Wendy Williams, the former host of "The Wendy Williams Show," has publicly expressed her desire to be released from a court-ordered guardianship. In a recent public sighting in New York City, Williams was heard saying, "I want out!" as she was approached by paparazzi.
Williams, 62, has been under a guardianship since May 2022. Wells Fargo had raised concerns about her well-being in a letter to a New York Supreme Court judge, describing her as an "incapacitated person" who required a "temporary guardian" to manage her affairs. Sabrina E. Morrissey, a New York-based attorney, was appointed as her legal guardian.
At the time of her placement under guardianship, Williams voiced her opposition, telling "Good Morning America" that she did not want someone else managing her finances. "I want to see all my money that I worked hard for my entire life," she stated, emphasizing her honesty and hard work.
Williams' health has been a subject of public discussion for several years. She took a hiatus from her show in 2020 due to complications from Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid. The "Wendy Williams Show" concluded in June 2022, after 13 seasons, amid her ongoing health challenges.
In 2024, it was revealed that Williams had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and aphasia, conditions that affect cognitive abilities, behavior, and communication. Johns Hopkins Medicine defines FTD as a group of disorders resulting from the loss of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, impacting thinking, behavior, personality, language, and movement. Aphasia, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a condition that impairs communication.
Following these diagnoses, Williams was placed in a treatment center, and her family reportedly had difficulty reaching her. In March 2025, she was reported to have tossed a note out of her assisted living facility window that read, "Help! Wendy!!" At that time, her attempts to legally end her conservatorship were denied.
Further complicating the situation, Williams' ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, filed a $250 million lawsuit in June 2025, alleging that her guardianship had become a "weapon, not a shield" and that she was being "abused, neglected, and defrauded." However, an attorney for Morrissey dismissed these claims as "untrue, inaccurate, incomplete or misleading."
In a notable development in November 2025, doctors reportedly walked back Williams' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis after she underwent additional testing. Despite this, efforts by her attorney, Joe Tacopina, to have her released from the conservatorship by the end of 2025 were unsuccessful.
Reports from November 2025 indicated that Williams cannot leave her assisted living facility without her guardian's permission. Morrissey must reportedly "sign off" on any outings. During her recent public appearance, Williams was seen carrying shopping bags and was accompanied by a male companion.