Wendy Williams' Ex-Husband's Guardianship Bid Tossed By Judge

Story by Afouda Bamidele

Kevin Hunter has hit a significant setback in his attempts to score $250 million in compensatory damages in Wendy Williams' guardianship drama.

The media personality, best known as the former talk show host's ex-husband, recently had his lawsuit dismissed. The update came months after he filed his allegations on behalf of his former partner; however, she repeatedly denied supporting his lawsuit.

Wendy Williams alleged that her ex-husband's filing did not stem from concern, as he claimed, but rather from his interest in earning a quick cash grab. Her former beau had previously butted heads with the showrunners of her defunct TV program, "The Wendy Williams Show."

Wendy Williams' Ex-Husband Told Not To Drag Her Into His Lawsuit

When Hunter filed his lawsuit in June, he claimed to be doing so on behalf of Williams, who was allegedly being held in an unfair and unlawful guardianship. Many slammed his actions, arguing that he had no right to pursue the end of the court-ordered guardianship as an ex-husband.

The court seemingly agreed with this stance, as new legal documents obtained by TMZ revealed a judge had dismissed Hunter's guardianship bid. The order noted that he could not pursue the lawsuit as a "friend" of Williams, as he claimed, and told him to leave her out of it.

Although he lost his attempt to score $250 million in compensatory damages, Hunter still had another opportunity. The judge stated that he could refile his allegations without Williams, stressing that the amended complaint must be on his own behalf.

The Former Talk Show Host Denied Sanctioning The $250 Million Lawsuit

Following news of Hunter's failed lawsuit, Williams called in during Thursday's episode of "TMZ Live Stream" to address the situation. She doubled down on not approving of her ex-husband's legal efforts and believed he wanted to make a quick cash grab.

Williams echoed similar sentiments in June after Hunter filed his $250 million lawsuit. The Blast covered the story, reporting that she clarified she had no part in the legal drama and was shocked her ex listed her as a plaintiff in the documents.

The former talk show host advised the public to dismiss Hunter's filing, claiming the move did not surprise her because of his tendency to engage in exploitative schemes. Williams' attorney, Joe Tacopina, added that Hunter had no right to fight Williams' guardianship and insisted his help was unnecessary.

More About Kevin Hunter's Guardianship Bid

In his legal filing, Hunter demanded the end of Williams' guardianship and accused her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, of scathing allegations. He alleged that his ex-wife was involuntarily confined, facing mistreatment, and the mismanagement of her assets.

Hunter argued that Williams' guardianship was an illegal scheme, slamming the judge for denying her proper legal representation and not reviewing the facts properly before deeming her "cognitively impaired."

He spotlighted the claim that his ex did not receive an independent medical examination to determine if she had dementia before being placed under guardianship. Additionally, Hunter alleged that Williams has since been overmedicated and unnecessarily restricted.

The Media Personality Previously Clashed With His Ex-Wife's Producers

Hunter is no stranger to lawsuits, as he clashed with the producers of his ex-wife's former talk show. The Blast shared that he filed a complaint against the showrunners in 2023, claiming that he was wrongfully terminated from his position as executive producer.

According to Hunter, he was let go after Williams filed for divorce in 2019. He argued that his termination was unjust because producers wanted him gone based on his marital status without considering his contributions to the TV program.

Hunter wanted $7 million in compensation, and producers initially lost their request to dismiss the lawsuit. However, in April 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned the decision, arguing that Hunter implied he was terminated over his relationship with Williams instead of his marital status.

Wendy Williams To Be Deposed in Lifetime Documentary Lawsuit

Before the latest update in her ex-husband's $250 million lawsuit, The Blast reported in September that Williams was scheduled to be deposed in the Lifetime documentary between her court-appointed guardian and A&E Television Networks.

A judge extended the stay of the legal proceedings while Williams' separate guardianship case was being reviewed and granted A&E the right to depose the TV personality. The deposition would hold as a "de bene esse" on November 4.

A "de bene esse" deposition was held in situations when a witness's ability to testify later on might decline due to circumstances like "age, health, or fading memory." In Williams' case, the judge noted that the law did not stop her from being deposed despite her alleged dementia diagnosis.

Will the dismissal of Kevin Hunter's lawsuit stop him from inserting himself in Wendy Williams' guardianship case?  

