Wendy Williams permanently incapacitated by dementia, guardian reveals in court filing

Wendy Williams, the former daytime talk show host, has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and her legal guardian claims she is now permanently incapacitated. In recent court filings, Sabrina Morrissey, Williams’ guardian, detailed the severity of her health condition, describing the 60-year-old entertainer as “cognitively impaired” and unable to care for herself. This development comes amid ongoing legal battles over the Where is Wendy Williams? documentary produced by Lifetime, a project that has sparked disputes between her team and the network.

Williams’ health struggles have been well documented. In 2019, she was diagnosed with alcohol-related brain damage during a rehabilitation stay. Her condition worsened, and she was absent from the final season of her show, The Wendy Williams Show, which raised concerns among fans and colleagues alike. The onset of dementia further complicated her health issues, leading to the appointment of a guardian in 2022 after Wells Fargo expressed concerns about her welfare and finances.

Her guardian’s recent court filing stresses the need to protect Williams’ privacy, requesting that certain details regarding her health and personal life remain confidential. This request is made in light of the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the documentary, which had previously led her guardian to seek a restraining order to prevent its release. The court overturned that request, allowing the documentary to air.

Williams' diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, which impairs her speech, was publicly confirmed by her team in 2024. In a statement, her guardian noted that sharing this information was part of an effort to raise awareness about these conditions. Despite the ongoing legal disputes, the likelihood of a public return for Williams appears slim, as her health continues to deteriorate.