Wendy Williams opens up on 'horrific situation' in Mother's Day message amid guardianship drama
Wendy Williams got heads scratching after posting a cryptic Mother's Day message about her 'horrific situation' on social media on Saturday.
The TV personality, 60, has been residing at an assisted living facility in the state of New York after being placed under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey in 2022 amid her ongoing battle with dementia.
Wendy raised eyebrows as she failed to mention her son Kevin Jr, 24, in a post that read: 'HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY TO ALL MOMS. We'd also like to take this time to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you who have gotten behind exposing this horrific situation.'
The post continued: 'Every prayer, every like, every comment, every video, every signature on our petitions, WENDY THANKS YOU!!!'
The message concluded with, 'We ask for your continued alliance as we continue to push forward with actions. Updates coming soon!!'
Wendy is mom to son Kevin Jr., 24, whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Hunter. The pair were married from 1999 until their split in 2019 when he fathered a baby with a mistress. Their divorce was finalized the following year.
Kevin Jr. was previously accused of mishandling his mother's money and taking a large amount from her bank account in 2022.
Wendy's funds were later frozen and court filings gave an explanation for the bank taking that step, according to People.
'Wells Fargo has strong reason to believe that [Williams] is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.'
The bank also made the decision due to 'reports of the financial advisor, who has recently witnessed telltale signs of exploitation, including [Williams]'s own expressed apprehensions' and 'other independent third parties who know [Williams] well and share these concerns.'
The 24-year-old later denied the allegations in the Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?
A few months earlier in March of this year, it was revealed that the former talk show host has forgiven her son following the financial drama.
The star's health care advocate, Ginalisa Monterroso, informed People at the time: 'What the misconception is, what people have to understand is that Wendy told the world now that this happened three years ago.
'So that's something that they were able to get through. That will always be her son, unconditional love.
She continued: 'And that's pretty much, it was big news to everybody. But again, this happened three years ago.'
Williams was last spotted out in public on April 11 as she joined pals at Fresco by Scotto in NYC.
In photos taken at the time, the former talk show host held a big grin on her face as she enjoyed dessert with niece Alex Finnie, Baruch Shemtov and Rosanna Scotto.
One day earlier, Wendy had also left her assisted living facility - which she has compared to a 'prison' - to have dinner with Don Lemon in the Big Apple.
It came just one day after the star's guardian reportedly denied Wendy from having dinner with her niece and new lawyer.
Wendy was placed under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey in 2022 - and last year in November she claimed that Williams was 'permanently incapacitated' by her dementia battle.
Back in 2023, the star was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
When Dom Lemon brought up her guardian's allegations, Wendy said, 'I don't know how much I can talk without being punished.'
She later added, 'I'm not in a good position. My life is screwed up. You know, this guardian mess is - please, look, I am isolated. I feel like I'm in prison. I feel like, you know, they're trying to control me and everything that I do.'
Also in April, Sabrina Morrissey reportedly refused to allow Wendy to leave the assisted living facility called Coterie to have dinner with her niece and new attorney Joe Tacopina.
The star has hired Tacopina - who recently represented A$AP Rocky - to help secure her freedom from her three-year conservatorship.
A #FreeWendy movement has since begun and in early April, Williams was seen banging on her window from inside the facility as supporters rallied for her below on the street.
In March, it was revealed that Wendy was obtaining a new legal team in a bold move to break free from the guardianship.
Ginalisa Monterroso, the CEO and founder of Connect Care Advisory Group, also informed to Page Six the importance of Williams obtaining a new legal team in order to get out of the conservatorship.
'She's just stuck in what she calls a luxury prison...There's been no plan put in place for her, no paperwork, no hearings. There was no strategy or help lined up for her at all.'
Attorneys for Morrissey had sent a letter to DailyMail.com and stated that the drama surrounding the guardianship is 'untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading.'
Her attorneys further said in the letter that 'contrary to many media reports, Morrissey, as guardian, did not declare Wendy Williams to be legally incapacitated' - since a guardian does not have the power to do so.
Wendy also called into Good Day New York to explain that she passed a psychiatric evaluation with 'flying colors.'
She later gave details about the living facility she is staying at and said, 'And you know, I'm on the fifth floor. It's called the memory unit. This is a floor, you know, you don't remember anything. Like really?
'And as far as me being able to go outside, I'm not allowed. You know, I have to stay in this building,' she continued, and added she needs to be 'permitted' in order to go to the gym that is located on the third floor.'
Wendy then emotionally stated that her money is 'up in the air' before saying, 'This is my life.'
Towards the end of the interview, she shared that leaving her guardianship is 'the number one most important thing.'
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