A lawsuit was filed by a guardian for talk show host Wendy Williams against the parent company of Lifetime, A&E Television Networks, amid news that caretakers for the television personality publicly announced she is battling dementia.
The guardian, whose name is Sabrina Morrissey, filed the lawsuit under seal (which keeps details in the case protected from the public), according to a report from TMZ, which reviewed court docs in the case.
The focal point of the lawsuit, the outlet reported, could be linked to a documentary that’s slated to be released on the embattled celebrity this coming Saturday.
Morrissey has asked the court for injunctive relief, the outlet reported, indicating her request could be for a judge to stop the network from airing the TV special.
The judge in the case issued an order that it remained temporarily sealed from the public, pending a hearing scheduled for next week.
News of the case was revealed after her caretaker issued a statement Thursday saying that doctors have diagnosed Williams with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
The health struggles ‘have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life’ and have behavioral and cognitive impacts, according to the statement.
‘Wendy is still able to do many things for herself,’ the statement attributed to her care team read. ‘Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.’
The statement on Williams’ health was issued on PR Newswire. A representative listed on the release, Jennifer Hanley, referred questions back to the statement when contacted by The Associated Press.
The announcement came a day after a cover story in People magazine quoted Williams’ family about the nature of her struggles, ahead of a Lifetime documentary set to air Saturday.
‘The people who love her cannot see her,’ the magazine quoted Williams’ sister Wanda as saying. ‘I think the big (question) is: How the hell did we get here?’ The family said a court-appointed legal guardian was the only person with unfettered access to Williams.
The article said the Lifetime documentary crew, which set out in 2022 to chronicle Williams’ comeback, stopped filming in April 2023 when, her manager ‘and jeweler’ Will Selby says in footage for the film, she entered a facility to treat ‘cognitive issues.’
Her son says in the documentary that doctors had connected her cognitive issues to alcohol use, People reported. Williams’ family told People they don´t know where she is and cannot call her themselves, but she can call them.