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams' Ex-Husband's Guardianship Bid Tossed By Judge 

See Also:
Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Will Reportedly End This Year

Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Will Reportedly End This Year

By Zayna Allen

Attorney Joe Tacopina says Wendy Williams should be freed from her court-ordered guardianship before year’s end. The high-powered lawyer told “Nightline” Monday that guardianship attorneys have assured Williams she will be “out of guardianship” by December 31.

A Fight for Freedom for Wendy Williams

Williams has been under guardianship since 2022, when her bank froze her accounts and raised concerns she was “a victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.” The court appointed Sabrina Morrissey to oversee her finances and personal welfare. 

In 2023, Williams was reportedly diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia. But Williams has consistently denied those findings. On “The View,” she declared, “I don’t want Sabrina, period. … It’s been over three years. … It’s time for my money and my life to get back to status quo.” She also said she’s alcohol-free and ready to resume control over her affairs.

Her attorney’s recent announcement follows a new medical evaluation that — according to him — concludes Williams does not have FTD. He told “Nightline,” “[Williams] does not have frontotemporal dementia, so that should be game, set, match.”

Tacopina said that guardianship attorneys are “watching and waiting” and expect the guardianship to end by year’s end. He added that if the court refuses to end the guardianship, his team will seek a jury trial. 

The possibility of restoring Williams’ autonomy has drawn renewed attention to her living situation, which she has criticized as restrictive. In past statements she described her memory-care facility as a “dump,” and said she felt isolated, unable to control her phone, visitors or daily schedule.

If the guardianship ends as Tacopina promises, Williams could regain control over her finances and make independent decisions about her life. Her legal team appears prepared — whether through voluntary release or a jury ruling — to push for full restoration of her rights. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Will Reportedly End This Year 

See Also:
Wendy Williams calls her $25K-a-month assisted living facility a 'dump' amid guardianship

Wendy Williams calls her $25K-a-month assisted living facility a 'dump' amid guardianship

Former talk show host confined to memory care floor after frontotemporal dementia diagnosis

By Janelle Ash

Wendy Williams has shed rare insight into her living situation at Coterie, her high-end assisted-living facility in Hudson Yards, New York City, where she reportedly resides on one floor. 

Williams spoke to The Cut via phone from her memory care floor. Per the outlet, the memory care floor is locked, and she needs both permission from Coterie and her guardian if she wants to leave. She also is not allowed to have a cell phone, but her room has a landline that only makes outgoing calls. 

Her friend and owner of the upscale Italian eatery Tucci in New York, Max Tucci, also spoke with the outlet, sharing that Williams describes the establishment to him as a "dump."

"This is, like, where billionaires send their grandmothers. But, you know," he said before his tone became serious, "She doesn’t need it. Wendy doesn’t lie." 

During her phone interview, Williams asked the reporter who toured the facility, "Did you see the people? The elderly people? Why do I want to look at that? This is a f----d-up situation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked that I be moved from this floor."

The former talk show host was placed under a court-appointed guardianship in 2022. In February 2024, Williams's team announced she'd been diagnosed with both progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Williams has continued to deny that she has dementia.

The Cut described the lobby of Coterie as having fresh lilies displayed and marble floors, with a tiered crystal waterfall chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The outlet also listed the amenities at the facility, which includes a 24/7 nursing staff. 

Also, for residents able to participate, there is a private movie theater and a snack bar, a spa and a hair salon.

According to the outlet, Williams has been in the assisted-living facility since 2023. 

Williams remained out of the public eye, but in recent months, she has been making public appearances. Last month, Williams was seen out during New York Fashion Week.

"Did you see the people? The elderly people? Why do I want to look at that?"

— Wendy Williams

"You know I've been out. So obviously I do go out," Williams said of her outing. She also said that she's been attending a "megachurch" in Brooklyn. 

"It gives me faith and keeps me very well in touch with God and myself," Williams said.

Williams initially began her stay on the facility's third floor, which is described as having floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking 35th Street. The bathrooms are all marble with heated flooring and assistance bars. 

According to the outlet, a friend of Williams' claimed that on her birthday in July, she went up to the facility's penthouse restaurant and bar and got "hammered." Shortly after, Williams was moved to the memory care unit.

Williams told the outlet that a judge allowed her to have an iPad inside her "memory floor" studio suite, which is a 360 sq. ft unit, according to Coterie's website.

Per the facility's website, this unit runs for $25,800 per month. 

