Former television personality Wendy Williams has reportedly been left “permanently incapacitated” by her dementia, according to a legal filing from her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, relating to Lifetime’s controversial Where Is Wendy Williams? documentary.
In a filing obtained by The U.S. Sun, Morrissey’s legal team described Williams as “an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.” The filing asks that sensitive information related to Williams’ “health, familial relationships, and finances” be redacted to protect her privacy.
The filing goes on to claim that Wells Fargo “took the highly unusual step of initiating a guardianship proceeding” for Williams after “becoming aware of a pattern of disturbing events concerning [Wendy’s] welfare and finances.”
Williams’ team announced in February 2024 that the former daytime talk show host had been diagnosed in May 2023 with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the same condition Bruce Willis was diagnosed with in early 2023. By that point, Williams had already been placed under a financial guardianship since 2022.
The statement from her team noted that she was “still able to do many things for herself” at the time.
This recent filing is the latest legal move made since Morrissey first filed a lawsuit against Lifetime’s parent company in February to block the controversial documentary series’ release. But a judge denied the request and decided the documentary could proceed with premiering in February.
Where is Wendy Williams? was meant to capture her comeback to media as she prepared to launch her new podcast, but instead it captured Williams as she secretly struggled with alcoholism and other health issues.
In a filing unsealed in March, Morrissey called the documentary “blatant exploitation” of Williams considering she does “not have the capacity to consent,” according to THR.
“This blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition who is beloved by millions within and outside of the African American community is disgusting, and it cannot be allowed,” the complaint stated.
Mark Ford and Brie Miranda Bryant, the producers of the documentary, told The Hollywood Reporter that they realized while filming “that there was something ultimately disturbing going on in Wendy’s life.”
“There was a real emotional connection that the project gave her, and honestly, it got to a point where we were more worried about what would happen to Wendy if we stopped filming than if we continued,” Ford said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
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