Every so often, the Cat Williams and Wanda Smith interview resurfaces, and lately, it’s been all over social media. Personally, I’m here for the laughs because it’s timeless, especially the part about gnarled fingers. That exchange always cracks me up, like, “My hair is 19 inches long and I have no perm.” “You don’t.” “Oops, oh, that’s not a perm.” “No, it is not.” “Nice, lady, come. Run, come run, one of your gnarled fingers.”
I know Wanda might not appreciate us dredging this up again, but some folks argue she brought it on herself when she targeted Cat’s kids. Let’s rewind and see how Wanda essentially derailed her own career, shall we? When Cat Williams spilled the tea on Club Sh Shay in 2024, he gave Wanda an honorable mention. He made it clear that if Wanda had stuck to the agreed script and kept his kids and past out of her mouth, we wouldn’t be marking the sixth anniversary of that infamous roast. “And we won’t talk about your kids. We won’t talk about jail, no cases. We gon’ talk about none of that.” “And immediately gets in there and goes the opposite way. You can’t flip up on me because you’re an inferior comedian. I’m going to destroy you, and I’m never going to call you out of your name.” In another interview on WIIE D, Cat Williams also remembered how Wanda pleaded with him to do the interview because he had just won an Emmy. She promised not to mention his kids or cases. “She just wants it to the point where she says, ‘Cat, come on. I just—you just want to end me for the city. I just want to give you your flowers.’ Well, I won’t talk about kids. I won’t talk about no jail. I won’t talk about—” This is the conversation she has with me, and then goes in that room and doesn’t mention the Emmy and immediately.
While it’s true that Cat has faced legal challenges, it’s undoubtedly a topic of interest for any interviewer. In 2012, Cat revealed that he had been arrested a staggering 36 times within a span of 6 months. He strongly asserted that his absence from a courtroom underscored a targeted agenda by law enforcement. His legal entanglements have been diverse, including an arrest in Northern California on a previous warrant tied to reckless driving and evading officers. Additionally, he faced a lawsuit from a former personal assistant who alleged he struck her, seeking over $5 million in damages. In another instance, he was sued over a performance in Oakland, where the show reportedly unraveled within 10 minutes, culminating in Cat disrobing and attempting altercations with audience members. Wanda intended to delve into these issues during the interview, but Cat swiftly countered any insinuation of prison time by emphasizing his 19 felonies without a single conviction.
Wanda’s inquiries about Cat’s preparations for his children took a subtle turn, insinuating his shortcomings as a father, catching Cat off guard. In his mind, he must’ve been thinking, “Didn’t we just discuss avoiding this topic?” Let me shed light on why Cat was particularly sensitive about his kids. Before his rise to success, Cat experienced homelessness and made a vow to himself: if he ever attained fame and fortune, he’d extend a helping hand, primarily by adopting children in need. Admittedly, Cat wasn’t always the perfect role model for his kids. “I wasn’t the best at setting an example, but behind the scenes…” That wasn’t what he aimed to promote. His children understood the complexities due to his public stance, which often invited scrutiny. Even amidst noble deeds, there’s the adage, ‘No good deed goes unpunished.’ Unfortunately, this sentiment was often wielded against him. Some may recall an incident where the police removed his children from his office, a moment Cat found deeply insulting. To him, it felt like an unjust portrayal of his character. While Cat acknowledged having marijuana, he vehemently denied any other illicit substances in the house. Furthermore, the firearms were securely stored for his children’s protection. His numerous arrests pushed Cat to the brink, leading to his decision to retire to safeguard himself and his beloved children from further harm.
“I’ve decided to call it quits on stand-up. I feel like I’ve had my run,” I said.
“This is—”
“You’re not really retir—yeah, yeah, I—I’ve already discussed it with my kids. I wasn’t planning on announcing it on some Seattle street corner. I was thinking of doing it in Los Angeles, maybe at the offices of ICM or Live Nation. It’s always been a touchy subject for Cat, and the fact that he and Wanda agreed not to bring up family or legal matters, yet Wanda still went off-script, really got under his skin. ‘Honey, I don’t know what Wanda was expecting when she went off-script like that, but it’s probably an experience she won’t forget, ever. If you can’t lower your blood pressure, don’t expect me to calm down, whatever, little mama. If your cholesterol is through the roof, whatever, little mama. I’m lil’ mama’s baby daddy.'”
“No, you love mama.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And what are you?”
“Girl, you probably shouldn’t talk about sizes. You’re the one who’s big on the radio.”
“And because she was really getting on his nerves, at one point, Cat told Wanda to take off her headphones and wig the G, to which she replied, ‘Take off those old clothes you got on too.’ Cat responded by opening his jacket to reveal that he was wearing a piece from what he claimed was an unreleased Versace collection and roasted the hell out of what Wanda was wearing. ‘Only one of us has $12 worth of jewelry on.'”
“No, no, no, no, no.”
“$12. That’s all it is. If you want Wanda’s jewelry, please go to—sitgo or Quick Trip at any point. If you buy two packs of Newport 100s, they’ll give you everything Wanda has on right now for $7.99, and it comes with a free car wash.” Honey, it was just shade after shade after shade, and it never gets old.
Unfortunately for Wanda, her career took a nosedive after that interview. In January 2019, just months following the segment, she was dismissed from V103 Atlanta. While the exact reason for her termination was never officially disclosed, many speculate it was heavily tied to her “Lil Mama” remarks and her attempts to undermine Cat on air in a city renowned for its large black gay male community. It’s a delicate balance. “I received a call, but this lady is attempting to shame me in front of a predominantly homosexual audience.” That’s why she faced backlash. “Members of the LGBTQ+ community don’t appreciate being labeled derogatorily as gay.” “Some members of the LGBTQ+ community don’t find it derogatory.” “Then why are you trying to disgrace me using something within a community I’m not even a part of?” When Wanda was questioned about her perspective on the incident, she responded with: “Out of respect for him, when he began attacking me, it caught me off guard, so I didn’t know how to respond or how to engage because that’s not the manner in which I wanted to converse with him. I didn’t intend to engage in that manner. I didn’t want to engage in a heated exchange like that out of respect.” “Really? You have so much respect for Cat Williams that you labeled him as an inmate and Lil Mama, and also targeted his appearance, attire, and family, all in the name of respect, is that it?”
You know, things escalated when Wanda’s husband, LaMorris Sellers, confronted Cat and made threats, leading Cat to report the incident to the Gwinnett County Police. LaMorris insisted he chased Cat but didn’t brandish his firearm, claiming it fell during the pursuit. From security footage, it’s evident Wanda supported her husband’s actions, even smiling during the confrontation. Yet, Cat never threatened Wanda, making their actions unjustified. Although Cat didn’t press charges, Wanda’s reputation took a hit. Her attempt to challenge Cat Williams backfired, leading to a decline in her career. It begs the question: what prompted her to engage in such a confrontation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
