Wendy Williams is voicing new concerns about her medical treatment. Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023, the former talk show host, 60, later received a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2024 following extensive medical testing, as confirmed by a February 2024 statement from her team.
In a recently released TubiTV documentary titled TMZ Presents: Saving Wendy Williams, the television personality discusses how her life has been affected by her guardianship. In a conversation with the outlet’s founder, Harvey Levin, Williams reflected on her 2023 dementia diagnosis, expressing that she cannot recall the last time she received medical attention.
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Wendy Williams Admits She Hasn't Seen A Doctor in Nearly Two Years Despite Dementia Diagnosis: Wants a 'New Medical Evaluation'
Levin, 74, asked Williams, "When was the last time you saw a doctor?" She then replied, "A long while." The mom of one (who shares son Kevin, 24, with her ex-husband Kevin Hunter) maintained that she was unable to provide even a rough timeline due to the significant amount of time that had passed.
In legal documents, Williams' guardian (who she obtained in 2022) has asserted that she suffers from lasting cognitive impairment and is unable to function independently. However, when speaking to Levin, she explained, "I was in Connecticut for a year and I didn't go see anybody. I've been in here for six or seven months and I haven't seen anybody." Williams added that she feels "fantastic" and is "not incapacitated."
Considering Williams' past struggles with substance abuse and her recent sobriety, New York neurologist Leah Croll suggested that Williams’ alcoholism might have led to her aphasia, a condition caused by brain damage that affects a person's capacity to comprehend and express language. "This is actually an extremely challenging diagnosis to make," she said.
When distinguishing between brain damage caused by alcohol and dementia, Croll noted that "there’s a lot of overlap because alcohol tends to be particularly toxic to the prefrontal lobes of the brain and, of course, those are the parts of the brain that are affected in frontotemporal dementia as well." Levin then pondered if a potential misdiagnosis necessitated another evaluation, given Williams' sobriety and the recent absence of symptoms in her latest interviews.
Croll replied, "This could be a reason for her neurologist and her team to reevaluate what’s going on with her and reassess her cognition at this point." Sabrina Morrissey, the guardian of Williams, submitted legal papers on February 5th asking for a "new medical evaluation." This came after the ex-broadcaster asserted on The Breakfast Club that she was not "incapacitated" during her appearance earlier that same day.
On the radio show earlier this month, Williams stressed, "I don’t have frontotemporal dementia…it’s disgusting." She added, "That’s a very rare thing for anybody to have." The author went on, "I’m not incapacitated. I am not a baby." Morrissey's appeal also covered Williams' remarks about her lack of interest in suing A&E Television Networks.
In February 2024, Morrissey filed a lawsuit against A&E over the Where Is Wendy Williams? documentary series. Morrissey claimed that the doc "shamelessly exploits [Williams] and portrays her in an extremely demeaning and undignified manner." The filing also noted, "In these statements, [Williams] has indicated that, in her opinion, she is not suffering from dementia and is not incapacitated."
It went on, "We are writing this letter today because, during a radio interview this morning, [Williams] discussed the A&E matter at some length and appeared to indicate that she does not want to proceed with the action." The guardian asserted that the lawsuit against A&E aimed to secure significant financial compensation for Williams to cover her future healthcare costs.
Referring to Williams' previous diagnosis, Morrissey also called for a thorough new medical assessment, including extensive neurological and psychological tests by a specialist, following Williams' public denial of her condition.
The filing also stated, "The issue of whether [Williams] has the capacity to assess what is in her own best interests deserves renewed careful consideration by qualified experts, and should not be left to careless speculation in tabloids, radio, or on the Internet."
Morrissey finished by saying she has "no interest" in continuing with legal action if by some rare chance, the new medical exam shows that Williams now has the mental capacity to manage the lawsuit against A&E.
