Wendy Williams, the outspoken and larger-than-life TV personality, has been making headlines for years. But recently, the chatter around her has shifted from celebrity gossip to serious concerns about her health and legal affairs. Once the reigning queen of daytime talk shows, Williams has found herself in a complicated battle over her own independence.
Discover our latest podcast
Diagnosed with dementia yet insisting she is perfectly fine, placed under conservatorship—like Brittney Spears—but fighting to reclaim control, her story is as dramatic as any of the Hollywood scandals she used to cover.
The end of ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ and her disappearance from the spotlight
For over a decade, Wendy Williams captivated audiences with her no-holds-barred commentary on pop culture. The Wendy Williams Show debuted in 2008, quickly becoming a daytime TV staple. However, by 2021, things started going downhill for the presenter.
Health concerns started dominating headlines. According to People, Williams was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism, leading to multiple absences from her show. A case of Covid-19 in late 2021 delayed her return, and in 2022, her long-running talk show was officially cancelled. The announcement came as a shock to fans as Williams had not been present for the final episodes. Speaking to The New York Post about the show’s end, she admitted:
[The show's syndication company] didn't ask me to do [the finale], so I didn't. I sat in my apartment and I watched it. And [I was] like, 'Eek!'
Despite initial plans to launch a podcast, The Wendy Experience, which was set to be distributed via iTunes, Williams withdrew from public life.
The podcast was meant to mark her comeback, but it never fully materialised as Williams faced mounting personal and legal struggles, including financial guardianship and declining health.
A shocking dementia diagnosis
Indeed, in February 2024, Wendy Williams’ team released a statement confirming her diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. According to the press release, Williams was diagnosed in 2023 and the disease has ‘already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life.’
The news sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. Her medical team assured the public that:
Wendy is still able to do many things for herself.
Most importantly, she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.
Initially, Williams accepted the diagnosis when it was first made public in February 2024. In a statement obtained by People, Williams said:
I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).
Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion.
However, in recent months, she has strongly refuted it, claiming she is not cognitively impaired.
In a January 2025 interview on The Breakfast Club, she stated firmly:
I am not cognitively impaired. But I feel like I am in prison.
In February, she once again denied the claims and told Nightlife:
Frontotemporal dementia? Uh, how dare you?
No. That’s what I’ve been accused of, believe it or not. Look, I don’t belong here at all. This is ridiculous.
She described her life inside a New York care facility, expressing frustration over her living conditions and lack of freedom. She said:
Look, I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner right here on the bed. I watch TV, I listen to radio, I look at the window, I talk on the phone.
Meanwhile, Williams’ court-ordered guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, insists that the star is ‘permanently incapacitated’ and requires protection.
Williams' court-ordered guardianship
As reported by Daily Mail, Morrissey was appointed her guardian in 2022 after Wells Fargo reported suspicious withdrawals from Williams' bank account.
Morrissey then took charge of not just her finances, but also medical decisions. In November 2024, she claimed in court filings that Williams had been ‘permanently incapacitated’ by early onset dementia and was cognitively impaired.
In legal filings, Morrissey’s team argued that Lifetime’s Where Is Wendy Williams? documentary exploited her condition, claiming that producers ‘intentionally manipulated and goaded Williams to trigger strong emotional reactions.’
Williams, however, is determined to reclaim her autonomy. In February 2025, she filed an affidavit seeking to end her guardianship. She asserted that she has ‘regained capacity’ and would go for a medical reevaluation to challenge her diagnosis. The legal battle is ongoing, with Williams potentially taking her case to a jury.
A major TV comeback amid the ongoing battle
Amid the controversy, Wendy Williams is preparing to return to television. The View recently announced that Williams will appear via phone interview on March 14, marking her first national TV appearance since her dementia diagnosis.
The appearance is expected to be highly anticipated, especially as Williams continues to dispute claims about her cognitive abilities. ABC’s announcement has not confirmed whether the segment will be pre-recorded or live, but past interviews indicate that Williams may be filmed standing against the window of her care facility to allow viewers to see her reactions in real-time.
Read more:
Prince Frederik tragically passed away at the age of 22: He was fighting a rare disease
Investigation into Gene Hackman's death continues: Police find essential elements in their home
Ronan Keating devastated as man responsible brother's crash walks free: 'We will continue to fight'
Sources used:
Glamour: Wendy Williams’s Conservatorship: What We Know About the Star’s Health and Legal Struggles
People: What Is Wendy Williams Doing Now? All About Her Life After Her Talk Show
Daily Mail: Wendy Williams to Make First National TV Appearance Since Dementia Diagnosis Amid Guardianship Battle
