Wendy Williams says she feels like a ‘prisoner’
Media personality Wendy Williams has spoken out for the first time since being placed under conservatorship. She says she is not cognitively impaired and would like to leave the health facility where she is being held. FOX 5 NY’s Teresa Priolo has the details.
Former talk show host Wendy Williams broke her silence on Thursday, calling from a New York facility she described as a “prison.”
“I’m in this place with people in their 90s, 80s and 70s,” Williams, 60, explained in an interview on iHeartRadio’s “The Breakfast Club.” “There’s something wrong with the people on this floor.”
“My life is terrible,” cried Wendy.
FILE – Television personality Wendy Williams attends the 2019 NYWIFT Muse Awards at the New York Hilton Midtown on December 10, 2019 in New York City.
Williams explained that she doesn’t have access to modern devices such as smartphones, iPads, or laptops, leaving her with only the television she was able to purchase. She also revealed that she was given pills without explanation.
Her niece Alex Finney supported Wendy’s claims, saying the former TV personality had been unable to leave the facility and had been receiving medication for no apparent reason for the past three years. “She can call us, but we can’t call her,” Finney added.
Why you should care:
What is conservatorship?
Fans gather outside to support the “Free Britney” movement during the conservatorship termination hearing at the Stanley Mosque Courthouse in Los Angeles, California on November 12, 2021. (Photo by Michael Buckner/ Penske Media, Getty Images)
When a person has significantly reduced mental capacity, courts can authorize others to make financial and life decisions on their behalf, sometimes without their consent. This is usually the case for people with developmental disabilities or age-related conditions such as dementia.
Despite being in custody, Ms Williams claimed she was “not cognitively impaired” and expressed dissatisfaction with her condition. “Where I am…first I need to get a key to unlock the door in order to press the elevator to go downstairs,” she said. “Secondly, the people here, all the people here are like nannies, so to speak.”
What they say:
Who is Sabrina Morrissey?
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 22: Wendy Williams is seen in Soho on March 22, 2021 in New York City. (Photo courtesy of Raymond Hall/GC Images)
Williams pointed to the fact that her legal guardian Charlamagne claims to be Sabrina Morrissey as a major obstacle. Wendy refused to give her guardian’s name.
She and Finney claim that guardianship makes it difficult for Wendy’s friends and family to contact her.
“For the past three years, I’ve spent my birthday alone,” Williams said.
Back story:
Is Wendy Williams sick?
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 28: Wendy Williams and Ray J are seen walking in SoHo on June 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo courtesy of Raymond Hall/GC Images)
In February 2024, Williams’ team announced that she was also battling progressive aphasia.
The first two episodes of the documentary “Where Is Wendy Williams” have premiered, focusing on her struggles and highlighting her health challenges. Williams’ representatives revealed that in 2023, Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
During the interview, Williams admitted to watching the documentary at the urging of her parents and firmly refuted claims that she was “cognitively impaired and incompetent.”
Let’s dig deeper:
Wendy’s battle with lymphedema
Williams has faced health and personal challenges over the years, including being diagnosed with lymphedema in 2019. This chronic disease, which causes tissue swelling due to the buildup of protein-rich fluid, most commonly affects the arms and legs, but can also affect them. other parts of the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, lymphedema is caused by disorders of the lymphatic system.
Wendy’s struggle with alcoholism
Williams’ struggle with alcohol reportedly worsened towards the end of her marriage to Kevin Hunter, and Hunter had an affair with another woman while they were still married. had a child. Her longtime friend Regina Shell claimed that this period was the peak of Wendy’s alcoholism.
In 2019, Williams entered a treatment facility and lived in a sober house while filming the talk show. She later admitted to a wellness center for two months while making the documentary, but she doesn’t really know why she was admitted.
As Wendy Williams continues to fight for her independence, her story raises questions about the challenges faced by people in guardianship and restrictive care.