According to The Cut, on top of paying for the unit, Williams's estate is responsible for the guardianship lawyer fees, paying her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey’s fees and her lawyer fees, who is on retainer at $10,000 a month. 

The Cut noted that lawyers were in court this year concerned about Williams's finances. In 2024, Morrissey sold Williams's 2,400-square-foot apartment, reportedly at a loss. They also noted that at some point, Morrissey rehomed her two cats. 

Williams told the outlet that she uses her iPad to listen to her old radio show and stay up-to-date on news about herself.

The Cut described the memory care unit in a bleak manner. The outlet said the floor smelled like Febreze. There aren't any locks on the apartment doors and there aren't stoves or refrigerators for residents "safety." On this floor, there is a gym, where the reporter spotted Williams working out. She was on the treadmill, overlooking the city, wearing a black top, leggings, and her usual blonde wig. 

"She looked good," the reporter noted.

The Cut mentioned the bombshell lawsuit Williams's ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, filed on her behalf in June.

According to the outlet, Hunter has alleged that Williams is competent and the judge dealing with the case is "crooked." 

Hunter called the guardianship "fraudulent bondage" and called for Sabrina Morrissey, Williams' guardian, to be fired. The outlet noted that according to sealed court documents, Hunter had been receiving $37,500 per month in alimony from Williams for years.

He allegedly had not collected that money since shortly before the guardianship proceeding began. Notably, the lawsuit was seeking $250 million in damages be split between him and Williams.

On Oct, 9, TMZ reported that a judge ruled to throw out Hunter's lawsuit. The outlet noted that there is room for Hunter to refile an amended complaint on his own behalf. 

Williams filed for divorce from Hunter in 2019 after she discovered he fathered another child. They were married for 21 years and share one son, Kevin Hunter Jr., 25.

The Cut was able to get Williams's son on the phone, and he explained that he's trying to stay clear of any drama involving his mother. 

"I'm really not trying to be too caught up in this. I'm trying to build, carve out my own path right now, away from everything. I just want her to get out of this. Because it's not right," he told the outlet.

The Cut reported that in the coming weeks and months, a new medical report may be coming forward. 

The judge overseeing the case could reaffirm the guardianship, ease up on the restrictions, rule that Morrissey should be replaced or remove it all together. Sources told the outlet that removing the guardianship is unlikely.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Coterie for comment. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams calls her $25K-a-month assisted living facility a 'dump' amid guardianship

See Also:
Judge Shuts Down Kevin Hunter’s Attempt to Take Over Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Case

Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter’s Guardianship Lawsuit Tossed Out

Wendy Williams: Judge Tosses Ex-Hubby's Lawsuit

Wendy Williams speaks out in rare comments amid guardianship

Wendy Williams Fights Back: Lawyers Oppose Kevin Hunter's Guardianship Challenge  

Wendy Williams will be deposed in Lifetime documentary case despite dementia diagnosis: report 

Wendy Williams doesn’t want to return to TV as a host, but could go on speaking tour to expose ‘abusive’ guardianship system 

Wendy Williams ‘wants back in society’ as she fights to rid herself of conservatorship, tells us, ‘Do I sound like I have dementia to you?’ 

Judge Shuts Down Kevin Hunter’s Attempt to Take Over Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Case

Wendy’s ex tried to step in as her “next friend,” but the court wasn’t having it

by THINKTANK 

Kevin Hunter just took a major legal L. A judge has officially shut down his attempt to insert himself into Wendy Williams’ guardianship, calling out his lack of authority to act on her behalf.

According to TMZ and People, Hunter filed a $250 million lawsuit earlier this year claiming Wendy’s court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, was exploiting her. He said he wanted to step in as her “next friend”, a legal role that would let him act on her behalf in court.

But the judge wasn’t buying it. The court dismissed Hunter’s case and made it clear he cannot legally file lawsuits or act in Wendy’s name. The ruling did give him the option to refile, but only in his own name, meaning he’d be speaking for himself; not Wendy.

Wendy wasted no time responding. She told People she had “no idea” about the lawsuit and called Hunter a “money-grubber.” Her legal team backed her up, saying she never gave him permission or authority to act on her behalf. 

This isn’t just courtroom drama, it’s part of a larger battle over Wendy’s guardianship. The TV icon has been fighting to end the court control over her finances and medical decisions. She’s been outspoken about wanting her freedom back, even calling the arrangement “a prison.”

