Wendy Williams’ family claims they were kept in dark about her diagnosis as communications ‘were cut off’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The family members of Wendy Williams, who is currently in a facility for dementia and aphasia, say they had no idea where she was or what she was going through.
They allege that her guardian and medical team have cut off all contact with them since her guardianship started in April 2022.
Wendy Williams is diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia
On Thursday, February 22, a medical team for Williams, 59, released a statement about her current health condition revealing she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.
“In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” read the press release issued by Jennifer Hanley of Ridge Hill Group.
Williams’ symptoms, which combined impact her language and communication, behavior and cognitive functions “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
Wendy Williams’ family says they don’t know her diagnosis or location
The news comes days ahead of Lifetime’s new documentary 'Where Is Wendy Williams?' premiering February 24.
Williams’ family told People that for months they’ve been kept in the dark about where Williams is and what exactly she has been struggling with.
“I don’t know, honestly. I don’t know," her sister Wanda Finnie, 65, told the publication when she was asked what exactly Williams has been diagnosed with.
According to Finnie, not long after the star’s guardianship began in April 2022, communication with her and the rest of the family was restricted. “It just appeared that all was cut off at that point,” she said.
Wendy Williams’ guardian sues Lifetime over documentary
Williams’ guardian filed a lawsuit against Lifetime’s parent company, A&E Television Networks, on Thursday, February 22, with details of the lawsuit under seal.
Reports suggest the move is to potentially block the premiere of the Lifetime documentary. Sabrina Morrissey, “acting in her capacity as Temporary Guardian” of Williams, filed the lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court on Thursday, February 22.
It named both A&E Networks and Entertainment One Reality Productions as defendants. A&E reportedly filed an appeal to the suit on Friday morning, February 23.
The documentary’s executive producer Mark Ford said “Wendy’s attorneys and the guardianship attorneys were consulted and signed off” on the making of the documentary according to the publication.
Wendy Williams’ son reveals her alcohol-induced dementia diagnosis
The last time the family received word on a specific diagnosis for Williams was in the fall of 2021, before the start of the star’s guardianship.
At the time she had taken a break form her 'Wendy Williams Show' and was spending time in Florida with family.
“When she was in Florida, there were a number of people involved. Even beyond family, there were doctors involved, people in Wendy’s professional world that were involved,” said Finnie.
“She had a health team in place, nurses in place and she had family in place. She was getting healthier,” Finnie added.
The publication noted, in the documentary, that her son Kevin Hunter, Jr, 23, who served as power of attorney at the time, said he was given a diagnosis by doctors his mother was seeing in Florida.
“Because she was drinking, I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia,” he said. He claimed to have been restricting Williams’ access to alcohol at the time.
“I care for my family a lot,” the former talk show host states at one point in the documentary, adding, “Kevin hates that I care for liquor. He’s very important to me.”
