Television personality Wendy Williams, known for her eponymous talk show that captivated audiences for 13 seasons from 2008 to 2022, is at the center of a legal and personal battle over her guardianship and health. Since 2022, Williams has been under a court-ordered guardianship and residing in a care facility. Now, her court-appointed attorney plans to file a request to terminate the guardianship, citing Williams' disagreement with her medical diagnosis.
In February 2024, Williams' care team announced that she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. However, Williams disputes these claims, publicly questioning the diagnosis. Frontotemporal dementia results from the degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain, while primary progressive aphasia is a neurological syndrome that impairs language capabilities over time. Despite these explanations, Williams remains unconvinced.
"Uh, how dare you. And I'm not saying you, because I've been accused of having that," – Wendy Williams
Her current living situation in a care facility has been described by Williams herself as oppressive.
"I'm still in prison, so to speak." – Wendy Williams
Describing her surroundings, she added:
"As I said, because it's a fact, this is the memory unit. That's what this floor is called, the memory unit. And it is true that these people who live here don't remember anything," – Wendy Williams
"Look, I don't belong here at all. This is ridiculous." – Wendy Williams
Williams' niece, Alex Finnie, plays a significant role in shaping the narrative around her aunt's life. As the executive producer of a recent documentary about Williams, Finnie emphasizes the importance of Williams taking control of her story.
"I will say this, first and foremost, my aunt is the executive producer of this documentary," – Alex Finnie
"And she said, 'Now is the perfect time, because I wanna take ownership of my story.'" – Alex Finnie
The documentary aired in February 2024 and has become a point of contention in an ongoing lawsuit filed by Williams' guardian against A&E. The film portrayed a darker aspect of Williams' reality, further complicating the public's perception of her situation.
Amidst these developments, Williams' court-appointed guardian has requested a new medical evaluation following her public statements challenging her diagnosis. This move aims to reassess her condition and possibly alter her current care arrangement.