Meanwhile, her guardian claims Wendy has refused medical testing that could impact her case. That tension has only fueled public debate about whether the guardianship is protecting or restricting her. 

Full Article & Source:
Judge Shuts Down Kevin Hunter’s Attempt to Take Over Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Case 

See Also:
Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter’s Guardianship Lawsuit Tossed Out

Wendy Williams: Judge Tosses Ex-Hubby's Lawsuit

Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter’s Guardianship Lawsuit Tossed Out

by Nadia Mumuni

Wendy Williams‘s ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, just hit a major legal roadblock in his attempt to fight her guardianship.

A judge has officially dismissed the lawsuit Hunter filed on Williams’ behalf, ruling that he cannot act as her “friend” in court, though he’s been given the option to refile a claim solely on his own behalf.

Williams, who called in to TMZ Live, made it clear she had nothing to do with the lawsuit and expressed confusion about her current finances, admitting she’s unsure how much money she even has.

Hunter’s original filing sought $250 million in damages, alleging the daytime TV host was being exploited under the care of her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrisey. But the judge’s decision leaves him back at square one.

Williams and Hunter finalized their divorce in 2020, following a turbulent 21-year marriage. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter’s Guardianship Lawsuit Tossed Out 

See Also:
Wendy Williams speaks out in rare comments amid guardianship

Wendy Williams Fights Back: Lawyers Oppose Kevin Hunter's Guardianship Challenge  

Wendy Williams: Judge Tosses Ex-Hubby's Lawsuit

By TMZ Staff 

Wendy Williams' ex-husband needs to go back to the drawing board if he wants to take legal action over her guardianship ... because a judge just tossed a lawsuit he tried to file on her behalf.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge just denied Kevin Hunter's motion to proceed with the suit as a so-called "friend" of Wendy's ... but he did leave Kevin an opening to refile the case.

Wendy Williams' ex-husband needs to go back to the drawing board if he wants to take legal action over her guardianship ... because a judge just tossed a lawsuit he tried to file on her behalf.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge just denied Kevin Hunter's motion to proceed with the suit as a so-called "friend" of Wendy's ... but he did leave Kevin an opening to refile the case.

In denying Kevin here, the judge says he can file an amended complaint with allegations and claims on his own behalf ... but he's gotta leave Wendy out of it.

Wendy and Kevin divorced in 2020 after 21 years of marriage ... and the split was nasty, to say the least.

Wendy's guardianship started in 2022 after Wells Fargo froze her bank accounts over what the bank said was suspicious activity ... and Kevin's lawsuit claimed Wendy was being exploited, and he was seeking $250 million in compensatory damages.

WW told us when this was filed, it felt like Kevin was making a cash grab ... and now he's back to square one. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams:  Judge Tosses Ex-Hubby's Lawsuit 

Wendy Williams speaks out in rare comments amid guardianship

by Taijuan Moorman

Wendy Williams is giving a rare update on her condition.

The legendary talk show host, who has been living in a luxury dementia facility for over two years, opened up in a The Cut cover story on the complex fight surrounding her guardianship.

Williams – who, amid a reported frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, has long maintained she is in the highly-restrictive facility unnecessarily and is "not cognitively impaired" – spoke to the outlet over the phone for the story. She called the facility a "dump" before asking, "Did you see the people? The elderly people? Why do I want to look at that?"

Williams, 61, has lamented feeling like she's in "prison" in the facility, which doesn't allow visitors. But in recent months, she has been seen out more, including at New York Fashion Week. When asked about getting out socializing, the spirited personality butt in, remarking, "You know I've been out. So obviously I do go out."

She also explained that she's been attending a "megachurch" in Brooklyn, New York. "It gives me faith and keeps me very well in touch with God and myself," she said.

Williams was able to call The Cut's contributing features writer Jessica Bennett through her room's landline, which can only make outgoing calls. During the conversation, Williams revealed she has been permitted by the judge overseeing her guardianship to have an iPad, which she has used to catch up on news about herself and listen to her old radio show.

The writer, who visited the high-end facility and called it "impressive," got a glimpse of Williams in the gym and noted "she looked good." When the writer brought this up, it spurred the famously provocative TV host to mention her lip and breast implants, remarking: "And you know what? It's still hitting and holding."

