According to her court-appointed guardian, Wendy Williams' ongoing struggle with early-onset dementia has taken a grim turn for the worse. New court documents, obtained exclusively by PEOPLE, reveal that Sabrina E. Morrissey, the former talk show host's legal guardian, has declared Williams to be "cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated."
This update on Williams' health emerges amidst Morrissey's ongoing legal spat with A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment, and other affiliated entities involved in the production of "Where Is Wendy Williams?," a docuseries detailing the television personality's guardianship, health crises, and life post "The Wendy Williams Show."
In the documents, Morrissey lambasts the media companies for their "brutally calculated and deliberate actions" in exploiting Williams, referencing her frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. "FTD is a relentless progressive disease with no cure, its symptoms inexorably worsening over time," the filing reads.
The complaint further alleges that the media companies filmed Williams without a valid contract and released the footage without Morrissey's consent. Williams, described as being in a "highly vulnerable" state, was purportedly "utterly incapable of consenting to being filmed, let alone enduring the humiliation and exploitation."
Morrissey is now seeking the court's approval for "carefully targeted redactions" to certain parts of the ongoing lawsuit concerning her "health, familial bonds, and finances," in a bid to safeguard Williams' "privacy and dignity."
Williams' court-mandated guardianship commenced in April 2022, amidst her ongoing battles with Graves' disease, lymphedema, and alcohol abuse. She was subsequently placed in a care facility, with alleged restrictions on her family visits.
In February, Williams' medical team disclosed that the 60-year-old television star had been diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). According to a press release issued at that time, she received her diagnosis in 2023, and her medical team emphasized that these conditions had already posed "significant challenges in Wendy's life."
"Wendy remains remarkably capable of managing numerous tasks independently," the team emphasized in their statement. "Above all, she retains her signature wit and is receiving the necessary care to ensure her safety and fulfillment of her needs. She is deeply touched by the countless heartfelt thoughts and well-wishes pouring in from all corners."
Later on that day, Williams herself issued a statement through PEOPLE, expressing her "profound gratitude for the overwhelming love and kind words I've received following my diagnosis." "Let me express my astonishment! Your response has been nothing short of overwhelming. The messages I've received have deeply moved me, reminding me of the strength in unity and the importance of empathy," she continued. "I harbor hope that my story might bring benefit to others facing Frontotemporal Dementia... I continue to cherish my personal space and tranquility for my well-being. Please know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply cherished."
On the same day her diagnosis was made public, Morrissey initiated legal action against Lifetime's parent company, A&E Television Networks, aiming to halt the release of the documentary. However, this attempt was ultimately rejected by an appeals court, prompting Lifetime to confirm in a statement to PEOPLE that "the documentary 'Where Is Wendy Williams?' will premiere this weekend as scheduled."
Around that period, Williams' sister, Wanda Finnie, shared with PEOPLE that she was not informed of Williams' diagnosis after the latter was admitted to a facility for cognitive treatment. Finnie revealed that the family had not received any updates on Williams' condition since she spent time with them in Florida in the fall of 2021.
Moreover, the family alleged that Morrissey is currently the only individual with unrestricted access to Williams. "How did our beloved aunt or sister, who was once healthy and vibrant, suddenly become someone constantly in and out of the hospital?" Finnie pondered. "How is this system any better than what the family could have arranged? I don't know. But I do know that this system is flawed. I hope that Wendy will one day regain enough strength to speak for herself."
Despite multiple requests for comment from PEOPLE, Morrissey has remained silent on the family's allegations.
In August, Williams was spotted for the first time with her son, Kevin Hunt Jr., whom she shares with her ex-husband Kevin Hunter, at Bolingo Balance, a holistic store in Newark, New Jersey.
