Famed talk show host’s health has declined significantly due to dementia, guardian says

Wendy Williams’ health condition has declined significantly, according to a recent New York court filing.
An attorney for Sabrina Morrissey, Williams’ court-appointed guardian, stated that Williams, 60, has been deemed “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated” as a result of her dementia. The court filing was made Nov. 12.
“This case arises from the brutally calculated, deliberate actions of powerful and cravenly opportunistic media companies working together with a producer to knowingly exploit [Williams],” the documents read, according to People. “FTD is a progressive disease, meaning that there is no cure and the symptoms only get worse over time.”
The court filing comes after Morrissey’s ongoing lawsuit against A+E Networks. Morrissey alleged Williams was exploited by the network’s Lifetime documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?”
Morrissey tried to block the release of the docu-series that showcased Williams in a vulnerable state. Williams’ diagnosis of progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia was revealed shortly after the project was released.
A+E Networks responded to Morrissey’s claim Wednesday suggesting that the guardian is overstepping her boundaries. The network states that Morrissey is blocking Williams from having “one of her last chances to exercise her autonomy and honestly reach her fans in exactly the frank and unfiltered manner that was the hallmark of her career,” according to TMZ.
Williams’ court-ordered guardianship began in 2022 because of health issues including Graves’ disease and lymphedema, as well as alcohol abuse. The Asbury Park native’s daytime television talk show, “The Wendy Williams Show,” premiered in 2008 and aired for 13 seasons, concluding in 2022 with Sherri Shepherd filling in as host.
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Christopher Burch can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/.