“I still require personal space and peace to thrive. Please know that your positive support and encouragement are greatly appreciated,” Williams stated in a rare statement released by her representative on Friday. Wendy Williams has spoken up for the first time since her recent diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
A spokesman for the former talk show host provided this statement with The Hollywood Reporter on Friday. “I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the love and kind words I’ve received since sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).” Let me say, “Wow!” Your response has been overwhelming. The sentiments shared with me have moved me, reminding me of the strength of unity and the importance of compassion.”
The statement added, “I hope that my tale can help others with FTD. I’d also want to thank the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for their kind words of encouragement and exceptional efforts to raise awareness about FTD. I continue to require personal space and peace to thrive. Please know that your positive attitude and encouragement are greatly appreciated.
The announcement from Jennifer Hanley of Ridge Hill Group comes after Williams’ care team announced on Thursday that she had been officially diagnosed following medical testing last year. Her team noted in a statement that aphasia, a condition that affects speech, and frontotemporal dementia, an illness that affects behavior and cognitive skills, “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
Related: Wendy Williams Diagnosed With Frontotemporal Dementia and Aphasia, News Spread for Awareness!
The Wendy Williams’s Recent Works
This weekend, the Lifetime documentary series Where Is Wendy Williams? will document the former television host’s physical and mental deterioration. The filming of the two-night documentary series commenced after Williams’ popular daytime talk show was canceled in June 2022.
Production ceased when Williams entered an unidentified facility in April 2023 and came under the supervision of a court-appointed financial guardian, who remained anonymous to the public and the family members who were featured in the documentary. Williams maintains her position as a credited executive producer on the production due to her Lifetime contract for three films.
Related: See What Wendy Williams’s Sister and Niece Says About Williams’s Struggles!
Sabrina Morrissey, the court-appointed caregiver for Williams, was identified publicly two days prior to the publication of the documentary. On Thursday, Williams filed a lawsuit against Lifetime parent company A+E Networks, seeking injunctive relief.
The complaint was dismissed on Friday, and a Lifetime representative verified to THR that “Where is Wendy Williams?” would air as scheduled this upcoming weekend.
After Williams’s former financial adviser filed an allegation in late 2022 in a New York court that she was “unsound of mind” subsequent to the cancellation of The Wendy Williams Show, Morrissey was appointed caregiver for the television personality. This led to Wells Fargo filing a petition to have Williams placed under temporary financial guardianship. Williams continues to be lodged in a facility under the supervision of Morrissey and remains inaccessible to all individuals except Morissey.