Wendy Williams’ Guardian Was ‘Horrified’ by Documentary, Sought to Block Its Release
15.03.2024 - 07:25
/ variety.com
Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Wendy Williams‘ court-appointed guardian tried to block the release of a Lifetime docuseries about the talk show host, telling a court last month that she was “horrified” by the depiction of Williams as a “drunkard” and a “laughingstock.” The guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, obtained a temporary restraining order to keep the two-part series, entitled “Where is Wendy Williams?”, under wraps. But A+E Networks, the parent company of Lifetime, and Entertainment One were quickly able to get that order overturned on Feb. 23, with an appellate judge ruling it an “impermissible prior restraint on speech” under the First Amendment.
The show aired over the following weekend. The battle between the guardian and the network has been reported previously. But more details became available Thursday, when a New York judge ordered most of the court record in the case unsealed.
Williams ended her 14-year run as a nationally syndicated talk show host two years ago, after struggling with medical issues. Around that time, Wells Fargo froze her accounts, fearing that she was suffering from dementia and was possibly being financially exploited. That action led to the appointment of the guardian.
Williams was ultimately diagnosed with frontotemporal lobe dementia and progressive aphasia in May 2023. By that point, Williams had signed a contract to make the documentary. Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., and manager, William Selby, were involved as producers.
Williams is listed as an executive producer. According to the guardian, however, Williams lacked the capacity to consent to the contract and still does. Morrissey nevertheless allowed the production to go forward, with the understanding that nothing would be released
.