Wendy Williams calls guardianship ‘prison’ in emotional The Breakfast Club interview

Wendy Williams opens up about her guardianship, denies dementia, and shares emotional struggles during the interview.

Wendy Williams recently spoke out against her guardianship during a call to The Breakfast Club, expressing deep frustration with her current situation. 

The former talk show host has been under guardianship since 2022, after being diagnosed with dementia and aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication. However, during her interview, Williams denied the diagnosis, stating, “Do I seem that way, god damn it?” She went on to describe her life in a New York City care facility as akin to being “in prison.”

Williams, 60, explained that she was living in a facility where most residents were much older, stating, “There’s something wrong with these people here on this floor.” Her niece, Alex, also phoned into the show to back Williams' claims. She described the facility’s harsh conditions, including Williams’ isolated apartment, limited communication with loved ones, and lack of internet access. Alex said her aunt spends much of her time staring out a window at buildings across the street. "This is what is called emotional abuse," Williams added, emphasizing the loneliness she’s felt, particularly spending her last three birthdays in isolation.

The conversation then shifted to the four-part Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?, which aired shortly after Williams' diagnosis was announced. Her guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, had initially attempted to block the documentary's release, arguing it was exploitative. However, Williams shared that both she and Morrissey watched it together, with the latter taking notes throughout. Williams reflected on the experience, saying, “This system is broken... it has falsified a lot.”

Williams also expressed concerns about the medication she’s given at the facility, saying she has no idea what the seven pills are for and questioned the care she was receiving. “Excuse me doctor, can you tell me what this pill is for?” she asked. She voiced her hope to leave the facility and reunite with her family in Miami, especially for her father’s 94th birthday next month. She referred to her guardian as “that person who is holding me hostage” and expressed her emotional exhaustion over the situation, even crying while speaking about her father’s potential birthday absence.

Wendy Williams discusses being trapped in a conservatorship during her interview on The Breakfast Club. pic.twitter.com/Txw1X9w67h

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In addition to addressing her guardianship, Williams made a brief statement on Diddy’s upcoming trial, claiming that he would go to prison for life, based on information she knows from the past.

Williams' niece Alex also spoke out, encouraging fans to support Williams using the hashtag #FreeWendy or donate to her GoFundMe. She emphasized that Williams does not appear to be incapacitated, describing the situation as “a luxury prison,” where Wendy is being held against her will.

Williams, who hosted The Wendy Williams Show from 2008 to 2021, stepped down due to health issues related to lymphedema and Graves' disease. The show’s final episode aired in June 2022 after guest hosts filled in. Despite the recent challenges, Williams’ family and supporters continue to advocate for her freedom and well-being, hoping for a resolution to her guardianship that restores her independence.