Cesar Galindo has a long history with Wendy Williams. The Houston-raised fashion designer created a gold sequined jump suit for the television talk show host to wear during a disco-themed episode last year, as well as a custom-designed “Uhura” costume, modeled after the iconic character in the Star Trek series, which she wore last Halloween. He's designed evening gowns for her when she co-hosted Pitbull's New Year's Revolution 2016 and BET's Soul Train Awards in 2014.
He also outfitted her in a draped sunshine yellow dress when she launched her ninth season in Times Square in early September and has regularly been her go-to designer over the years in a selection of day dresses for the show.
Galindo says her producers asked several designers to submit ideas for this year's Halloween show, which aired live Tuesday, without revealing the their names to Williams, and was excited when she chose his design of a sparkly green Statue of Liberty gown.
But the gown got more attention than he bargained for when Williams collapsed 48 minutes into the hour-long live show and it quickly cut to a commercial. When the show returned six minutes later, Williams continued to the end.
“That was not a stunt,” she said. “I was overheated in my costume, I did pass out. But you know what? I’m a champ, and I’m back.”
While it was a serious matter, the incident attracted savage reactions on social media, with some even wondering if Williams staged the whole thing.
Williams addressed the brouhaha on social media, assuring her fans she is okay.
Oct 31, 2017 at 9:49am PDT
On her show Thursday, she had a more succinct explanation. "I'm a 53-year-old middle-aged woman going through what middle-aged women go through if you know what I mean," she quipped. "The costume got hot. All the sudden right before passing out, I felt like I was in the middle of a campfire."
Galindo, who has drawn praise and putdowns on social media, says the gown was made from a sequined knit lightweight fabric and the studio is chilled to 60 degrees, so he's convinced that it wasn't the gown that caused the incident. But he's relieved that Williams is okay.
"I thought she looked fabulous," Galindo remarked. "Wendy said, 'If I'm laying on the ground, I'm going down with the crown.' "
"She's a great client. I love working with her," he added. "It just adds to the drama."
Galindo will be in Houston November 18 through 21 for a trunk show at Sloan Hall. Alas, the Statue of Liberty costume won't be part of it.
All the various items that made up Wendy Williams' Statue of Liberty Halloween costume.
The new FIGS store will offer a Color Clinic and Customization Station to let shoppers personalize their FIGS uniforms. Photo courtesy of FIGS/Instagram