CNN
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The court-assigned guardian for Wendy Williams failed of their try to stop a revealing documentary in regards to the former talk-show host from airing on Lifetime this weekend, in line with a supply aware of the authorized proceedings.
“Lifetime appeared in courtroom as we speak, and the documentary ‘The place Is Wendy Williams?’ will air this weekend, as deliberate,” a spokesperson for the community advised CNN Friday.
The authorized guardian for Williams had filed swimsuit towards Lifetime’s dad or mum firm A&E Tv Networks on Thursday in a New York State courtroom, the supply advised CNN. The swimsuit is beneath seal, so the contents of the declare usually are not public document, however the person acknowledged that Williams’ authorized guardian was asking the courtroom for a brief restraining order to halt Lifetime from airing the documentary.
Lifetime declined to touch upon the contents of the lawsuit.
The four-part docuseries, “The place is Wendy Williams?” offers a painfully candid depiction of Williams’ life as she struggles with well being points and alcohol abuse. It’s govt produced by Williams herself and contains on-camera participation from her household.
Williams was identified with aphasia and dementia in 2023, in line with an announcement from her care workforce on Thursday. The situations can impair cognitive operate, communication and speech in impacted people, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
The guardianship accepted Williams’ participation within the mission, in line with Lifetime.
The movement to seal the contents of the swimsuit, obtained by CNN, names Sabrina Morrissey, a lawyer specializing in guardianships, because the “non permanent guardian of W.W.H.” (Williams’ full identify is Wendy Williams Hunter.)
Morrissey has not responded to a number of requests for remark from CNN. An lawyer for Morrissey didn’t instantly reply for remark.
Although her care workforce didn’t reply to CNN’s requests for remark relating to the documentary or the lawsuit filed by Williams’ guardian, a consultant for the care workforce issued an announcement on behalf of Williams on Friday afternoon.
“I wish to say I’ve immense gratitude for the love and type phrases I’ve acquired after sharing my prognosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming,” the assertion learn partly. “I proceed to want private area and peace to thrive. Please simply know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.”
When Williams initially pitched the documentary to the Lifetime, the concept was to seize her life after her speak present as she labored to launch a podcast. However as cameras started rolling, producers realized the story they initially got down to inform could be a lot completely different.
Mark Ford, an govt producer on the documentary mission, advised CNN that nothing was filmed with out Williams’ or her supervisor’s approval.
“We all know it could be arduous for a few of her followers to observe. However we consider this documentary captures the reality of Wendy’s life over the year-and-a-half we filmed it,” Ford added.
By the tip of filming, Ford mentioned producers turned so involved about Williams’ well being that they urged her administration workforce to get new medical care. “The documentary advanced into forthright depiction of Wendy’s dire well being state of affairs and whether or not or not she was receiving ample care,” he mentioned.
Williams is presently in an inpatient treatment facility for cognitive care, in line with her household and a consultant for Lifetime. The mission’s producers haven’t been in direct contact with Williams for greater than six months.
Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, who seems within the Lifetime documentary, advised CNN this week that she doesn’t know whether or not her aunt has seen the completed mission. She mentioned Williams advised her she wished to do the documentary so she might reclaim her personal narrative, regardless of how painful the subject material could also be.
“We’ve talked about it briefly,” Finnie advised CNN. “It’s a extremely delicate subject.”
Williams’ household has expressed issues with the guardianship, although they mentioned they’re completely satisfied she is now receiving correct care. Finnie advised CNN that she is in common communication along with her aunt and spoke with days in the past. Nevertheless, as a result of Williams is presently beneath the court-ordered arrangement, she mentioned her household doesn’t know the situation or every other info relating to the power the place Williams is being handled, nor have they got entry to name Williams instantly.
Williams was positioned within the court-ordered monetary guardianship in February 2022 after Wells Fargo froze Williams’ accounts when a former monetary adviser for the host reported to the financial institution that Williams was of “unsound thoughts,” in line with courtroom paperwork referenced within the Lifetime documentary.
Finnie mentioned that her household hopes that the documentary is not going to solely shine a light-weight on Williams’ journey, but additionally the bigger challenge of guardianships and conservatorships.
“I do actually hope that folks stroll away seeing my aunt as a human being, feeling for her and praying and hoping that she’s going to come back out higher than ever, but additionally with an understanding of the complete system that basically is operating her life proper now, not only for her, however for thus many different individuals which can be additionally on the heart of it,” Finnie mentioned.
Producers of the documentary consider the mission and their collaboration with Williams led to her getting higher help.
“On a private degree, all of us care very deeply for Wendy. We’re completely satisfied she is in a greater place now,” Ford advised CNN. “And we hope the documentary performed a task in serving to her get to that safer place.”