Wendy Williams, the former US talk show host, has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, conditions that have left her “cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated,” according to a legal filing by her guardian.
Williams, 60, was diagnosed in 2023, with the same form of dementia affecting actor Bruce Willis.
Her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has filed a lawsuit against A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment Services, and others connected to the release of the docuseries Where is Wendy Williams?, which aired in February.
The two-part series began filming in 2022 when Williams had already been absent from her talk show due to health issues.
Production ceased in April 2023 after her son informed the crew of her dementia diagnosis.
Despite Morrissey’s efforts to block the airing of the series, a judge ruled in favor of its release.
In the lawsuit, Morrissey claims that the filmmakers took advantage of Williams’ vulnerable state, accusing them of exploiting her for financial gain in a “cruel and obscene way.”
The suit argues that Williams was “highly vulnerable” and incapable of consenting to the filming, describing her humiliation and exploitation as unjust.
The lawsuit further demands that any profits generated from the docuseries be directed towards Williams, who will need substantial funding for medical care and lifelong supervision.
Williams had openly discussed her health struggles in the past, including a battle with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid.
She had also been transparent about her addiction issues.
Williams hosted The Wendy Williams Show from 2008 until its conclusion in 2022 due to her health complications.
In response, A&E and the filmmakers have stated they were unaware of Williams’ diagnosis during production.
Erica Hanson, an executive producer on the docuseries, emphasized that the aim was to showcase Williams’ efforts to make life changes and overcome challenges.
Lifetime’s senior vice president of non-scripted programming, Brie Bryant, expressed that the network’s goal was to responsibly provide Williams with a platform to share her story, hoping for her recovery and family reunification.
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