Friends, son say Wendy Williams looks 'good' amid guardianship, push for her freedom

Various friends who have seen Williams out in recent months or spoken to her have remarked on how "good" she looks and sounds, especially compared to the haunting Lifetime documentary, "Where is Wendy Williams?" shot in the months before entering the facility and in her last years on "The Wendy Williams Show."

Max Tucci, Williams' friend who recently hosted her at his New York City restaurant Tucci, told the outlet, "She looks amazing."

"This is, like, where billionaires send their grandmothers," he added of the facility, before backing Williams up. "She doesn't need it. Wendy doesn't lie."

Shawn Zanotti – her publicist, whom the outlet notes errantly inquired about how much they would pay to speak to Williams – also spoke positively about Williams' condition and said she doesn't believe Williams has dementia, noting, "This woman doesn't miss a beat."

Williams' last years on "The Wendy Williams Show" were reportedly marked by significant changes to her behavior and health, and difficulty producing the show around her. But Suzanne Bass, "The Wendy Williams Show" former co-executive producer, told The Cut that Williams looks "the best I've seen her in years."

"She's vibrant now. She sounds clear, and she sounds excited for her future. She wants her old life back," she added, noting she deserves at least a bit more freedom. "There's no reason for her to be locked up."

The Cut also spoke to Williams' son, whom they note Williams has claimed stole from her.

In the phone interview, Kevin Hunter Jr. seemed "genuine and sad" and asserted he has not stolen from his mother, but was trying to stay clear of the drama. "I'm really not trying to be too caught up in this. I'm trying to build, carve out my own path right now, away from everything," he told the outlet. "I just want her to get out of this. Because it's not right."

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams speaks out in rare comments amid guardianship 

See Also:
Wendy Williams will be deposed in Lifetime documentary case despite dementia diagnosis: report 

Wendy Williams doesn’t want to return to TV as a host, but could go on speaking tour to expose ‘abusive’ guardianship system 

Wendy Williams ‘wants back in society’ as she fights to rid herself of conservatorship, tells us, ‘Do I sound like I have dementia to you?’ 

 

Wendy Williams will be deposed in Lifetime documentary case despite dementia diagnosis: report

By BreAnna Bell

Wendy Williams is expected to be deposed in her Lifetime documentary case despite her frontotemporal dementia and aphasia diagnoses.

The judge presiding over Williams’ case against Lifetime and its parent company, A&E, granted the network’s request to depose the former talk show host in a filing obtained by People on Tuesday.

According to the outlet, Williams is expected to participate in a “de bene esse” deposition, which happens when a witness’ ability to testify later on might decline due to circumstances such as “age, health, fading memory.”

The deposition must take place by Nov. 4 and won’t be longer than three hours.

Williams, 61, will be allowed to testify remotely. Though, people are limited to no more than two attorneys on the case and one of Williams’ attorneys in her guardianship case to the room.

She”ll also be expected to receive sufficient breaks and her testimony should not span longer than three days.

While Williams’ current dementia diagnosis continues to confine her to her guardianship under her conservator Sabrina Morissey, the judge ruled that the former radio personality’s “condition does not insulate her from providing testimony in this case,” citing how the Federal Rules of Evidence “does not contain any requirement of mental ability.”

“It will be up to the jury in this case to decide what weight to give to [Williams’] deposition testimony,” read the legal docs.

A source told the outlet “the attorneys suing A&E said at a Sept. 5 hearing that the docuseries was so horrific that it could no longer be found on the air anywhere. Attorneys for A&E later admitted that they had taken the series down, claiming it was out of respect for the legal proceedings.”

A rep for Williams did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. 

Williams first launched the lawsuit against the network in February 2024.

Morissey, acting in her capacity as Williams’ legal guardian filed documents against the company claiming they shot their “Where is Wendy Williams?” documentary without first obtaining proper clearance from her guardian in an attempt to stop the film’s release.

Morrissey alleged in the complaint that Williams did not have the legal or mental capacity to authorize her participation in the documentary at the time.

Williams has maintained that she is not cognitively impaired she continues her legal battle to free herself from her guardianship.

The former talk show host recently underwent a second round of cognitive testing, which sources told People in August, that confirmed her previous dementia and aphasia diagnoses.

