Wendy Williams Opens Up About Conservatorship and Dementia Diagnosis

Wendy Williams, the former daytime talk show host, recently gave her first interview since her dementia diagnosis was revealed in February 2024. In a candid conversation on The Breakfast Club, Williams discussed her conservatorship, health struggles, and financial situation.

Williams, 60, revealed that her motivation for being on television was primarily financial. She expressed a deep passion for radio, calling it her “root” and a “godsend.” The Wendy Williams Show, which aired for 14 seasons starting in 2008, concluded in 2022 following Williams’ health challenges related to Graves’ disease and COVID-19. Prior to her television career, Williams worked as a disc jockey at various radio stations, including 98.7 KISS FM, Hot 97, and WBLS-FM, where she hosted her own syndicated show.

In May 2022, a court-ordered guardianship was established for Williams after her financial advisor alleged she was of “unsound mind,” leading Wells Fargo to freeze her accounts. The Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?, filmed between August 2022 and April 2023, chronicled Williams’ health issues and struggles with alcohol addiction following the end of her talk show. In September 2022, she entered a wellness facility to address her overall health. Her medical team announced in February 2024 that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) the previous year.

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However, during her Breakfast Club interview, Williams disputed the dementia diagnosis. She stated that she is not cognitively impaired but feels “trapped” in her current living situation, comparing it to being in prison. She described being surrounded by much older residents and feeling isolated, despite acknowledging they are “good people.” Williams clarified that she keeps her door closed and spends her time watching television.

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Williams expressed frustration with her limited access to communication and technology. While she can make outgoing calls, she cannot receive them. She also lacks access to a laptop, iPad, or the ability to browse the internet. Williams emphasized the importance of personal freedom, stating, “My life is my goddamn life.”

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The mother of a 24-year-old son, Kevin Hunter Jr., Williams claimed to have only $15 and that her money is “in prison,” controlled by her guardian. She detailed the restrictions placed on her spending, explaining that even simple purchases like a hairbrush are dictated by the conservatorship. She expressed a longing for basic luxuries and the autonomy to manage her own finances. Williams’ interview sheds light on her current circumstances and her ongoing battle to regain control of her life and finances. It also raises questions about the nature of her conservatorship and the validity of her dementia diagnosis.