Former talk show host Wendy Williams compares guardianship to prison
Wendy Williams speaking out
Wendy Williams is speaking out about her guardianship. She called into a radio show on Thursday morning to give fans insight into what she has been going through since being diagnosed with dementia and placed under a court-ordered guardianship.
ATLANTA - Wendy Williams, the 60-year-old former talk show host, spoke openly for the first time about her court-ordered guardianship and her struggles with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia during a radio interview on Thursday morning.
PREVIOUS STORY: Wendy Williams 'permanently incapacitated,' TMZ reports
What we know:
In an emotional interview on iHeartRadio's The Breakfast Club this morning, Williams and her niece, Alex Finnie, shed light on her current situation, according to FOX News.
Williams revealed that she feels "trapped" in the New York facility where she is staying and asserted, "I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison." She also expressed concerns about missing significant family moments, stating, "I am exhausted thinking about what if I can’t see my dad for his birthday. At 94, the day after that is not promised."
Williams shared that while she can make outgoing phone calls, others are not allowed to call her. Additionally, she noted that facility staff administer her medications, but she does not know what she is being given.
The backstory:
Wendy Williams’ health struggles have been public since 2017, when she fainted on-air during The Wendy Williams Show. In 2019, she disclosed that she was living in a sober house. By 2023, Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, conditions that impact behavior and cognitive functions. These health challenges led to her current court-ordered guardianship.
What they're saying:
During the interview, Williams and her niece encouraged supporters to spread the word about her situation. "Use the hashtag #FreeWendy on social media," they urged, calling for greater awareness and advocacy.
Why you should care:
Wendy Williams has been a beloved media figure for decades, and her candid revelations highlight the challenges of living under guardianship and navigating life with a neurodegenerative condition. Her story raises questions about the rights of individuals in guardianship arrangements and the need for transparency and advocacy in such cases.