However, Williams told Page Six that she and her attorneys were “highly upset” about the report regarding her health and emphatically vowed she “will get out of guardianship.“ 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams will be deposed in Lifetime documentary case despite dementia diagnosis: report 

See Also:
Wendy Williams doesn’t want to return to TV as a host, but could go on speaking tour to expose ‘abusive’ guardianship system 

Wendy Williams doesn’t want to return to TV as a host, but could go on speaking tour to expose ‘abusive’ guardianship system

By Carlos Greer

Sources tell Page Six that Wendy Williams has no interest in returning to television as a talk show host –and is now focusing on advocacy for people under guardianships, and could go on a speaking tour.

In a new interview with “Extra,” Williams’ power attorney, Joe Tacopina, said Williams has spoken to him about wanting to expose what she sees as an “abusive” system.

“It’s just so unjust, and quite despicable,” Tacopina said. “What she said to me… more than once, is, ‘Joe, I wish I weren’t in this situation… but if someone is going to be in this situation, better me with a platform, so I can expose the system,'” the lawyer said.

Tacopina added that his famous client told him better her, “‘than some individual, who is caught in the vortex of a horrific guardian situation, where you can’t get out.’ She said that if it was going to be somebody, she’s happy it’s her, because hopefully it will put an end to what she calls abuse.”

Pals of Williams echoed her attorney, telling Page Six that the National Radio Hall of Famer has expressed interest in going on a speaking tour about her experience.

“It’s just an idea, but she thinks it’s important. She wants to maybe do panels, and help facilitate it and [talk about how] to protect families from guardianships. She wants to talk about how to get out of it, and all of the red flags,” one source told us.

“If there’s one thing Wendy knows how to do, it’s talk. She wants to bring this issue to the stage,” they added.

Williams, of course, has to first get out of her own guardianship: She seemingly suffered a setback earlier this month amid a report that recent medical results indicated she has frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

Williams has denied having mental health issues, and Tacopina told “Extra” he believes it’s a fake report that Williams’ guardian had something to do with leaking.

“Clearly [Williams’ guardian was involved]. People can tippy-toe around it. They won’t say it. No one has seen this report yet. Not even Wendy. Not us. Not her guardianship attorneys,” he claimed.

Williams hired Tacopina, who has defended clients like A$AP Rocky and President Donald Trump, to fight for her in case she has to go to trial to get out of her guardianship. He says the next steps will be for her to complete a medical exam “by a neutral physician,” he stressed.

“Then, hopefully the guardianship attorneys will push this judge to make a ruling, and if it’s the right ruling, then game, set match. And if it’s the wrong ruling, I’ll get involved in a big way because we are going to need a jury to resolve this,” he said.

“Do I sound like I have dementia to you?” she recently asked Page Six during one of her New York outings. 

Williams seems to have faith in her legal team.

We caught up with her before she entered dinner at Tucci a couple of weeks and she told Page Six, “I will get out of guardianship.”

Williams’ guardian hung up the phone when we reached out for comment. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams doesn’t want to return to TV as a host, but could go on speaking tour to expose ‘abusive’ guardianship system 

See Also: 
Wendy Williams ‘wants back in society’ as she fights to rid herself of conservatorship, tells us, ‘Do I sound like I have dementia to you?’

Wendy Williams Attorney Discusses Her Allegedly ‘Abusive’ Guardianship and If She’ll Return to TV

Wendy Williams hopes to expose her allegedly ‘abusive’ guardianship.

by Helen Storms 

Wendy Williams last appeared as host of The Wendy Williams Show on July 16, 2021. Her popular show aired for 13 seasons. Unfortunately, struggles with both mental and physical health complications have led her to not only leave television but to be placed under a legal guardianship.

Despite the guardianship supposedly being intended to protect Williams, she claims it’s doing the opposite. According to Page Six, Williams has described the guardianship as “abusive” and is in the process of trying to get out of it.

Her power attorney, Joe Tacopina, spoke out about the issue.

“It’s just so unjust, and quite despicable,” Tacopina said. “What she said to me… more than once, is, ‘Joe, I wish I weren’t in this situation… but if someone is going to be in this situation, better me with a platform, so I can expose the system.”

Tacopina continued to explain why Williams is relieved this nightmare has happened to her as opposed to someone else.

She feels it is better for her, “‘than some individual, who is caught in the vortex of a horrific guardian situation, where you can’t get out.’ She said that if it was going to be somebody, she’s happy it’s her, because hopefully it will put an end to what she calls abuse.”

According to Tacopina, Williams does not currently have a desire to return to reality television. However, she does have a different goal for her future. She hopes to go on a speaking tour where she can share her experience with others.

