The eighth season premiere of "The Wendy Williams Show" included a heartfelt tribute to Williams' late "wigologist" Antwon Jackson, who died suddenly at the age of 44 in August.
The North Carolina native and Emmy-winning hairstylist, who was responsible for Williams' trademark wigs, had been with the talk show host for several years, was a frequent guest on her after-show on YouTube, and spent time at Williams' New Jersey home and frequently traveled with her. He was engaged to Dontay Savoy, another hairstylist who appeared on WE's reality show "L.A. Hair." Jackson leaves behind a 25-year-old son, DeAntwon Jackson.
The turban-clad Williams alternated between chuckles and tears in the heartfelt tribute. "I am wigless," she said. "We had a special connection ... He was a really, really special man from Durham, and I will miss you dearly, Antwon."
In an interview in August, his longtime friend Crystal Wright told NJ.com, "He was a joy to be around. He never had a negative word to say about anyone. He was always upbeat. He always had a smile on his face ... Antwon was the first person to jump up and say, 'I'm going to help you with that.' He was a Southern guy with New York aesthetics."'
A cause of death has not been made public.
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