Wendy Williams’ health is getting worse. Her court-appointed guardian has revealed that the former talk show host has been losing ground in her struggle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). According to the Guardian, Williams is “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated.” But is there any chance that she could recover?
FTD is a rare type of dementia that can negatively alter behavior and affect speech and movement. For now, FTD has no cure. Symptoms progressively worsen, and there’s no way to slow them down. Williams has battled with the disease since 2023, when it was diagnosed. However, it wasn’t until February 2024 that her medical team made it public.
According to the team of health professionals, Williams, 60, had FTD and progressive aphasia. In their statement, they admitted that the condition has “already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.” However, they stated, “Wendy is still able to do many things for herself.”
“Most importantly, she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way,” the statement also stated.
The recent revelations from her guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, through documents obtained by journalists are only an update about the TV personality’s health. Despite Williams’s worsening health, she and Morrissey have been fighting another almost equally worrisome battle.
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Wendy Williams Is Fighting an Unauthorized Documentary
Morrissey’s disclosure is happening side by side with her legal confrontation with A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment, and other companies. Morrissey is challenging their production and release of the “Where is Wendy Williams?” Docuseries.
The project covers Williams’ life after she stopped the “Wendy Williams Show.” Of course, the film, which was released in February, a few days after Wendy Williams’ diagnosis became public knowledge, also delved into her ongoing health challenges and Morrissey’s guardianship, which began in April 2022.
Morrissey had challenged the film’s release in court on the same day of Williams’ diagnosis announcement. But an appeals court struck out her objection and cleared the way for the film’s release. The judgment led to A&E Television Network’s announcement that “the documentary “Where Is Wendy Williams?” will air this weekend as planned.
Speaking on the documentary, Morrissey wrote, “This case arises from the brutally calculated, deliberate actions of powerful and cravenly opportunistic media companies working together with a producer to knowingly exploit [Wendy Williams].”
According to Morrissey’s filing, the media firms “filmed without a valid contract and released without Guardian’s consent.” She also stated that they took advantage of the TV personality’s vulnerable state to humiliate her, seeing that she couldn’t give consent to the producers.
In addition, Morrissey accused the moviemakers of misleading the public. She cited claims they made in the documentary of Williams’ being broke. Morrissey stated that the statement gives the impression that Wendy Williams’ “disoriented demeanor is due to substance abuse and intoxication.”
Wendy Williams Thanked Her Fans
Following the release of her double diagnosis, Wendy Williams has sent a message of appreciation to her fans. In a statement shared by her care team, the former talk show host sounded joyful and full of gratitude. “Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming,” the statement read.
“The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion. I hope that others with FTD may benefit from my story,” it also stated. She also thanked the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for their advocacy concerning the disease and their “kind words of support.”
Who Is Wendy Williams’ Guardian?
Sabrina E. Morrissey has been Wendy Williams’ guardian since April 2022, when the court appointed her. She is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the former media personality, including financial and legal ones.
Morrissey is a New York-based lawyer with expertise in estate planning, litigation, administration, and guardianship. She is a senior member of Morrissey and Morrissey, LLP law firm.
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How Long Has Sabrina Morrissey Been Wendy Williams’ Guardian?
Sabrina E. Morrissey has been Wendy Williams’ temporary guardian since April 2022. Her journey to guardianship was sparked by Wells Fargo. The financial institution decided that Williams couldn’t handle her finances on her own because she was of “unsound mind.” As a result, they proceeded to freeze her accounts.
Afterward, Wells Fargo approached the courts seeking the appointment of a guardian for the former TV show host. A New York court granted the request and assigned Morrissey as Williams’ guardian. The guardian’s identity was private until she sued the media companies responsible for the controversial documentary.
Morrissey’s appointment has also not been free of bumps. The lawyer who handled the sale of Williams’ Manhattan penthouse was the object of hostility from Williams’ family. They have blamed Morrissey for their relative’s dwindling health and for keeping them in the dark concerning her condition.
According to Wendy Williams’ sister, Wanda Finnie, Morrissey hasn’t allowed them free access to Williams. The family also stated that Williams would have fared much better under family care. “How did she go from this aunt or sister that we love and is healthy one minute to this person who’s in and out of the hospital?” Finnie asked.
“How is that system better than the system the family could put in place? …this system is broken. I hope that at some point, Wendy becomes strong enough where she can speak on her own behalf,” she also queried.
In August, and for the first time since her team announced her diagnosis, Wendy Williams stepped out in public. She was in the company of her son, Kevin Hunter Jr, who she had with her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter.
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