Posted by Amarachi on Wed 27th Nov, 2024 - tori.ng
The filing called Williams "an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated."
Wendy Williams
Iconic American former presenter and media personality, Wendy Williams is now "permanently incapacitated" just months after her diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia was disclosed to the public.
New court documents, obtained by the US Sun, share the extent of the 60-year-old entertainer’s health deterioration as told by her legal team and guardian Sabrina Morrissey.
The filing called Williams "an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated."
The documents added that after a "pattern of disturbing events concerning [Wendy’s] welfare and finances" financial institution Wells Fargo "took the highly unusual step of initiating a guardianship" for Williams’ "financial affairs" in January 2022.
The latest filing comes amid the ongoing legal battle around Lifetime’s documentary Where Is Wendy Williams? and the documents ask the court that certain parts of Williams’ "health, familial relationships, and finances" be redacted for her privacy.
The two-part Lifetime special – which focuses on concerns around Williams and the impact of her alcohol addiction – has been contested since it was set to air in February.
Morrissey’s original request to halt the airing of the documentary was overturned as "impermissible prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment of the institution."
She later filed an amended complaint in September against Lifetime and the production companies.
The suit then moved to federal court from New York Supreme Court in October.
Ahead of the Lifetime documentary airing, Williams’ care team issued a lengthy statement to the public explaining her medical condition.
It read: "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.
"Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy’s ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.
"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)."
The statement added that the condition presented Williams with "significant hurdles in [her] life"
It concluded: "The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances."