Wendy Williams Documentary Lawsuit: Legal Battle Over Lifetime Release

TFD – Dive into the legal drama surrounding the release of Wendy Williams’ documentary on Lifetime. Discover the challenges faced by her legal guardian and the impact on her health journey.

According to a source acquainted with the court procedures, the court-appointed guardian for Wendy Williams failed in their bid to stop an insightful documentary on the former talk show host from debuting on Lifetime this weekend.

A network representative told CNN on Friday that “Lifetime appeared in court today, and the documentary ‘Where Is Wendy Williams?’ will air this weekend, as planned.”

According to the individual who spoke with CNN on Thursday, Williams’ legal guardian filed a lawsuit in a New York State court against A&E Television Networks, the parent company of Lifetime. The suit is under seal, so the contents of the claim are not public record, but the individual stated that Williams’ legal guardian was asking the court for a temporary restraining order to halt Lifetime from airing the documentary.

Regarding the lawsuit’s substance, Lifetime declined to comment.

“Where is Wendy Williams?” is a four-part documentary series that offers an incredibly honest look at Williams’ life as she battles alcoholism and health problems. Williams is the executive producer, and her family members appear on camera as well.

Williams’ care team released a statement on Thursday stating that she was diagnosed with dementia and aphasia in 2023. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association states that in affected individuals, the conditions may impair speech, communication, and cognitive function.

Williams’ involvement in the project was authorized by the guardianship, according to Lifetime.

The motion to seal the contents of the suit, obtained by CNN, names Sabrina Morrissey, a lawyer specializing in guardianships, as the “temporary guardian of W.W.H.” Wendy Williams Hunter is Wendy Williams’ full name.

Despite CNN’s repeated attempts for comment, Morrissey has not replied. Morrissey’s lawyer did not immediately return calls for comment.

Though her care team did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment regarding the documentary or the lawsuit filed by Williams’ guardian, a representative for the care team issued a statement on behalf of Williams on Friday afternoon.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all of the support and well wishes I have received since disclosing my diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and aphasia. Wow, let me say that! A portion of the statement said, “Your response has been overwhelming. “I still require solitude and tranquility in order to flourish. Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.”

The documentary

The original plan for Williams’ documentary, which she first proposed to Lifetime, was to follow her post-talk show life while she worked on starting a podcast. However, as soon as the cameras started to film, the producers realized the scenario they had planned would be very different.

Executive producer Mark Ford told CNN that neither Williams nor her manager gave their consent for anything to be filmed.

We’re aware that some of her supporters might find it difficult to watch. However, we think that the year and a half that we spent filming this documentary accurately depicts Wendy’s life,” Ford continued.

Producers reportedly got so worried about Williams’ health by the end of production, according to Ford, that they pushed Williams’ management team to seek new medical attention. According to him, “the documentary turned into an honest portrayal of Wendy’s grave medical condition and whether or not she was getting proper care.”

Williams’ family and a Lifetime official both stated that she is presently receiving cognitive care in an inpatient treatment center. Williams and the project’s creators haven’t spoken directly in over six months.

Alex Finnie, the niece of Williams who features in the Lifetime documentary, said to CNN this week that she is unsure if her aunt has seen the completed work. She said Williams told her she wanted to do the documentary so she could reclaim her own narrative, no matter how painful the subject matter may be.

“We had a brief conversation about it,” Finnie said to CNN. “It’s a really sensitive topic.”

Williams’ family is pleased that she is now receiving the right care, but they have voiced worries about the guardianship. Finnie said to CNN that she spoke with her aunt a few days ago and that they communicate on a daily basis. Williams claimed that her family does not have access to reach Williams directly, nor do they know the location of the institution where she is receiving treatment, because she is currently subject to the court-ordered arrangement.

According to court records cited in the Lifetime documentary, Williams was placed under a court-ordered financial guardianship in February 2022 after Wells Fargo frozen his accounts following a report from the host’s former financial adviser to the bank stating that Williams was “unsound mind.”

According to Finnie, the family is hoping that the video will raise awareness of guardianships and conservatorships in general as well as Williams’ path.

“My sincere wish is that individuals perceive my aunt as a human being, empathizing with her, offering prayers, and hoping for a better future for her. Additionally, I hope that they gain insight into the complex system that governs her life at the moment, affecting not only her but also numerous others who are central to it,” Finnie stated.

The documentary’s creators think that because of the initiative and their partnership with Williams, she received better support.

We all have a great deal of personal affection for Wendy. Ford told CNN, “We are glad she is in a better position now. And we hope that the documentary was part of her journey to that safer place.