“It’s just an idea, but she thinks it’s important. She wants to maybe do panels, and help facilitate it and [talk about how] to protect families from guardianships. She wants to talk about how to get out of it, and all of the red flags,” one source revealed to Page Six.

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams Attorney Discusses Her Allegedly ‘Abusive’ Guardianship and If She’ll Return to TV 

Wendy Williams ‘wants back in society’ as she fights to rid herself of conservatorship, tells us, ‘Do I sound like I have dementia to you?’

Story by Carlos Greer

Baffled Wendy Williams insiders say she’s back to being “the old Wendy” amid reports of recent medical tests indicating she has frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

Williams and insiders around her continue to refute reports of the alleged diagnosis as the battle over the talk show host’s mental health rages on.

“She seems fine. She’s witty, and is getting healthier. It’s like old Wendy,” a source told Page Six.

Williams hit the town in NYC by dining at one of her favorite Italian restaurants, Tucci, on Saturday, where she and owner Max Tucci phoned us during dinner.

The former radio host even greeted Page Six with her signature, “How you doin’?” catch phrase.

“Do I sound like I have dementia to you?” she asked.

She certainly sounded like “the old Wendy,” as multiple sources continue and have previously described her.

A Post photographer caught up with Williams before she entered the restaurant, and she explained that her attorneys are “highly upset” with reports circulating about her health.

When asked if she had any words for her conservator, she quipped, “I want to say hi to my attorneys, Allan Diamond and Joe Tacopina.” Williams then added, “And I will get out of my guardianship.”

Insiders told us Williams has to be “extra careful” when speaking to cameras because, “she doesn’t want to jeopardize anything or suffer backlash [from the conservator]. That’s why it’s always, ‘talk to my lawyers,'” the source said.

“Her focus is she wants out. She wants an apartment in New York. She wants to be back in society. She wants to be able to go get bagels and lox, just the simple pleasures,” the insider shared.

“She wants to go to fashion week!” they added.

Williams also wants her makeup. (We hear beauty entrepreneur Laura Geller has been supplying her with lipstick and eyeliner).

Meanwhile, she has been getting her societal fix by frequenting old and new haunts like Fresco by Scotto, Tucci, and Delmonico’s — where she celebrated her 61st birthday last month.

Williams, who battles hyperthyroidism and Graves disease, has also been relying less on her scooter, we’re told. (Though she has been photographed with it.)

Additionally, she’s become more spiritual, we hear, attending Sunday church services in Brooklyn, which “she loves being a part of,” the source said.

Rev. Al Sharpton paid her a visit and prayed with her at her living facility, Page Six previously exclusively reported in April.

“She sounded like Wendy. She didn’t sound any different…[She] wanted me to try to help her,” Sharpton told us at the time.

Williams’ power attorney Tacopina further told us back then that “Her cognitive abilities are completely in tact.., She’s going to get out. We have resources. We have options.”

Our source also described Williams as “very optimistic” about the future.

“She’s looking forward to her freedom,” they said.

If Williams gets her way, she’ll be back to saying, “How you doin?” on her own terms by winter, insiders hope.

In the meantime, the witty chat pro will reportedly remain under her current conservatorship until at least November. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams ‘wants back in society’ as she fights to rid herself of conservatorship, tells us, ‘Do I sound like I have dementia to you?’ 

See Also:
Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Case: Warring Factions Emerge As Court Battle Gears Up 

Wendy Williams' Medical Exam Complete as Updated Health Diagnosis Upholds Her Guardianship (Exclusive)

Wendy Williams Fights Back: Lawyers Oppose Kevin Hunter's Guardianship Challenge

Wendy Williams' Lawyers Intend To Sue Those Responsible For "Very Scary" Guardianship  

Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Case: Warring Factions Emerge As Court Battle Gears Up

Three groups, one led by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina, another by legal guardian Sabrina Morrissey, and another by ex-husband Kevin Hunter, are all claiming they know what's best for the former TV personality. 

by Winston Cho

Last month, high-flying celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina declared he had been hired by Wendy Williams to potentially fight against a guardianship imposed upon her following a series of health issues that cast doubt over her mental capacity. It was the latest development in a labyrinthine case being fought behind closed doors that invoked chatter of Britney Spears, who quietly pushed for years to end a similar court-appointed arrangement that gave her family the power to essentially control her life.

