Latest news with #WendyWilliams
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Wendy Williams ‘doing better than ever' after 61st birthday celebration
Wendy Williams is said to be doing 'better than ever'. The troubled former chat show host celebrated her 61st birthday on Friday (18.07.25) and sources say she is now feeling optimistic about what lies ahead amid her battler to end her court-ordered guardianship. An insider told Page Six: "(She's) better than ever. She was talking (at her birthday party) about how she's ready to travel once she gets out.' Wendy marked her 61st with a dinner on Thursday (17.07.25) evening at the historic Delmonico's in Lower Manhattan, a day before her birthday. The former Wendy Williams Show presenter, who has faced a series of public health struggles in recent years, arrived without her motorised scooter — a notable change from previous outings. Wendy, who has been under a legal guardianship since 2022, is currently residing at the Coterie in Hudson Yards, a luxury assisted living facility. She has referred to the residence as a 'luxury prison', according to Page Six, and is understood to be seeking legal release from the guardianship arrangement. Two of Wendy's attorneys joined her for her birthday meal, along with her former producers from The Wendy Williams Show, Suzanne Bass and Brendan Higgins. A source added to Page Six: 'She got emotional when she blew out her candles. 'Everyone seemed happy to see her and she looked amazing.' Wendy was said to have appeared in high spirits throughout the night, dining on a lavish spread that included seafood towers, caviar, Caesar salad and filet mignon. She was also presented with a birthday baked Alaska, and designer Zang Toi, who was also dining at Delmonico's, took a moment to wish Wendy a happy birthday before leaving the restaurant. Though Wendy has faced considerable personal and medical difficulties in recent years, the birthday outing seemed to reflect a sense of renewed energy and determination, according to insiders, One added to Page Six: 'She was beaming and sans scooter. 'She's confident her lawyers are going to get her out of (her guardianship.)' Wendy, once a dominant force in daytime television, stepped away from the spotlight in 2021 amid ongoing health concerns. Since then, the New Jersey native has largely kept a low profile, occasionally surfacing in New York for public appearances.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wendy Williams makes rare public outing for her 61st birthday amid 'horrific' guardianship drama
Wendy Williams put on a leggy display as she celebrated her 61st birthday in New York City on Saturday. The former talk show host, who has made a remarkable recovery since appearing in a Lifetime documentary last year, looked the picture of health as she exited the Rubirosa Ristorante for a celebratory dinner with her niece. Williams showcased her toned legs in a black hoodie mini-dress. The Emmy nominee wore a pair of comfortable but glamorous Chanel ankle boots to cope with her lymphedema, which she has previously said left her able to feel only 'maybe 5% of my feet.' Her long, reddish-brown hair was styled in loose waves and she wore natural looking makeup with a soft red lip. Williams was seen carrying to doggy bag home after the festivities. Many fans took to social media to wish her a happy birthday. 'Happy Birthday!!! To my Birthday Twin 7/18 it's our day,' wrote one. 'Happy belated birthday Queen Wendy. ❤️❤️❤️,' penned another. 'Happy birthday! We still got you,' one follower said. The TV personality has been residing at a luxury assisted living facility in New York after being placed under the guardianship of lawyer Sabrina Morrissey in 2022. Over the past few months, she has waged a public war against the arrangement, which she claims is so restrictive she feels 'like I am in prison.' Although her recent sightings have often involved a mobility scooter, she moved without the contraption for the dinner on Saturday night. Williams arrives sans scooter for an an early birthday dinner with friends on Thursday at Delmonico's in Manhattan. Among them were Suzanne Bass and Brendan Higgins, the husband-wife team who served as producers on her long-running daytime talk show, which was canceled in 2022 while the hostess suffered through her highly publicized medical woes. One of Williams' new tools in her bid to be released from her court ordered guardianship is a new toll-free number. Those with tips about alleged malfeasance have been urged to call or text 1-866-Truth-84. 'MONEY GRUBBERS BEWARE, THE FIGHT FOR TRUTH IS REALLY HAPPENING. WENDY IS A REAL PERSON IN A REAL SITUATION, NOT JUST A HEADLINE. WE MUST UNITE AGAINST EVIL,' she posted next to the phone number on social media.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wendy Williams' shock transformation amid 'horrific' guardianship drama as she celebrates 61st birthday
Wendy Williams looked sprightly, crisp and energetic as she stepped out for her 61st birthday this week - worlds away from her bedraggled, drunken appearance in a Lifetime documentary last year amid her health struggles and legal drama. The TV personality has been residing at a luxury assisted living facility in New York after being placed under the guardianship of lawyer Sabrina Morrissey in 2022. Over the past few months, she has waged a public war against the arrangement, which she claims is so restrictive she feels 'like I am in prison.' Although her recent sightings have often involved a mobility scooter, she moved without the contraption when she headed to dinner this Thursday. Williams, who turned 61 on Friday, enjoyed an early birthday dinner Thursday at the iconic Manhattan restaurant Delmonico's accompanied by a group of friends. Among them were Suzanne Bass and Brendan Higgins, the husband-wife team who served as producers on her long-running daytime talk show, which was canceled in 2022 while the hostess suffered through her highly publicized medical woes. This Thursday, the shock jock beamed and stayed ramrod straight as she walked down the sidewalk to Delmonico's, linking arms with Bass, who is instantly recognizable to regular viewers of The Wendy Williams Show. Williams cut a stylish figure for her evening out, glamming up in full hair and makeup and wearing a sleek black cocktail dress with a Chanel purse. She wore a comfortable-looking set of shoes to cope with her lymphedema, which she has previously said left her able to feel only 'maybe 5% of my feet.' Two of her lawyers joined her at dinner, where she seemed 'better than ever,' according to a Page Six source. 