Wendy Williams is pushing back against claims that she has frontotemporal dementia, publicly denouncing the diagnosis as “disgusting” and “fake” in a fiery radio interview, Today’s Esquire reported. The former talk show host made the remarks Wednesday during a call-in segment on The Breakfast Club, where she insisted she was fully capable of managing her own affairs.
Williams Denies Cognitive Impairment
“That’s a very rare thing for anybody to have. I’m not incapacitated. I am not a baby,” Williams, 59, declared during the interview, rejecting the medical findings that placed her under a court-ordered guardianship.
Shortly after her public denial, her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, responded by filing a request for another round of medical testing.
“In these statements, [Williams] has indicated that, in her opinion, she is not suffering from dementia and is not incapacitated,” Morrissey wrote in her legal motion.
The filing asks for a comprehensive neurological and psychological evaluation to assess Williams’ mental competency. Morrissey maintains that Williams’ formal diagnosis came from doctors at Weill Cornell Medical Center, who concluded that she suffers from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA)—both of which are degenerative conditions with no cure.
Legal Battle Over A&E Lawsuit
Morrissey’s filing also referenced Williams’ ongoing legal battle against A&E Television Networks and Lifetime Entertainment, which aired the controversial docuseries Where Is Wendy Williams? in February 2024.
During her Breakfast Club interview, Williams appeared to cast doubt on whether she wanted to continue pursuing the lawsuit. In response, Morrissey stated that she would halt legal action if medical experts determine Williams has regained the mental capacity to direct the case herself.
“The issue of whether [Williams] has the capacity to assess what is in her own best interests deserves renewed careful consideration by qualified experts,” the filing read.
Williams’ Fight Against Guardianship
Williams’ legal struggles have intensified in recent months. In January, she fired her court-appointed attorney, Linda Redlisky, in what appeared to be an effort to regain control of her finances and personal decisions. The move came just two weeks after Williams’ family announced they were seeking a new legal team to fight the guardianship.
During her January appearance on The Breakfast Club, Williams also made a startling claim about her current living conditions.
“I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison,” she stated. “I am definitely isolated. To talk to these people who live here, that is not my cup of tea.”
She also alleged that she has been stripped of access to her own money, claiming that she only has $15 to her namedue to the court-imposed guardianship.
With tensions rising between Williams and her guardian, the court’s next decision on her mental competency and financial autonomy could determine the future of one of television’s most controversial personalities.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.