“She’s lucid and in control of her faculties,” says Tacopina, who met Williams earlier this summer at Fresco by Scotto in New York City to celebrate her birthday. “What’s happening here is not normal.”

Yet, there’s one issue: The judge overseeing Williams’ guardianship tapped a trio of lawyers — and only those lawyers — to represent her interests in court, and Tacopina isn’t among them, according to court documents reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter that point to complications around a tangling web of lawsuits over the former TV personality’s well-being. Still, he maintains that he’ll enter the increasingly contentious battle to dissolve the arrangement if and when the time is right.

Three camps of people in Williams’ orbit appear to have formed. On one side is Tacopina, who was brought into the fold by Williams’ niece Alex Finnie to act as the TV personality’s personal attorney; on another is Sabrina Morrissey, who in 2022 was named by the court as Williams’ guardian; on the last is Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter, who in June filed a $250 million lawsuit against Morrissey. Each side claims to know what’s best for the TV personality. 

The factions dueling over Williams’ fate may portend a veering of the guardianship into a Spears-esque saga. One question stands at the forefront: Is the arrangement necessary to protect Williams from exploitation?

“It’s scary,” she told TMZ of the guardianship in July.

In 2022, Williams was placed under a financial guardianship after Wells Fargo claimed she was an “incapacitated person” and a “victim of undue influence.” She contested the development, saying that her health had improved and that she was “absolutely” of sound mind after receiving treatment for Graves’ disease and thyroid issues (Bernie Young, Williams’ former manager who was fired by the TV personality, moved to be placed as guardian for the court, which led to Williams saying that he improperly used her money in the effort). It was later revealed that the financial exploitation stemmed from purchases made by her son, Kevin Hunter Jr.

At the time, La’Shawn Thomas, a lawyer for Williams in the guardianship proceedings, said that the chain of events that culminated in the installment of a guardian over the ex-TV personality started with a request to check her bank statements. Williams accused a Wells Fargo financial advisor of lying that she’s mentally unstable to lock her out of her accounts.

“Wendy doesn’t agree with a financial guardian being appointed,” Thomas told THR in 2022. “If it’s the court’s intention to have one appointed over her affairs for the long haul, she definitely isn’t going to accept that.”

Thomas is now representing Kevin Hunter, who takes issue with no longer being paid severance from his divorce, in a lawsuit that looks to replace Morrissey as Williams’ guardian and a court order mandating a reassessment of money owed to him. Williams, however, later said she wasn’t aware that of the lawsuit. “It’s about money,” Tacopina says of Hunter’s motivation for suing over the guardianship. “We’re not a part of that, and we don’t believe there’s merit to his claim. If Wendy wants to sue, she’ll do so on her own without her husband.”

There are questions surrounding Hunter’s motivation in bringing the lawsuit and his legal standing to do so. Thomas, his lawyer, was denied admission into the guardianship proceedings, with the judge issuing an order that barred her from “communicating in any manner with” Williams and her family, according to court documents. Allan Diamond, Peter Strauss and Morrissey — lawyers appointed by the court to represent Williams who didn’t respond to requests for comment — are the only representatives capable of initiating litigation on her behalf. They’ve moved to dismiss Hunter’s case.

The court is expected to make a determination as to whether Williams still belongs in the guardianship by November. Ahead of a 2024 documentary chronicling Williams’ deteriorating mental and physical state, her camp shared that she had been diagnosed with dementia and primary progressive aphasia, which impairs the ability to understand language. A lawsuit was later filed over Where Is Wendy Williams?, which documented her life for the better part of a year showing her downward spiral as she struggled with health and addiction issues, against Lifetime parent A+E Networks. It was alleged that Williams didn’t have the legal or mental capacity to authorize her participation in the title. 

In an interview with Don Lemon earlier this year, Finnie said she’s doesn’t believe that Williams has dementia or is otherwise incapacitated.

“Once the guardianship was put in place, we were just left on the outside and that’s how it’s been,” she said. “Everything is controlled by this guardian.”

A spokesperson for Williams declined to comment for this story. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Case: Warring Factions Emerge As Court Battle Gears Up 

See Also:
Wendy Williams' Medical Exam Complete as Updated Health Diagnosis Upholds Her Guardianship (Exclusive)

Wendy Williams Fights Back: Lawyers Oppose Kevin Hunter's Guardianship Challenge

Wendy Williams' Lawyers Intend To Sue Those Responsible For "Very Scary" Guardianship