Wendy Williams is currently in a facility receiving care for frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, conditions that were publicly disclosed in a press release on February 22. This announcement coincided with the lead-up to the debut of the Lifetime documentary series “Where Is Wendy Williams?” which aired on February 24. The series proceeded despite legal efforts to halt it, initiated by Wendy’s guardian through a lawsuit against A&E Television Networks. The court ultimately allowed the documentary’s broadcast.
“I know that she is stuck and we are trying to unstick her. Her family is here and she doesn’t need a facility. We are here to take care of her,” Wendy’s brother, Tommy Williams, exclusively tells Us Weekly. “All I want for her is freedom. We have a father who would love to see her.”
The backdrop to Wendy’s health and legal battles includes her being placed under financial guardianship in May 2022 following allegations by her bank, Wells Fargo, of potential financial exploitation. This guardianship was instituted shortly after it was announced that Wendy would be taking a break from the 13th season of “The Wendy Williams Show.”
“It’s because of the people who she is around. You can’t leave. You’re there as part of a program,” he says. “It’s the one thing that is holding her and keeping her from communicating, traveling, and doing all the things she likes to do.”
“It was obvious about her drinking. She was alone and her mental state, having been divorced and losing her mother and liquor, it was not a good mix,” he says, referring to Wendy’s 2020 split from ex-husband Kevin Hunter Sr., and the death of her mom, Shirley Williams, that same year. “She was very upset about losing her mother and very sad.”
Tommy, Wendy’s brother, expressed the family’s challenges during this period, noting limited communication with Wendy and the emotional strain on the family. He shared his longing for a reunion with his sister, highlighting the extended period since their last meeting, told Daily Mail.
“We can’t communicate unless someone patches us through,” he reveals. “We wait for calls. I wait for calls from Wendy or my sister or whoever she can get to first and we can all hop on. When she makes that phone call [to us], we’re committed to listening and sharing for the moment.”
Despite Tommy’s absence from the documentary, other family members, including Wendy’s sister Wanda Williams, and son Kevin Hunter Jr., contributed to the narrative. Kevin shed light on his mother’s struggles with alcohol, linking it to significant life changes and losses, including her divorce and her mother’s passing in 2020. He observed how these events, combined with alcohol, negatively impacted Wendy’s mental well-being.
“I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD),” she said. “Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming.”
Amid these trials, Tommy remains hopeful, believing in the family’s ability to support Wendy through her health challenges. He emphasized the importance of providing Wendy with the space and tranquility she needs to recover. Wendy herself has acknowledged the value of positive support from her fans, expressing gratitude for their encouragement during this difficult phase of her life.
