Wendy Williams, the famous talk show host, faced opposition from her court-appointed guardian when a Lifetime docuseries about her was released. The guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, expressed horror at the depiction of Williams as a “drunkard” and a “laughingstock.” Let’s delve into the details and explore why this documentary caused such a stir.
A Battle for Control
Morrissey, seeking to protect Williams’ image, obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent the release of the two-part series titled “Where is Wendy Williams?” However, A+E Networks and Entertainment One managed to overturn the order swiftly, with an appellate judge ruling it a violation of the First Amendment. Consequently, the show aired as planned.
The battle between the guardian and the network had already made headlines, but recently, more details emerged when a New York judge ordered the unsealing of most of the court record in the case.
Wendy Williams’ Troubles
Williams ended her 14-year run as a talk show host due to medical issues. During this time, Wells Fargo froze her accounts out of concern for her well-being and potential financial exploitation due to suspected dementia.
In response to these concerns, a guardian was appointed for Williams. In May 2023, she was diagnosed with frontotemporal lobe dementia and progressive aphasia. It was around this time that Williams signed a contract to make the documentary, with her son Kevin Hunter Jr. and manager William Selby also involved as producers.
Consent and Filming Restrictions
Morrissey, the guardian, argued that Williams lacked the capacity to give consent for the documentary contract then and now. However, despite this assertion, she allowed the production to proceed. Her condition was that nothing would be released without her approval and the court’s approval.
Morrissey placed restrictions on filming, refusing to allow Williams’ medical appointments to be recorded. Eventually, she even denied further participation in interviews.
A Shocking Trailer and False Portrayals
Morrissey claimed she was blindsided by the release of the trailer on February 2. She and the court had not approved the project’s release. Selby had assured her that the documentary would be a positive portrayal, like a “phoenix rising from the ashes,” but the trailer revealed a different story.
Instead of a positive depiction, the documentary cruelly portrays Williams as confused, erratic, and disabled due to her medical conditions. Morrissey was horrified to witness Williams’ condition being exploited and mischaracterized, particularly her portrayal as a drunkard and a laughingstock. She feared that the series would ruin Williams’ legacy and destroy her remaining earning potential.
Family Disagreements and Viewer Response
Williams’ relatives have been critical of the guardianship, and the docuseries reflects their perspective. Morrissey argued in the complaint that the trailer falsely suggested the guardianship caused or worsened Williams’ declining condition. Williams’ sister and son appear in the series, expressing their objections to the unnamed guardian and advocating for the family to take charge of her care.
After the series aired, Variety‘s chief TV critic, Aramide Tinubu, described it as an “exploitative display of her cognitive decline and emotional well-being.” Despite the controversy, the series garnered strong ratings, attracting 1.2 million viewers during the initial broadcast and the three subsequent days.
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