News | Entertainment
20 Feb 2025 4:47
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Wendy Williams feels like she's "in prison" and insists she is "not cognitively impaired"

    The 60-year-old star - who hosted her eponymous talk show from 2008 until 2022 before Sherri Shepherd took over her slot - is under the guardianship of lawyer Sabrina Morrissey and living in a care facility, almost a year after her care team announced she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.


    Calling into 'The Breakfast Club' on Thursday (16.01.25), she said: "I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I'm saying? But I feel like I'm in prison.

    "I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s... There's something wrong with these people here on this floor."

    Primary progressive aphasia is a rare condition that affects the nervous system and inhibits the ability to communicate, while frontotemporal dementia affects personality, behaviour and language.

    The former daytime host has been under a guardianship since 2022.

    Her niece Alex also phoned into the morning show and voiced her support for her aunt.

    Williams' niece, Alex, also phoned into the show to support her aunt.

    She claimed: "My aunt sounds great. I've seen her, in a very limited capacity, but I've seen her and we're talking to her. This does not match an incapacitated person.

    "And that's why we say she's in a luxury prison, because she is being held and she is being punished for whatever reason that other people are coming up with as to why she has to be kept in this position."

    In a press release from her care team announcing her diagnosis last year, they addressed speculation after she had begun "to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions".

    They continued: "The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.

    "Unfortunately, many individuals diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioural changes but have not yet received a diagnosis."

    Almost a year ago, Wendy's sister Wanda Finnie claimed that she wasn't made aware of her sibling's diagnosis after she was placed in a facility to be treated for cognitive issues and that the family had received no updates on Wendy since she spent time with them in Florida in 2021.

    Meanwhile, this week a source told PEOPLE: "Wendy Williams's family is unable to speak on her current condition and location due to ongoing litigation and the fact that they have largely been denied contact.

    "But they are all rooting and praying for Wendy and want to express their well wishes as she celebrates her 60th birthday. She was, is and always will be an icon."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     19 Feb: Warwick Davis became emotional as dedicated his BAFTA Fellowship Award to his late wife
     19 Feb: David Jonsson "didn't see a space for himself" in the industry before he won the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award
     19 Feb: 'Conclave' was named Outstanding British Film at the EE BAFTAs
     19 Feb: Dame Maggie Smith was remembered at the EE BAFTA Awards on Sunday (16.02.25) evening
     19 Feb: The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend the 2025 British Academy Film Awards as they were on holiday
     19 Feb: Hilaria Baldwin has opened up about the secret of keeping her marriage to Alec Baldwin alive
     19 Feb: Sarah Michelle Gellar is determined to bring the upcoming sequel to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' to the screen the "right" way
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Injuries have forced the Chiefs to keep All Blacks first five Damian McKenzie at fullback for Friday's Super Rugby tussle with the Crusaders in Hamilton More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Fonterra has chosen to name its consumer business Mainland Group -- rather than Anchor - as it looks for a buyer, through either a trade sale or an Initial Public Offering More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A potential sighting of Tom Phillips and his three children in the King Country, wasn't the missing family 4:37

    Soccer:
    Wellington Phoenix skipper Alex Rufer's pushing to maximise his game time in Saturday's A-League derby against Auckland FC at Mt Smart 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Warwick Davis became emotional as dedicated his BAFTA Fellowship Award to his late wife 21:54

    Entertainment:
    David Jonsson "didn't see a space for himself" in the industry before he won the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award 21:24

    Politics:
    Auckland's mayor asking for the chance to finish the job he's started 21:17

    Entertainment:
    'Conclave' was named Outstanding British Film at the EE BAFTAs 20:54

    Entertainment:
    Dame Maggie Smith was remembered at the EE BAFTA Awards on Sunday (16.02.25) evening 20:24

    Entertainment:
    The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend the 2025 British Academy Film Awards as they were on holiday 19:54

    Entertainment:
    Hilaria Baldwin has opened up about the secret of keeping her marriage to Alec Baldwin alive 19:24

    Business:
    Fonterra has chosen to name its consumer business Mainland Group -- rather than Anchor - as it looks for a buyer, through either a trade sale or an Initial Public Offering 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd