Latest news with #FrontotemporalDementia
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wendy Williams Reportedly Waiting On A New Evaluation 'At The Discretion Of Her Guardians': 'She Has To Be Patient'
Wendy Williams is holding on to hope as she faces another hurdle in her fight for independence. The former talk show host is reportedly awaiting a new cognitive evaluation, a critical step that could determine her future under court-ordered guardianship. Wendy Williams' ordeal began in 2022 when she was placed under financial guardianship, a move that did not sit well with her and her loved ones. Williams is staying optimistic as she faces yet another delay in her fight for independence. The 60-year-old is still waiting for a new cognitive evaluation, something her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has some level of control over. While it has been a frustrating and lengthy process, sources say Williams has "been told she has to be patient, which is hard but she's staying positive." Despite the challenges, the star remains determined. A source reveals she is "hanging on" and fully committed to winning back control of her life. In Touch reports that while Morrissey previously suggested a future evaluation would be unlikely to change Williams' prior diagnoses, a source shares that: "The outpouring of support from fans and from her family who are working tirelessly to get her out of that hell hole has given her a real jolt in the arm." Williams refuses to stay silent in her ongoing fight against court-ordered guardianship. The former presenter has been adamant that she is not cognitively impaired, describing her legal arrangement as "emotional abuse." During a January appearance on "The Breakfast Club," Williams opened up about her living situation in an assisted facility. In her words: "I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. I keep the door closed. I watch TV. I listen to the radio. I watch the window. I sit here, and my life goes by." Subsequently, while on "The View" in March, she did not hold back about her frustrations with her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey. "I don't want Sabrina, period," she stated, revealing she sought independent medical evaluations to prove her competence. "It was my choice to get an independent evaluation on my incapacitation. They say I have incapacitation. I do not," she added emphatically. The battle over Williams' guardianship heats up as her court-appointed guardian fought back against public backlash. Morrissey's attorney stressed that the guardianship was not a personal decision but a court-ordered measure after Williams was legally declared incapacitated last August. The Blast reports that the attorney described Williams' living conditions as high-quality, stating she resides in a facility with amenities such as a "spa, a workout room, excellent food, a dining room, and outside terraces," countering claims that she is being mistreated. The lawyer also reinforced concerns about Williams' cognitive health, pointing to her diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), a degenerative condition that causes memory and behavioral decline. Despite accusations that Williams is being isolated, Morrissey's legal team insists she is free to contact or visit her family at any time. The attorney further criticized media reports, calling them "untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading." In an unexpected turn, contrasting accounts surfaced regarding her living situation. While Morrissey's lawyer claims everything is in order, Williams argues otherwise, pointing to limitations on her freedom. Reports suggest the mother-of-one faced significant visitation restrictions, with only a select few allowed to see her since entering assisted living. While her guardian's legal team highlights two trips to Florida to visit her family, sources claim a judge initially denied her request to visit for her father's birthday. Apart from that, Williams also alleges that she rarely gets to enjoy the amenities noted by her guardian's lawyer. She is reportedly confined to a fifth-floor memory care unit and requires special permission to access features like the spa. Authorities in New York launched two separate investigations into Williams' court-ordered guardianship amid growing concerns about her well-being. The Blast reported that Adult Protective Services (APS) interviewed Williams about her living conditions at the assisted living facility. As part of the probe, APS also reached out to Williams' inner circle, including her niece, Alex Finnie, to discuss the restrictions placed on her. Additionally, law enforcement conducted a welfare check on Williams, and reports indicate that an NYPD patrol car was seen outside her residence two weeks ago, signaling the seriousness of the situation. With mounting pressure from loved ones, Wendy Williams' fight for freedom is far from over, and the next move could change everything.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wendy Williams' Guardian Breaks Silence Amid New York Agencies' Investigations
As New York agencies investigate Wendy Williams' guardianship, the lawyer for her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, is pushing back, reportedly calling recent media coverage "untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading." This response comes after much scrutiny from Williams' family and friends, who insist she is mentally capable, contradicting claims made by her conservator. Wendy Williams' complaint began when she was placed under financial guardianship in 2022, a decision that has sparked controversy ever since. Morrissey's attorney emphasized that the guardianship was not her decision but was instead ordered by a judge after Williams was declared legally incapacitated last August. The ruling followed her 2023 diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), a degenerative condition that leads to cognitive and behavioral decline. The lawyer also acknowledged that FTD causes progressive memory loss, reinforcing concerns about Williams' condition. He also noted that the former talk show host is receiving top-tier care in a facility equipped with a "spa, a workout room, excellent food, a dining room, and outside terraces." Despite these reassurances, Williams has been pushing for change. Her attorney reportedly attempted to terminate the guardianship last year, but the request was denied. However, Morrissey's lawyer confirmed that she is free to try again and that Williams is actively doing so. TMZ reports that, in the letter from the lawyer, they emphasize that