Wendy Williams is considered “permanently unable to work” due to dementia: Guardian

Wendy Williams’ ongoing battle with early-onset dementia has progressed, according to her court-appointed guardian.

In new documents obtained by PEOPLE, Sabrina E. Morrissey, the former talk show host’s court-appointed guardian, claims that Williams has become “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled and incapacitated.”

The update on Williams’ health comes amid Morrissey’s ongoing legal battle with A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment and other affiliates involved in the release of Where is Wendy Williams?a documentary about the guardianship of television personalities, health diagnoses and life afterward The Wendy Williams Show.

“This case stems from the brutally calculated, premeditated actions of powerful and cowardly opportunistic media companies working with a producer to knowingly exploit (Williams),” the documents state, referring to her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. “FTD is a progressive disease, meaning there is no cure and symptoms only get worse over time.”

The filing alleged that the media companies behind the series “filmed without a valid contract and published without the Guardian’s consent.” It also claims that Williams was in an “extremely vulnerable” state and that she was “clearly incapable of consenting to being recorded, let alone being humiliated and exploited.”

Morrissey is asking the court to authorize “narrow redactions” of certain portions of the ongoing litigation involving her “health, family relationships and finances” to protect the TV host’s “privacy and dignity.”

Williams’ court-ordered conservatorship first began in April 2022 after Williams experienced ongoing health issues with Graves’ disease, lymphedema and alcohol abuse. She was later placed in a nursing facility with reportedly limited contact with her family.

In February, Williams’ medical care team announced that the 60-year-old television star had been diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). According to a press release at the time, she received her diagnosis in 2023 and her medical team said the conditions were “already posing significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”

“Wendy is still able to do many things for herself,” the team said in a statement. “Most importantly, she retains her trademark sense of humor and receives the care she needs to ensure she is protected and her needs are met. She is grateful for the many kind thoughts and good wishes sent her way.”

Williams spoke out in a statement to PEOPLE later in the day, saying she was “immensely grateful for the love and kind words I received after sharing my diagnosis.”

“Let me say, wow! Their reaction was overwhelming. The messages shared with me touched me and reminded me of the power of unity and the need for compassion,” she said. “I hope others with FTD can benefit from my story… I continue to need personal space and peace to thrive. Please know that your positivity and encouragement are greatly appreciated.”

On the same day her diagnosis was made public, Morrissey filed a lawsuit against Lifetime parent company A&E Television Networks to stop the documentary’s release. That effort was ultimately rejected by an appeals court, after which Lifetime confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that “the documentary Where is Wendy Williams? will air as planned this weekend.

Around that time, Williams’ sister Wanda Finnie told PEOPLE that she didn’t learn of Williams’ diagnosis after she was taken to a facility for treatment of cognitive issues. Finnie stated that the family has not received any information about Williams’ diagnosis since fall 2021, when the star spent time with his family in Florida.

The family also claimed that Morrissey is the only person who currently has full access to them.

“How did she go from being this aunt or sister that we love who is currently healthy to this person who is in and out of the hospital?” Finnie asked. “How is this system better than the system the family could set up? I don’t know it. I know this system is broken. I hope that Wendy will eventually become strong enough to speak for herself.”

Morrissey has not commented on the family’s allegations despite repeated requests from PEOPLE for comment.

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In August, Williams was first spotted with her son Kevin Hunt Jr. — whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Hunter — at the holistic store Bolingo Balance in Newark, New Jersey