Former talk show host Wendy Williams issued a statement on Friday thanking the public for its response to the news that she had been diagnosed with dementia.
“I want to say that I am so grateful for the love and kind words I received after sharing my diagnosis of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Let me just say, Wow! Your response has been overwhelming,” Williams says in the statement provided by a representative. The messages shared with me moved me, reminding me of the power of loneliness and the need for compassion. I hope others with frontotemporal dementia will benefit from my story. I would also like to thank the Frontotemporal Degeneration Society for their kind words of support and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of Frontotemporal Dementia. I still need personal space and peace to thrive. Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.
Williams issued the statement on the eve of the scheduled broadcast of a new documentary depicting her health struggles. Part 1 of “Where's Wendy Williams?” — produced by Entertainment One — is scheduled to air Saturday night on the Lifetime cable network. Part 2 will be broadcast on Sunday.
A New York Supreme Court judge cleared the way for the film to be broadcast, after dismissing a lawsuit filed by a woman – said to be Williams' guardian – who tried to stop it. The woman, Sabrina Morrissey, requested a restraining order to block the broadcast, but Judge Peter H. Moulton ruled it was an “impermissible prior restraint on speech” and violated the First Amendment.
Williams was a dominant figure on daytime television for 13 years on her eponymous show, where she would daily hear from show business personalities and pop culture topics. Her ongoing health issues led to her leaving her syndicated show in 2022 and she was eventually replaced permanently by Sherri Shepherd.
Williams has faced numerous health issues, including her ongoing battle with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease related to the thyroid.
Representatives for the TV personality issued a statement about her diagnosis on Thursday. The statement details concerns about her difficulty processing information, noting that she “began losing words, acting erratically at times, and having difficulty understanding financial transactions.”
The statement continued: “The decision to share this news was difficult and was made after careful consideration, not only to call for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support thousands of others facing similar conditions.”
“Where's Wendy Williams?” It is a look at the physical, mental, and financial struggles that loomed before her exit from her program. Williams has been placed under financial conservatorship amid a legal battle with Wells Fargo.
