Former talk show host Wendy Williams, 60, has made new claims about her medical care, revealing that she has not seen a doctor in over a year. In a candid interview featured in the TubiTV documentary TMZ Presents: Saving Wendy Williams, released on Wednesday, Williams spoke openly about her guardianship and the impact it has had on her life.
Speaking with TMZ founder Harvey Levin, Williams, who was assigned a guardian in 2022, discussed her 2023 dementia diagnosis. When asked when she last visited a doctor, Williams responded, “A long while,” adding that it had been so long she couldn’t even estimate a general time frame. She went on to explain that she spent a year in Connecticut without seeing a medical professional and has now been in her current assisted living facility for six or seven months without any medical visits.
Williams’ remarks have sparked concern among her fans and followers, who have been closely watching her legal and medical battles. In court filings, Williams’ guardian has claimed that she is “cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated,” but the former talk show host disputes this assessment. She told Levin, “I feel fantastic” and insisted, “I am not incapacitated.”
The issue of Williams’ medical condition has been a source of ongoing controversy, particularly following her 2023 diagnosis of dementia. However, experts are divided on whether this diagnosis is accurate. Dr. Leah Croll, a New York-based neurologist, noted that it can be challenging to differentiate between alcohol-induced brain damage and dementia. Williams has struggled with substance abuse in the past, and Croll suggested that her alcoholism could be a factor in her aphasia, a condition that impairs communication abilities. “Alcohol tends to be particularly toxic to the prefrontal lobes of the brain, which are also affected in frontotemporal dementia,” Croll explained, adding that there is significant overlap between these conditions.
Levin later questioned whether Williams’ apparent recovery after achieving sobriety might warrant a reevaluation of her diagnosis. Croll agreed, saying it was possible that Williams’ medical team should reassess her condition, especially considering the possible disappearance of symptoms in recent interviews. “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,” she explained.
The public debate over Williams’ health took a dramatic turn on February 5, when her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, filed court documents requesting a new medical evaluation. This came after Williams appeared on The Breakfast Club radio show, where she denied being “incapacitated” and vehemently rejected her dementia diagnosis. “I don’t have frontotemporal dementia… it’s disgusting,” she said during the interview. “That’s a very rare thing for anybody to have.” Williams went on to assert, “I am not incapacitated. I am not a baby.”
Morrissey’s court filing addressed these statements, indicating concerns that Williams may not fully understand what is in her best interests. The filing also noted that Williams had expressed a desire not to pursue legal action against A&E Television Networks over their Where Is Wendy Williams? documentary. In February 2024, Morrissey had filed a lawsuit against the network, accusing them of exploiting Williams and portraying her in a “demeaning and undignified manner.” Morrissey claimed that the lawsuit was intended to help secure financial support for Williams’ healthcare needs, but Williams’ recent statements have raised questions about her willingness to pursue the case.
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Morrissey’s request for a new medical evaluation emphasized the need for comprehensive neurological and psychological testing by a specialist. The filing argued that “the issue of whether [Williams] has the capacity to assess what is in her own best interests deserves renewed careful consideration by qualified experts.” The guardian also expressed that she would not pursue litigation if the new evaluation finds that Williams is capable of directing the lawsuit against A&E.
The ongoing legal and medical issues surrounding Williams have raised concerns about the treatment of individuals under guardianship. Critics argue that the system may not always work in the best interests of those it is meant to protect, especially when it comes to issues of medical autonomy and personal agency. The public’s growing interest in Williams’ case highlights the broader conversation about the rights of individuals under guardianship, particularly those with high-profile careers.
For now, Williams’ supporters continue to hope for a resolution that respects her wishes and health. The release of Saving Wendy Williams on TubiTV has provided fans with a rare, personal glimpse into the former talk show host’s life, shedding light on her struggles and raising important questions about the medical and legal systems that have shaped her recent years.
As Williams continues to assert her independence and challenge her guardianship, her case remains one of the most closely watched in the celebrity world.
