Wendy Williams is shaking up her legal team as she continues her fight for freedom from her guardianship.
The
former talk show host, 60, has reportedly fired her court-appointed
attorney, Linda Redlisky, amid her ongoing battle to have her
guardianship trial heard by a jury, as reported byTMZon
Wednesday, January 29. Sources close to the situation told the outlet
that Williams decided to part ways with Redlisky after the attorney
failed to file necessary paperwork to move forward with the trial.
This dramatic legal shift comes just weeks after Williams' family stated
they were searching for a more reputable attorney to represent her in
the complex case. Previously, Williams claimed she had never even met
her court-appointed guardianship attorney, Robert Kaplan, who had argued
that she needed lifelong care due to her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.
The media personality, who currently resides in a New York City assisted-living facility, likened her living situation to a luxury "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," she shared during a call to The Breakfast Club on Thursday, January 16. She also called the treatment "emotional abuse" and that the "system is broken."
Amid Williams' ongoing legal and financial struggles, a GoFundMe campaign
was launched to support her in her fight for independence. Part of the
broader "#FreeWendy" movement, the funds raised are intended to help the
former Wendy Williams Show star secure the legal
representation needed to challenge her guardianship and regain control
over her assets and has raised over $30,000 so far. This comes after
William's claimed on The Breakfast Club that she has little money to her name at the moment due to her guardian,
Sabrina Morrisey, having control over her finances. "I have $15. I have
$15. What does that do? ... My money is in prison," Williams said.
Wendy Williams'
guardianship woes are commanding the attention of at least one New York
lawmaker ... who's making a big push so her family can easily visit
her.
Anthony Palumbo, a N.Y. state senator, tells TMZ ...
today, he is re-introducing a piece of legislation that would change
guardianship laws regarding family visitation in the state.
According to Palumbo, "Karilyn's Law"
would allow families to visit loved ones by filing a motion with the
court ... the guardian would then have 10 days to show the court if the
person intending to visit is displaying inappropriate conduct -- and if
not, they can visit.
He says the law is designed to ensure family members have a legal path
to visit a loved one under a guardianship, which he thinks is lacking
under the existing framework.
Palumbo has been following Wendy's case for years, and says her being locked up in an apartment
is tragic. He goes on to say that even if her memory is failing, she
should still be allowed to be with her family instead of forcibly
separated from them.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Palumbo hopes the
newfound attention surrounding Wendy's case will spur lawmakers into
action. He first proposed Karilyn's Law in 2022, but it didn't get
passed.
Since he first proposed the piece of legislation, he says
his office has received dozens of calls and emails from concerned
citizens about Wendy's guardianship. The way Palumbo sees it,
unfortunately, it can take a celebrity and a tragedy to get people's
attention.
Wendy's family, led by her niece Alex Finnie, has started a GoFundMe in
the hopes of raising $50,000 to help with mounting legal fees and
moving her out of the wellness facility she is currently living in , which she claims is like living "in prison."
Though the former radio host was diagnosed with primary progressive
aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2023, she is adamant that a legal
conservatorship is not necessary, especially with the support and care
of her family.
In a recent appearance on Power 105's The
Breakfast Club, the 60-year-old spoke directly about her situation,
claiming: "I am not cognitively impaired. But I feel like I am in
prison" and that she is barred from contacting her family. She also
claims that she has experienced "emotional abuse" at the facility she
currently resides in.
The description for the fundraiser reads:
"For far too long, Wendy has faced the challenges of being unjustly
placed under guardianship and labeled as incapacitated, despite her
strong will and determination to live her life independently."
It continues: "The guardian assigned to her has severed her connections
with friends and family, leaving her without the support network she so
desperately needs. This isolation in New York has made it increasingly
difficult for her to maintain her strength and resilience."
The
description concludes: "Wendy's family is passionately advocating for
her return to Florida, where she can once again be surrounded by the
love and support of those who care about her. They are suffering
emotionally as they witness the toll her isolation is taking on her
well-being."
The former radio host's guardianship is similar to
that of fellow stars Britney Spears and Amanda Bynes, who have both
since been freed from the legal confines of their conservatorships. So
far, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $15,000.
Sabrina Morrissey, a name now synonymous with controversy, has come
under intense scrutiny for her role as Wendy Williams’ guardian. As the
famed talk show host and media personality fights to regain control of
her life, Morrissey’s actions—and the system enabling them—are facing
widespread criticism from fans, family, and advocates for reform.