'She was walking fine, with a huge Chanel bag,' a witness observed. She and her dining companions posed inside the restaurant for a photo that was posted to Instagram by Max Tucci, a third generation partner at Delmonico's and a grandson of the man who bought and revamped the restaurant during Prohibition. The following day on her birthday itself, Williams was spotted in a more casual aspect, wearing a bright yellow t-shirt and a pair of high-cut Daisy Dukes. Nevertheless, she appeared cheerful and healthy during her latest outing, despite the fact that she was back aboard her mobility scooter. Williams previously posted a cryptic message ahead of Mother's Day as she briefly opened up about the 'horrific situation' of her ongoing guardianship. Williams 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. It is not known if Wendy herself wrote the post - which notably did not include a shout out to her only child. '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 caption read. '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!!' A floral animation was also included in the star's latest post while 'Happy Mother's Day From Wendy' popped up. '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 caption read Kevin Jr. was previously embroiled in claims that he mishandled his mother's money and took 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 couple of 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. 'And that's pretty much, it was big news to everybody. But again, this happened three years ago,' she continued. It seems the pair have put the past behind them as Williams and Kevin Jr. reunited back in February to celebrate her dad's 94th birthday. Kevin had uploaded an Instagram photo as he posed alongside his mon Wendy and her father Thomas as they flashed smiles towards the camera. He had written, 'Happy I could make this happen for you Papa.. I said by any means and I kept my word.' Beforehand, Williams had expressed her worry that she would not be able to leave the assisted living facility to be with her dad on his birthday. Monterroso told the outlet, 'He was there. And that's the last part. But I do know that she continued to communicate with him. And that's her honey bunny.' 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. She had also been accompanied by niece Alex and the former CNN host's husband Tim Malone. It came just one day after the star's guardian reportedly denied Williams from having dinner with her niece and new lawyer. Wendy seems to have a close friendship with Lemon, and notably appeared on his podcast The Don Lemon Show earlier this year. At the time, she expressed: 'My life is ridiculous. I've been with this guardian person for three years. For three years of my life... I'm isolated. I feel like I'm in prison. I can't go out. All I can do is look at the window.' Lemon then questioned the star if she was 'incapacitated' and in response, Williams simply said, 'Hell f***ing no.' Back in 2023, the TV personality was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. When 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, 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 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. However, Morrissey told People that Wendy is refusing to undergo certain medical tests - a MRI brain scan and neuropsychological assessment - as she aims to get out of the guardianship. Sabrina stated, 'Medical testing, including an MRI brain scan and neuropsychological assessment, had been scheduled for Ms. Williams.' The appointment was set for March 21 - but the star did not go. 'The Court directed that the testing be completed in March. Ms. Williams has declined to participate in the testing to date and therefore, the testing was not completed.' She added, 'The parties are not able to address the concerns that have been expressed to the media without the testing. Once Ms. Williams undergoes the testing and a full evaluation, the results will inform the next steps for Ms. Williams' care.' However in response, Wendy also told the outlet: 'I don't know anything about that.' She then added 'bulls***' and said, 'I am open to what I am open to and I can't talk about it right now.' 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 been no plan put in place for her, no paperwork, no hearings. There was no strategy or help lined up for her at all.' Ginalisa explained that she talks to the star almost daily and has also sent a letter to Adult Protective Services in New York. She also told the outlet, 'A doctor in Florida first examined her in 2019 and his diagnosis was alcohol-related dementia. 'She's also had serious thyroid issues since her 30s and there's such a thing as thyroid-related dementia. She also has Graves disease which is why her eyes sometimes bulge.' Monterroso continued, 'Whatever it is, a guardianship is supposed to be for someone who doesn't know to put on a coat in winter or doesn't remember to pay bills or wanders out and doesn't know where they are. 'That's not Wendy. So then why put an alcoholic in a memory care unit and throw away the key?' In mid-March, her assisted living facility called the NYPD when Wendy left to grab dinner with her niece. Days later, she defiantly stepped out for dinner once again in NYC. Attorneys for Morrissey had sent a letter to 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.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wendy Williams Wants to Be 'Freed from Guardianship' as Her 61st Birthday Gift
