Ah, you’re the one who keeps downvoting people who try to help you.
You can’t change the widget class run-time afair, but you should be able to replace the widget object. Essentially, create a helper widget with no elements and set it as the component’s widget. As in the above image but with something valid instead.
While I’m surprised the null reference does not work, I’m not shocked and I could swear it used to. Anyhow, replacing the widget object should work, 99% sure; even though it’s sort of a hack-around.