Wendy Williams used to be one of the most energetic talk show hosts with an honest character; now she faces enormous problems related to health degeneration. Wendy, diagnosed in February with early-onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD), really has an advanced disease according to her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, since Wendy “is permanently disabled and in need of ongoing guardianship because of legal incapacity.”
The Battles Over the Release of a Documentary
An ongoing health battle has also entangled Williams in a legal controversy over the Lifetime docuseries “Where Is Wendy Williams?”. That series, which details her guardianship, health, and life post-show, has been surrounded by controversy over its making and release. According to Morrissey, the documentary was shot without a valid contract and took advantage of Williams when she was particularly vulnerable.
The guardian has asked the court to seal parts of filings containing information about Williams’ health, finances, and relationships to protect her dignity and private life. Those efforts by Morrissey did not prevent the documentary from airing after an appeals court rejected a motion for an injunction to block its release.
Impact Health Challenges Have on Williams’ Life
By April 2022, her health truly began to decline seriously after court-ordered guardianship was invoked. Besides dementia, Williams has been fighting Graves’ disease, lymphedema, and former alcohol addiction. The FTD is progressive and has no known cure; over time, the mental decline will limit her abilities and interactions with the world.
Her medical team said despite the odds, Williams still has her sense of humor and feels very grateful for the good wishes coming her way. She nonetheless needs much care for her needs and safety.
The guardianship arrangement has also threatened the cohesiveness of Williams’s family. Her sister, Wanda Finnie, spoke of how she had been denied an update about Williams’ condition and how she was being given only limited access to her. Finnie has complained, along with other relatives, questioning the guardianship system in frustrations over being sidelined during the care of Williams.
But Morrissey is still the only person who has unlimited access to Williams, which begs many questions regarding decision-making and how the family’s role in her recovery will be affected.
A Difficult Journey Ahead
As Williams continues her fight against health and the law, her story shares boundaries associated with the treatment of progressive illnesses and vulnerabilities of public figures. Though there are some hard days ahead of her, support from fans and her medical team makes this period a bit more comforting.
Wendy Williams stands iconic in the minds of many because of her strength and honesty within the entertainment field. This means that the story emphasizes just respecting feelings that develop over a change in one’s health.
