Wendy Williams' Family Speaks Out About Her 'Shocking' Struggles Since Leaving Her Show

In an interview, Wendy Williams' family has finally opened up about her tumultuous journey, discussing her decline since leaving her famous talk show, "The Wendy Williams Show," two and a half years ago.

The upcoming Lifetime documentary "Where is Wendy Williams?" chronicles her battle with alcohol addiction and health issues, including memory loss.

MEGAIn an interview with People magazine, Wendy Williams' family shed some light on the tumultuous journey the once vivacious talk show host has endured two and a half years since she bid farewell to her iconic talk show to retreat from the spotlight, leaving fans to speculate about her well-being.

Sharing her perspective on the Lifetime documentary, "Where is Wendy Williams?" Alex Finnie, Williams' niece, expressed shock and sadness at witnessing her aunt's apparent decline.

Finnie said: "We've all seen the images over the last few months — and, really, few years — of what has seemed like a spiral for my aunt."

"It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state," she added.

When the cameras started rolling for the Lifetime documentary in August 2022, the focus was on Williams' anticipated comeback to the spotlight as she launched a new podcast.

However, the project took an unexpected turn as it documented Williams' battle with alcohol addiction and health struggles, including Graves' disease and lymphedema.

A gut-wrenching moment in the documentary captures the "Wendy Williams Show" host's confusion as she asks her driver to revisit her former talk show studio moments after passing it.

"I don't know what the hell is going on," her driver said at the time. "I think she's losing memory. She doesn't know who I am sometimes."

Concerns about her memory loss and health issues surfaced, prompting her entry into a facility for "cognitive" treatment in April 2023, according to her manager and jeweler, Will Selby. In another segment of the documentary, Williams' son revealed that doctors attributed her cognitive decline to alcohol use.

Currently, Williams remains in treatment at the facility, with limited access granted only to a court-appointed legal guardian.

Williams' family expressed bewilderment over her situation, as they reportedly cannot call her themselves, but she can contact them.

"The people who love her cannot see her. I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here?" questioned Williams' sister and Alex's mom, Wanda.

During the fall of 2021, the anticipated return of "The Wendy Williams" show for its 13th season faced numerous delays, eventually proceeding without Williams, with a roster of celebrity guest hosts, including Leah Remini and Sherri Shepherd, filling in.

In early 2022, the actress encountered financial challenges when Wells Fargo froze her accounts following allegations from her financial adviser that she was of "unsound mind," according to court filings. This led to a court granting temporary financial guardianship to safeguard her from potential financial exploitation due to cognitive concerns.

Just a month after the appointment of her guardian, Williams made headlines when she was captured on camera passed out at a Louis Vuitton store, reportedly intoxicated.

In an attempt to address her addiction, she sought treatment at a wellness facility for two months starting in September.

However, concerns persisted when, in March of the following year, she exhibited "disheveled" behavior and was adamant about drinking. Alarmed by her deteriorating condition, producers ceased filming in April after discovering the 59-year-old in her apartment with her eyes rolled back in her head, per People.

Collaborating with Williams' manager, Selby, they urged the guardian to intervene and ensure Williams received the necessary help.

"The guardian did come around and was responsive to our pleas... to get her into a safer place," Executive producer Mark Ford shared.

Soon after, Williams retreated to Miami to spend time with her family, where her son Hunter Jr. took charge of her well-being, ensuring she abstained from alcohol, adopted a vegan diet, and engaged in physical fitness under the guidance of a trainer.

Despite her family's desire to prolong her stay for further recovery, the show's producers disagreed, prompting Hunter Jr. to prioritize his mother's health over business concerns.

"I said [to the producers], 'No, she's not coming back up because she needs to get better,'" Hunter Jr. asserted in the documentary. "I made sure that business was always on the back burner and that health was the number one priority."

The decision was made public in February 2022 when the show announced Williams' absence for the rest of the season. Subsequently, in May, an independent legal guardian was appointed to oversee both her finances and health, a decision that surprised her family as the court papers remained sealed.

The abrupt exclusion of her family from the legal proceedings left them in the dark about the reasons behind the court's decision.

"All I know is that Wendy and her team walked into the courtroom one way, and they walked out, and the family is completely excluded," Wanda revealed.

By June 2022, "The Wendy Williams Show" met its end. A production source told the news outlet that "losing it just broke her."

Williams' family remains resolute in keeping her safe and helping her get better despite her struggles and concerns.

"There is not a person in this family who doesn't want the same thing for Wendy, and that is her health," Wanda told People.