Wendy Williams knows exactly what she wants as she begins a new year. The former talk show host turned 61 on Friday, July 18, and was out and about in New York City earlier in the week to celebrate. She went to dinner at Delmonico's with two of her attorneys and former Wendy Williams Show producer, Suzanne Bass. Williams had a clear answer on what she wants for her 61st birthday. As she walked toward the restaurant, Williams was asked by TMZ what she wanted this year for her birthday. Her answer was immediate: to "get out of guardianship." Williams has been living under a legal guardianship since May 2022 and currently resides in a wellness facility in New York City, but has been vocal about her desire to get out of the arrangement. In January, she made a series of public pleas for help during several rare interviews as she insisted she is "not cognitively impaired" and feels trapped in "what some people would call a luxury prison" where she has limited access to the outside world. She has been feeling more optimistic lately about her chances of ending her guardianship. In April, fans held a rally in support of her efforts to escape her guardianship, and Williams told PEOPLE it was "nice" to see so much support. "At this point in my life, I can't trust a lot of people," she said. The show of support — there were rallies in both New York City and Los Angeles on April 1 — made her feel confident in her chances of ending the guardianship. "It will absolutely 1000% happen," she said. Despite claims from her guardian, Williams has insisted that she is of sound mind. In November, Williams' court-appointed guardian Sabrina E. Morrissey claimed that the former talk show host is "cognitively impaired, permanently disabled and legally incapacitated" in documents obtained by PEOPLE. In a January interview on The Don Lemon Show, Williams swiftly shut down the idea that she was "incapacitated," telling Don Lemon, "Hell f------ no." "My life is ridiculous," she told the former CNN anchor. "I've been with this guardian person for three years. For three years of my life... I'm isolated. I feel like I'm in prison. I can't go out. All I can do is look at the window." Her ex-husband just filed a lawsuit — which he claimed was on her behalf — against her guardian. In June, Kevin Hunter filed a lawsuit against the facilitators of Williams' guardianship demanding a jury trial and alleging that her constitutional rights have been violated. Hunter, who Williams was married to from 1999 to 2020, claimed in the complaint that his ex "has been the victim of unrestrained abuse, maltreatment, and fiscal malfeasance" since her guardianship began in 2022. He also alleged that she "was not afforded an independent medical evaluation" before the guardianship was put in place and has since been 'subjected to overmedication and undue restrictions." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Hunter is not seeking an end to Williams' guardianship, but rather to instate a "new impartial guardian," release Williams from "involuntary confinement," and he's asking for $250 million in relief for financial loss, reputational damage and harm, emotional distress, legal expenses and deprivation of liberty. However, Williams later told TMZ that she had "no idea" Hunter was filing the lawsuit. She explained, "Nor do I want him to be a part of my life like that, no because I'm divorced forever." Read the original article on People
Black America Web
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Wendy Williams Makes Her B'Day Wish: "Out Of Guardianship!"
Michael Simon It's interesting how society has come to learn what a conservatorship means, particularly due to the fact that most of us first witnessed one through the lens of a troubled celebrity. For one, women seem to be placed under guardianships at a way higher rate than men, and obviously that's not because all male celebrities are simply sane (see: Charlie Sheen, Kanye West, Antonio Brown). However, the conversation gets deeper when you bring race into the mix. While pop icon Britney Spears had a rally of fans strong enough to get her 13-year conservatorship ended, and teen queen actress Amanda Bynes had support from family to end the nine-year conservatorship she was placed under at just 27 years old — two idols of white America, mind you — the odds don't seem to be as bright in the situation we're currently seeing take over the life of once-reigning (and melanated) daytime diva Wendy Williams over the past three years and counting. This all comes on the heels of Wendy's milestone 61st birthday today (July 18), and you can probably take a wild guess at what her biggest b'day wish would be if she had things her way. RELATED: Wendy Williams Returns To Instagram: 'My Career Is NOT Over' TMZ was able to catch the golden lady of the day as she headed to dinner at Delmonico's in New York City last night (July 17). Longtime fans of The Wendy Williams Show will notice from the clip captured by the outlet (seen above) that she was being accompanied by the show's former executive producer, Suzanne Bass. More on the cheery pre-birthday interaction below, via TMZ : 'In true Wendy fashion she was dressed to the nines and in high spirits outside the steakhouse — and she didn't hold back when asked what she's wishing for this year, saying without hesitation … 'out of guardianship.' The candid comment is her latest public plea to be released from the legal arrangement that has controlled her personal and financial affairs since 2022. As we've reported, Wendy was placed under a court-ordered guardianship amid concerns about her health and capacity to manage her life independently.' Details behind the 'why' have been cemented in the media for years now, so no need to rehash what's already understood about Wendy's recovering health journey. What matters the most is the now, and in recent months we have all witnessed Wendy looking coherent, clear-minded and even giving a glimpse of her jovial personality that made watching her spew gossip from a big purple chair every afternoon such a pleasurable experience for millions of viewers across the nation. Why can't the rally cries of her still-loyal fans be heard in a similar fashion to how the court took notice of The Britney Army? As Wendy celebrates a very special birthday today, we absolutely hope that her wish is granted sooner rather than later. Happy 61st, queen! via @donnak831 via @duffthebrand via @GrungeyGrimey06 via @StevieDerrick_ via @sjcyoungandfree via @dramatiq00 via @live4ga SEE ALSO
