Fatal error trying to access widgets

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Hey folks… I’m posting here because I wasn’t able to create an account on [Wordpress.org](http://Wordpress.org) to ask my question on the forums there. The link in the email they sent to set up my password sent me to a page that tells me that “My account is pending approval” even though the email itself says “Welcome to WordPress.org! Your new account has been setup.”

BUT that’s not even my main problem.

PROBLEM: I’ve been trying to access the widgets on my site, and I get this gnarly error. Username and domain redacted for privacy.

>Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: array\_merge(): Argument #5 must be of type array, null given in /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/widgets.php:1346 Stack trace: #0 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/widgets.php(1346): array\_merge() #1 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php(300): retrieve\_widgets() #2 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-sidebars-controller.php(97): WP\_REST\_Sidebars\_Controller->retrieve\_widgets() #3 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php(1197): WP\_REST\_Sidebars\_Controller->get\_items\_permissions\_check() #4 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php(1063): WP\_REST\_Server->respond\_to\_request() #5 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/rest-api.php(555): WP\_REST\_Server->dispatch() #6 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/rest-api.php(2922): rest\_do\_request() #7 \[internal function\]: rest\_preload\_api\_request() #8 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/block-editor.php(750): array\_reduce() #9 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-admin/widgets-form-blocks.php(26): block\_editor\_rest\_api\_preload() #10 /home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-admin/widgets.php(32): require(‘/home/\[siteusername\]/…’) #11 {main} thrown in **/home/\[siteusername\]/public\_html/\[domain\].com/wp-includes/widgets.php** on line **1346**
There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions.

AND to add to my woes. It tells me to “Check my site admin email inbox” but I can’t access that either. I get a neverending spinning “loading wheel.” I’m assuming this is the “site admin email inbox,” but I’m not an expert, so maybe it isn’t?

[Why won’t this load??](https://preview.redd.it/8hfl7m3l5ovc1.png?width=822&format=png&auto=webp&s=9fee4f04ed82fee37551cc613006ee7bddaedbc2)

Basically, I want to access my widgets, and I can’t, and I don’t know how to interpret the error message.

TIA for any tips!

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