Wendy Williams isn’t backing down. The former talk show host dismissed her frontotemporal dementia diagnosis as “disgusting” and “fake” during a call-in to The Breakfast Club on Wednesday, fueling an already contentious legal battle over her guardianship. Hours later, her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, took swift action, filing a request for a fresh medical evaluation to reassess Williams’ mental state.
Williams Calls Diagnosis “Fake” While Guardian Demands More Tests
Williams, 60, made it clear on the radio show that she refuses to accept the medical findings. “I don’t have frontotemporal dementia… it’s disgusting,” she said, insisting she remains fully capable of managing her own affairs. “I’m not incapacitated. I am not a baby.”
Morrissey, who has controlled Williams’ finances and major life decisions since 2022, responded with legal force. Court documents obtained by People revealed her request for a “comprehensive neurological and psychological evaluation” to determine whether Williams truly lacks the capacity to handle her affairs.
The filing reiterated that doctors from Weill Cornell Medical Center diagnosed Williams with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), conditions that reportedly worsen over time and have no known cure. Yet, Williams’ public rejection of the diagnosis has raised questions about whether she should remain under legal guardianship.
A Legal Tangle Over Control and Capacity
Williams’ guardianship has been a topic of heated debate, drawing comparisons to Britney Spears’ former conservatorship. The talk show host has repeatedly claimed she is being controlled and financially cut off, most recently telling The Breakfast Club she has only “$15 to her name.”
Her court battle has taken several twists:
- In January, Williams reportedly fired her court-appointed attorney, Linda Redlisky.
- Her family, concerned about the guardianship, said they were seeking an “esteemed and honest” lawyer to fight for her independence.
- Morrissey’s new court filing also referenced Williams’ comments about an ongoing lawsuit against A&E Networks over the Where Is Wendy Williams? docuseries, suggesting Williams’ statements might indicate a shift in her mental capacity.
“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,” the court filing read.
Family and Fans Divided Over the Guardianship
Public opinion on Williams’ situation is sharply split. Some fans believe she is being unfairly controlled, echoing her complaints of feeling “trapped” in an assisted-living facility. Others worry her erratic public behavior in recent years suggests she does need legal oversight.
Williams’ family has also voiced concerns, particularly about her finances. In 2022, Wells Fargo froze her accounts, citing suspicions of financial exploitation, which led to the court appointing Morrissey as her guardian. Since then, Williams has been locked in a struggle to regain control over her money and life decisions.
Meanwhile, medical experts note that frontotemporal dementia, while rare, can significantly impair judgment, decision-making, and even self-awareness. If Williams truly has the condition, her denial might not be a deliberate rejection but rather a symptom of the disease itself.
What Comes Next?
Williams’ legal team has yet to respond to the latest court filing. The next steps could involve:
- A court-mandated medical evaluation, which may either confirm or challenge her current diagnosis.
- A hearing to review her guardianship status if the evaluation suggests she is capable of making her own decisions.
- Further legal action regarding the lawsuit against A&E, depending on whether Williams is deemed fit to proceed with the case.
Williams, known for her unfiltered opinions and larger-than-life personality, remains defiant. “I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison,” she said. Whether the legal system agrees is another matter entirely.