The Role of Sabrina Morrissey in Wendy Williams’ Conservatorship
Morrissey was appointed as Williams’ legal guardian in 2022, a role
that granted her control over the star’s finances, healthcare, and
personal decisions. This legal arrangement came after a public feud
between Wendy and Wells Fargo Bank, along with her former financial
adviser Lori Shiller. Wendy accused them of conspiring to mismanage her
finances, leading to her placement under guardianship.
According to Wendy’s former attorney, the guardianship was less about
protecting the TV star and more about covering up alleged financial
malfeasance. Claims of violations of laws and financial regulations have
further fueled skepticism about the motivations behind the
conservatorship.
Allegations of Emotional and Financial Abuse
In a rare and emotional interview on The Breakfast Club,
Wendy broke her silence, calling out the guardianship as a source of
emotional and financial abuse. She revealed she is confined to a New
York facility, allowed no visitors, and has limited access to
communication. Wendy described her daily life as “prison-like,” sharing
that she only has $15 to her name, cannot receive phone calls, and has
no access to a laptop or the internet.
Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, corroborated these claims, painting a
harrowing picture of isolation and surveillance. “She’s there every day,
all hours of the day,” Finnie said, emphasizing the emotional toll of
such restrictive conditions.
Public Outcry: The #FreeWendy Movement
Much like the #FreeBritney campaign that galvanized public support
for Britney Spears, Wendy’s fans have launched the #FreeWendy movement.
Social media has exploded with calls for justice, with fans labeling
Morrissey as the antagonist in Wendy’s ongoing struggle.
“Wendy Williams is literally being held captive by Sabrina Morrissey.
#FreeWendy,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). Others pointed to
Morrissey’s alleged attempts to control Wendy’s narrative, including
filing lawsuits to block a Lifetime documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams?
A Broken System?
Wendy’s case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile
conservatorships, highlighting systemic flaws. Despite Morrissey filing
court documents describing Wendy as “cognitively impaired and
permanently incapacitated,” the former TV host sounded lucid, coherent,
and impassioned in her interview. Wendy vehemently denied claims of
cognitive decline, even challenging listeners to judge for themselves.
Family Advocacy
Wendy’s son, Kevin Jr., has been vocal about his mother’s situation.
Following her appearance at his college graduation, he described her as
sober and eager to return home. “Isolation is killing her faster than
anything else,” he wrote on Instagram, pleading for her freedom.
What’s Next?
The fight for Wendy Williams’ autonomy continues, with public
sentiment firmly on her side. The #FreeWendy movement is gaining
momentum, pressuring both Morrissey and the legal system to reconsider
the terms of her guardianship.
As Wendy tearfully said during her interview, “This system has
falsified a lot.” Whether the public outcry and legal challenges will
lead to her freedom remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Wendy
Williams is not giving up without a fight.
Sabrina Morrissey’s legacy, for now, remains entangled with this
heartbreaking saga. Whether she’ll be remembered as a protector or an
enabler of abuse depends on the outcome of Wendy’s quest for justice.
Williams appeared on 'The Breakfast Club' and spoke about her guardianship
By Caroline Thayer
Wendy Williams
sobbed on the phone from the New York care facility where she is
currently residing, detailing the duress she's been under since entering
into a guardianship, in a new interview.
"I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I’m saying," she said in an interview on iHeartRadio's "The Breakfast Club"
Thursday morning, where she was joined by her niece, Alex Finnie. In
February 2024, Williams' team announced she'd been diagnosed with both
progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
"I feel like I’m in prison," the 60-year-old admitted on the radio program.
"I’m in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s
and their 70s," she continued. "There’s something wrong with these
people here on this floor."
She detailed the extreme supervision
she was under, sharing that while she could make outgoing phone calls,
people were not allowed to call her.
"Where I am… you have to get
keys to unlock the door to press the elevator to go downstairs, first
of all. Second of all, these people here, everybody here is like
nursemaids, so to speak," she said, explaining that staff just doles out
medicine. Williams admitted she isn't privy to what she's taking.
"Excuse me, doctor, can you tell me what this pill is for?"
"For the last three years, I have been caught up in the system,"
Williams added, saying that she'd spent her last three birthdays alone.
"This is what is called emotional abuse."
The conversation took a
turn when Williams expanded on restrictions, starting to sob at the
thought of not being able to travel to Miami to celebrate her father's
94th birthday next month. "At 94, the day after that is not promised."
She said through tears, "My life is like f---ed up?"
In February, Williams' team publicly shared the depths of her health struggles.