Williams is not isolated from her family and can reach out or visit them at any time. The attorney emphasized that "False statements about Ms. Williams, her condition, and the Guardianship harm Ms. Williams and her interests, and undermine protection created by the Court for her health and welfare." While her guardian's lawyer insists that Williams has full access to her family and the luxurious amenities at her New York facility, the 60-year-old allegedly tells a different story. According to reports, she claims visitors have largely been restricted, with only a few exceptions, since she entered assisted living. Though the guardian pointed out that Williams traveled to Florida twice to see her family, sources reveal that a judge initially denied a visit planned for her father's birthday. Beyond visitation issues, Williams also claims she rarely gets to enjoy the perks mentioned in the lawyer's letter, such as the spa. Allegedly, she cannot leave the fifth-floor memory care unit without special permission, limiting her ability to access these amenities. The lawyer's letter acknowledged the effects of Frontotemporal Dementia. Still, it was noted that it failed to address the multiple conversations where Williams has sounded sharp and coherent, raising doubts about the severity of her condition. Additionally, an independent psychiatrist reportedly examined the star on Monday, administered a cognitive test, and found that she passed with flying colors. The Blast reports that New York authorities have opened two separate investigations into Williams' guardianship. As part of the probe, Adult Protective Services (APS) recently interviewed the mother-of-one about her living conditions at a New York assisted-living facility. APS also reached out to her inner circle, including her niece, Alex Finnie, questioning the restrictions placed on her under the guardianship. As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted a welfare check on Williams. It was reported that an NYPD patrol car was spotted outside her residence Monday morning, signaling an official response to the ongoing concerns. Reports suggest that Williams, through her inner circle, has been pushing for authorities and APS to take a closer look at the guardianship arrangement. The controversy surrounding Williams' guardianship has sparked more than just public debate; it has led to a push for legislative change. The Blast previously reported that New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo has proposed a new bill to ensure families can stay connected with loved ones under guardianship. The proposed legislation, called "Karilyn's Law," would allow relatives to petition the court for visitation rights. Once a motion is filed, the guardian would have 10 days to present reasons why the family members should not be granted access. If the court finds their arguments unconvincing, the relatives would be given the right to visit. Palumbo emphasized that this law would create a legal pathway for families to maintain contact with individuals in conservatorship. Concerns over Williams' well-being reached new heights after a troubling video of the former radio host surfaced from inside her New York care facility. The clip, which quickly went viral, shows Williams standing by her window, speaking on the phone, and appearing distressed. At one point, she seemingly asks the person filming for help. The footage emerged shortly after reports disclosed that Williams is living on the facility's fifth floor in a memory care unit, a section she reportedly cannot leave without approval from an attendant. Those close to Williams have reportedly pushed back against the need for such restrictions, insisting she does not suffer from memory loss and should not be confined to that unit. With conflicting narratives and a formal investigation underway, the fight for Wendy Williams' autonomy is only heating up.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wendy Williams Guardian Says the Media Is Wrong About Her Condition, Living Situation
TMZ has just received a letter from a lawyer repping Wendy Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, and the attorney claims some of the media coverage of the guardianship and their client is "untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading." To view all content on this page click here. The attorney notes Morrissey did not create the guardianship ... the judge did. He goes on to say a judge declared Wendy legally incapacitated last August, after she was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia the year before. The lawyer says Wendy has not been kept from her family, saying she can call them and see them whenever she wants. Wendy says she has not been allowed visitors, with just a few exceptions, since entering the assisted living facility in New York. The guardian notes Wendy travelled twice to Florida to visit family. We're told Wendy claims the judge actually turned down the last visit -- for her dad's birthday -- and reversed that decision after TMZ's documentary, "Saving Wendy," dropped on Tubi. The lawyer says Wendy is receiving "excellent medical care" where there is a "spa, a workout room, excellent food, a dining room, and outside terraces." Wendy says she is often denied access to many of these perks because she can only leave the fifth floor memory unit with permission. The lawyer says Wendy's attorney tried to terminate the guardianship last year, but the judge denied it. Morrissey's lawyer says she's free to try again, and Wendy is doing just that. It's interesting ... the letter acknowledges Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a degenerative condition that causes "a progressive decline in cognition and behavior." There is no mention of the various conversations Wendy has had on camera and on the phone in which she sounds like her old self, something that belies a degenerative condition. The letter also says symptoms of FTD include memory loss. As we reported, an independent psychiatrist examined Wendy Monday and gave her a cognitive test which she aced. The lawyer says Morrissey has "received one payment of less than $30,000 for services rendered. Since 2022, the guardian has worked without pay. Only the Court will determine how much and when Ms. Morrissey is paid for her services rendered." Finally, the lawyer warns, "False statements about Ms. Williams, her condition, and the Guardianship harm Ms. Williams and her interests, and undermine protection created by the Court for her health and welfare." Wendy, her niece, her independent caregiver and others have a very different view of the situation.
