive topics and she regularly steps out of line. The latest instance was during a segment about the Golden Globes. During the awards ceremony, Beyoncé came under fire for choosing not to stand during a standing ovation for actor Joaquin Phoenix.

Williams didn’t exactly start off on the right foot as she clearly struggled to recall who Phoenix (the star of one of 2019’s highest grossing films, Joker) was. “In my universe, who is Joaquin Phoenix?,” she asked. She then addressed a still from the film and reiterated her ignorance, saying “This right here, I don’t know anything about this.”

Moving on from the film, Williams then decided to share with the audience that although she doesn’t know much about Phoenix’s work, she does find him “oddly attractive” and then began further objectifying him, pointing out the facial features she liked.

One of which, was his, “Cleft lip. I find that to be very attractive,” Williams then gestured to demonstrate.

Naturally, the vile gesture has garnered some backlash online

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 pic.twitter.com/whfBbCVZE4

— Matt Groark (@groarkboysbbq) January 8, 2020

This needs a RT!!! 🤬🤬🤬@WendyWilliams mimics a cleft lip and palate person!! I have a cleft lip and palate, so does my son who was just born, her actions are hideous and OFFENSIVE. Promoting bullying, with her platform, that’s IRRESPONSIBLE!! #EndBullying https://t.co/ynPidLaGf5

— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 10, 2020

As Ambassador for Cleft Lip and Palate Association @CLAPACOMMUNITY I really am disgusted by this @wendywilliams.. Mimicing 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? Please RT https://t.co/bINZItpWgI

— Carol Vorderman (@carolvorders) January 9, 2020

This is @WendyWilliams making fun of the cleft community on her TV show. 🤬🤬🤬🤬

Are you kidding me??? We all have a responsibility to #EndBullying

With her platform, like myself, we have a much higher responsibility when it comes to our actions. This is just terrible. pic.twitter.com/JrlS0RJs5D

— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 10, 2020

Are f**king kidding me?
This is so insensitive, @WendyWilliams.

31 years I’ve been dealing with abuse because of my cleft lip & palate for someone of your so called ‘celebrity status’ to openly mock and do this on television is horrendous and damaging. https://t.co/zGKXp05NHy

— ❄ Ra Ra Rachel ❄ (@Random_Rax) January 9, 2020

A cleft lip is an opening or split in the upper lip that occurs when developing facial structures in an unborn baby don’t close completely. Joaquin Phoenix was born with a microform cleft lip, a less severe condition that forms a scar-like marking on the upper lip.