Wendy Williams Reportedly 'Permanently Incapacitated' By Dementia
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on November 26, 2024 at 11:45 AM EST
In a heartbreaking update on Wendy Williams’ health, new court documents have revealed the tragic extent of her condition.
According to legal filings from her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, the former talk show host is now considered “permanently incapacitated” due to the effects of dementia.
These documents offer the most detailed look yet into Wendy Williams' ongoing battle with the disease.
New Documents Reveal Wendy Williams' Current Health Condition
The heartbreaking revelation comes as Williams continues to fight frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia, both of which have severely affected her cognitive abilities. The new court filing, obtained by The US Sun, was presented in a New York courtroom and sheds light on the devastating impact of her condition.
According to Morrissey’s attorneys, Williams, once a towering figure in daytime television, is now struggling with a loss of cognitive function that has left her "permanently incapacitated."
The filing further reads, “In January 2022, after becoming aware of a pattern of disturbing events concerning [Wendy's] welfare and finances, Wells Fargo took the highly unusual step of initiating a guardianship proceeding on its own initiative in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the 'Guardianship Proceeding'), to seek the court appointment of an independent guardian for [Wendy's] financial affairs."
Wendy Williams Is Confirmed To Have Dementia
In the legal documents, Williams is described as “an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia.” This confirmation of her diagnosis adds to what has been a difficult and uncertain period for the beloved TV personality. The filing also comes amid ongoing legal battles between Morrissey and Lifetime over the network's documentary "Where is Wendy Williams?"
For some time now, fans and media alike have been speculating about Williams' health. However, hearing the grim details in a formal legal document is a stark reminder of the severity of her situation. To hear the phrase “permanently incapacitated” on the record is undeniably heartbreaking for those who have followed her career for decades.
Wendy Williams Faces Ongoing Health Battles
Wendy Williams has long been a fixture in American television, beloved for her candid, no-holds-barred approach on "The Wendy Williams Show" As she battles these cognitive challenges, the world watches with empathy and sorrow, hoping for some semblance of peace and comfort for the TV icon in her difficult journey.
Morrissey's legal team requested that the court redact specific sections of the case concerning Williams' “health, familial relationships, and finances” to safeguard her privacy. The document states, “We respectfully request that the Court grant Plaintiff’s motion for limited redactions to protect non-public information from the Guardianship Proceeding that has been placed under seal by the court overseeing that proceeding.”
Wendy Williams Placed Under Guardianship
Wendy Williams, the former host of "The Wendy Williams Show," was placed under guardianship in 2022 after being diagnosed with alcohol-related brain damage, a condition that was revealed during a rehab stay in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2019.
At the time, a neurologist delivered the devastating news to Williams, her son Kevin Hunter Jr., and her then-husband Kevin Hunter Sr. During one of her rare public appearances in 2021, Williams was photographed using a wheelchair. A source close to the situation explained, “The doctor explained to them that Wendy was suffering from alcohol-related brain damage. They told her that her alcohol abuse had done permanent damage to the layers in her brain.”
In a statement to The US Sun, Williams' guardian addressed her ongoing health challenges, noting, “As Wendy’s fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves’ Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health.”
Wendy Williams Spotted For The First Time In April Since Revealing Aphasia, Dementia Diagnoses
In April, Wendy Williams was seen in public for the first time since her private legal and medical struggles became known earlier this year. This marked her first public appearance since her team announced in a February press release that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
Shortly after, her deteriorating health was featured in the documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?"
The docuseries chronicles Wendy Williams' battle with her health, culminating in her admission to a treatment facility. Throughout the series, her family discusses her dementia diagnosis and advocates for changes to the guardianship that was established in 2022.