It was such a private situation that Ricky Smiley and a few others wanted to organize a fundraiser for her, but she turned it down.
“Really? She wouldn’t let us help her with this illness? Just this year?”
“Yeah, it’s surprising. She didn’t want anyone to know.”
Sadly, Atlanta radio legend Wanda Smith has passed away at 58, just one day after celebrating her birthday.
“Wow, just a day after her birthday? That’s so heartbreaking.”
Ironically, even though she’s the one who’s passed, Cat Williams is trending right now—and we all know why.
“Why’s that?”
“Why are you on air where everyone can hear you, L? Come on, let me step over here.”
“Nope, that’s not how it works.”
“Oh, okay, then stay put. Don’t worry, nobody’s trying to reach out to you.”
“Exactly, they don’t need to. I just want them to clear out. You good?”
“You good? Only one of our hairstyles is moving while we talk. How about you?”
It’s being reported that Wanda Smith never fully bounced back after going broke and losing work following that infamous roast by Cat Williams. Reactions to this news have been varied, with some people urging Cat to step up. Comments like, “I really hope Cat comes out and shuts down the jokes about Wanda Smith. She lost her life; this isn’t a joke. Her life can’t be reduced to a punchline. She deserves more,” have been making the rounds. Another commenter even said, “Wanda Smith, a beloved Atlanta radio personality, dies during one of the most controversial years of Cat Williams’ career. They had a very public feud a few years back, and she apparently lost her job because of it. I’m calling this a sacrifice.” The conspiracy theories are already coming out in full force.
So far, there’s been no information about the circumstances surrounding Wanda’s passing. However, Rick Caffey, the senior vice president and market manager at Atlanta’s V103 radio, confirmed her death on Instagram, sharing, “Our hearts are heavy today as we grieve the loss of our beloved Wanda Smith—someone who always made us smile and who was a significant part of V103 for many years. We extend our deepest prayers and condolences to her family. Since joining V103 in 1997, Wanda brought so much joy and care to the Atlanta community. Her impact went beyond laughter; she often worked behind the scenes to help those in need. Rest in peace, Wanda. As you take your place among the stars, we will miss you.”
Many others have also expressed their condolences, including Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens, who released a touching statement: “Atlanta has lost a staple with the passing of Wanda Smith—not just in our city’s media but also in our culture. We didn’t just trust her; we relied on her down-to-earth approach and her ability to remind us that it was okay to laugh through both good times and bad. She was a voice for so many Atlantans, and my thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones, and everyone who loved her and her passion for our city.”
People are already talking about how Wanda’s struggles and the loss of her career might have affected her. Remember, her downfall started after that infamous incident with Katt Williams. Since her cause of death hasn’t been revealed yet, there’s a lot of speculation going around. Some think she might have been dealing with mental health issues like depression, while others are wondering if she had cancer. There are even whispers suggesting that she might have taken her own life due to the impact of her ruined career.
Before that incident with Katt, Wanda was a staple in the Atlanta radio scene, co-hosting “Frank and Wanda in the Morning” on V103 since 1998. She held that role for over two decades until she was let go in 2019. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the only year she took off was in 2013, but she came back in 2014 to co-host alongside Ryan Cameron. Besides her work in radio, Wanda was a talented comedian and a writer for shows like “Def Comedy Jam” and BET’s “Comic View.” She even had a regular spot at the Atlanta Comedy Theater in Norcross and appeared in movies like Tyler Perry’s “Madea Goes to Jail” and “Madea’s Witness Protection.” But after that roast with Katt, she seemed to disappear from the industry, and we barely heard anything about her until we learned of her passing.
It might be worth revisiting that legendary interview one last time, as it’s still regarded as one of the greatest roasts in comedy history. Plus, many people believe it has some connection to her death. For those who recall, the exchange between Katt and Wanda started off pretty well, with Katt roasting a few others before things took a different turn.
“They’re going to give you a shot at being a star, Lil Rel, but let’s face it—you’re not exactly what Hollywood considers ‘conventionally attractive.’ They believe you have to be someone women want to sleep with and men want to be like. But for us Black folks, it’s like they think, ‘You don’t even deserve that kind of chance.’ So, you end up with a lineup of guys like Kevin Hart, Lil Rel, Gerard Carmichael, and Hannibal Buress—all of whom, honestly, wouldn’t get a second glance in Lenox Mall, let alone be leading men in movies. The underlying idea? Nobody’s rushing to be with them. The only exception seems to be Tiffany Haddish. She’s been grinding in comedy since she was 16, but can you name one of her jokes? Probably not, because she hasn’t done a tour or released a special yet. She hasn’t proven she can keep an audience laughing for a full hour.”
Things took a turn when the conversation shifted to Cat, and Wanda started bringing up his family.
“Uh, years, that’s been a blessing.”
“That’s awesome! Do you cook for your kids?”
“Absolutely.”
“Tell me some of the dishes they love—like, ‘Dad makes the best spaghetti’ or ‘Dad makes the best steak.’ What do you whip up?”
“As a father of seven with no budget limits, I can cook just about anything.”
“Wait, wait—what do they actually like?”
“Just because you’re not the best interviewer doesn’t mean…”
“I’m just asking you to answer the question. You’re a strong Black woman; is it cool for me to…”
“Stop interrupting! Everyone can hear you. It sounds like you might have a little crush on me, and that’s coming through loud and clear.”
According to Cat, the roast got intense when Wanda brought up topics they had agreed not to discuss, like his legal issues and kids.
“It wasn’t just that. Before I walked in, she assured me, ‘I just want to talk because you just won an Emmy for Atlanta, and this is in Atlanta. They want to hear about your Emmy and thank you for putting the city on the map. We won’t touch your kids, jail, or any cases.’ And then she flips the script completely. You can’t switch up on me like that because you’re not as good of a comedian. I’m going to take you down, but I’m not going to disrespect you.”
As for Cat’s legal troubles, he mentioned that back in 2012, he was arrested 36 times in 36 months, claiming that he had never actually been to court. He believed this showed he was being unfairly targeted. Cat has faced various legal issues, including an arrest in Northern California related to a warrant for reckless driving and evading the police. His former assistant also sued him for over $5 million, claiming he hit her. In another incident, he was hit with a lawsuit after a show in Oakland that reportedly lasted only 10 minutes, where he ended up stripping and trying to fight audience members.
Wanda was gearing up to bring up some sensitive issues, but Cat cut her off when she hinted at his time in prison. He reminded her that he has 19 felonies but no convictions to show for it. When it comes to his kids, Cat had shared before that he went through a period of homelessness. He made a promise to himself that if he ever became famous, he would help others by adopting as many kids as he could care for. But he’s also acknowledged that he hasn’t always been the best role model for them.
Cat pointed out how law enforcement has used his legal troubles against him time and again. There was even an incident where the police took his kids from his office, which he found incredibly insulting, as if he were the worst person in the world. At that time, the cops claimed he had endangered his children. While he admitted to having marijuana, he insisted there were no other substances in the house, and the guns he owned were stored safely for the kids’ protection.
Although Cat and Wanda had agreed to steer clear of these topics during the interview, it was clear that Wanda was not backing down, and things took a turn.
“Whatever. Yeah, ma’am, you really know how to stir the pot.”
“Uh, you’re good at telling us what we need to hear. By the way, is that your hair? It looks great!”
“Yep, it is. I bought it.”
“Oh, I’m going to take off my headset now because that’s just too much… well, what’s about to happen is…”
“Oh, it’s too much, and you knew you were going to keep pushing this because you just won’t stop.”
“Somebody get her some chemotherapy.”