"As
Wendy's fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public
about her medical struggles with Graves' Disease and Lymphedema as well
as other significant challenges related to her health," a public
statement from her team read. Williams had taken several absences from
her talk show, "The Wendy Williams Show," beginning in 2017 after fainting on air. During an episode in 2019, she revealed she was living in a sober house.
"Over
the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy's
ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy's
condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at
times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions," the
statement continued.
"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia
(FTD). Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication
abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting
behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant
hurdles in Wendy's life."
Days later, Lifetime aired a documentary called "Where Is Wendy Williams?"
which followed the talk-show host after her show had been canceled in
pursuit of starting a podcast. In the documentary, she detailed her
issues with substance abuse, condemned her guardianship and
progressively became "more aggressive" in interactions with others.
In
Thursday's interview, Williams confirmed that she had seen the
documentary – something her guardian had suggested. Throughout the
interview, she balked at the notion she was "cognitively impaired and
incapacitated."
"How dare? Do I seem that way? God d--- it," she said.
A representative for Williams did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
“I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I’m saying? But I feel
like I’m in prison,” she added. “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.”
Breakfast Club host Charlamagne Tha God said Williams was
calling in because she was “trapped in a conservatorship” and couldn’t
leave her current location.
Williams checked into an unknown facility in April 2023 after being
placed under the care of court-appointed caregiver Sabrina Morrissey.
Morrissey alleged in late 2022 in a New York court that Williams was of
“unsound mind,” leading bank Wells Fargo to petition to have Williams placed under temporary financial guardianship.
Williams, who was the subject of the controversial Lifetime docuseriesWhere is Wendy Williams?
last year, was joined on the show by her niece Alex Finnie, who also
called in. Finnie said the facility is high security and, consistent
with past reports about Williams being unreachable, added that Williams
can only make calls, no one can call her.
“They won’t allow you to leave or have visitors,” she said. “So you
can’t even leave and take a walk if you wanted to, or take a trip or
visit family members.”
Finnie added, “That’s been the reality since 2023. She’s sitting in
that room that she’s sitting in, she’s there every day, all hours of the
day, every week, every month, she’s not getting proper sunlight. I went
to New York in October to visit her. And the level of security and the
level of questions that there were in terms of, ‘Who am I? Why am I
here? What’s the purpose?’ I mean, it was absolutely just horrible.”
As for the documentary, Williams said she and Morrissey watched it together and that, “she was the one who wanted to do that.”
She continued, claiming that her situation amounts to “emotional
abuse,” “What do I think about being abused? Look, this system is
broken, this system that I’m in. This system has falsified a lot.”
Finnie continued to advocate for her aunt, saying she “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,” Finnie
said. “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.”
Williams said her phone had been taken away and that she cannot make
purchases and has to have someone get everything for her. She wants to
visit her 94-year-old father for his birthday in February but is afraid
her guardian won’t let her go.
“At 94, the day after that is not promised,” she said, as her voice grew increasingly emotional.
Finnie, who said the family is afraid Williams will be moved without
notice or the ability to contact her, also indicated they were speaking
out despite concerns of possible retaliation from Williams’ guardian.
“I said, ‘You know, we do this, you’re ready for what’s on the other
side?’ And as she said, ‘I have to do this. There’s nothing else I could
do at this point,'” Finnie said. “What you’re hearing now is a
few-minute clip of what we’ve been dealing with for the last several
months and the last two, three years.”
Morrissey sued to try to prevent the release of the docuseries but a
judge dismissed the request, citing the First Amendment. The
four-hour-plus project, which aired across two nights on Lifetime,
showed Williams’ increasingly fragile state after the June 2022 cancellation of her talk show, documenting her life for the better part of a year as she struggled with family, fame and excessive alcohol consumption.
At the time, shortly after the doc aired, producers indicated that she hadn’t seen it.
“We simply have had no way to get it to her to see it,” Ford told THR.
No way to screen it with her, because she’s locked down in a facility
and we haven’t been able to speak to her since we wrapped filming.”
But he added that he and his team had conversations with Williams
behind-the-scenes as they were filming about what they wanted to show.
Williams was credited as an executive producer on the project as part of a three-picture deal with Lifetime.
After her initial attempts to block the release of the docuseries, Morrissey, acting in her capacity as Williams’ guardian, sued Lifetime’s parent company A+E Networks in March,
saying the contract to shoot the documentary wasn’t valid since
Williams didn’t have the legal or mental capacity to authorize her
participation in the project and was allegedly told it would be
“positive and beneficial” to her image.
In September, a newly revised complaint over the documentary asked that all profits from the project be used to fund Williams’ medical care.
