Wendy Williams' dementia test results surface amid bombshell new ruling in guardianship case
The former daytime TV queen, who recently made a rare public appearance to celebrate her 61st birthday, has been living at a luxury assisted-living facility in New York since being placed under court-ordered guardianship in 2022.
The legal arrangement, which gave control of her personal and financial affairs to a court-appointed guardian, came after her bank flagged concerns about her mental health and potential financial exploitation.
Williams was diagnosed in 2023 with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, but she insists she's not incapacitated and wants out of the guardianship, claiming she's being controlled against her will.
Results from her new medical evaluation — described as involving 'a significant number of tests, both medical and neuropsychological, and scans including brain imaging' — prompted doctors to issue an opinion regarding Williams' neurological condition and diagnosis, according to legal documents obtained by People on Tuesday.
While the paperwork itself does not explicitly list her condition, sources told the outlet that the exams confirmed Williams has frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and aphasia.
Results from her new medical evaluation — described as involving 'a significant number of tests, both medical and neuropsychological, and scans including brain imaging' — prompted doctors to issue an opinion regarding Williams' neurological condition and diagnosis, according to legal documents; (seen in 2019)
In the documents, an attorney representing Williams' guardian Sabrina Morrissey requests that the court extend the guardianship for an additional three months, setting a proposed end date of November 5.
The attorney also notes that 'complications have arisen' because various parties — including counsel for certain family members, Williams' ex-husband, and others — have indicated plans to challenge both the guardianship itself and Ms. Morrissey's role as guardian.
The news comes almost a month after Williams and powerhouse attorney Joe Tacopina were spotted outside Scott's restaurant in NYC, where they confirmed a lawsuit is coming.
'Those responsible for her status, her, basically, incarceration, will be held accountable,' Tacopina told TMZ. 'There's no question about that.'
He didn't hold back, adding: 'This guardian process is scary. She was misdiagnosed.'
'What's next is hopefully justice,' Tacopina continued. 'This process has been so long, it's really despicably slow.'
Then, gesturing toward Wendy, he added, 'This is Wendy, the same Wendy, we've had conversation over six months, she's the same Wendy Williams that you know from TV. She belongs in a facility like I belong in a facility.'
'She is a person in control of her faculties and is a great human being… and it sickens me… this isn't a case for me, it's a cause…'
Wendy jumped in with a laugh, saying, 'I just had a birthday and I'm still in a guardianship. If that doesn't say enough, I don't know what does.'
Tacopina wrapped it up with a clear mission: 'My goal for now and the priority is to get her back home.'
He added, 'Wherever home is… where she can come and go as she pleases.'
Wendy was placed under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey in 2022—and in a bombshell court filing last November, Morrissey claimed Williams was 'permanently incapacitated' due to her dementia battle.
In March, Wendy made a bold move by retaining a new legal team to fight for her freedom and challenge the court-ordered arrangement.
The star hired Tacopina - who recently represented A$AP Rocky - to help secure her freedom from her three-year conservatorship.
Since then, a #FreeWendy movement has gained momentum.
In a dramatic moment caught on camera in early April, Williams was seen banging on her facility window while supporters rallied in the street below, demanding she be released.
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