Why the Wendy Williams Lifetime lawsuit ended the way it did

The dispute centered on claims Williams was exploited during filming

 

By Shekari Philemon

Wendy Williams (Photo credit: Shutterstock.com / lev radin)

A legal dispute over a controversial documentary about Wendy Williams has reached a resolution, bringing an end to a case that raised serious questions about consent, exploitation and the responsibilities of media companies toward vulnerable subjects.

Court filings confirm that Williams’ court-appointed guardian and the defendants, which include Lifetime and its parent company A&E Network, submitted a joint motion to resolve the matter. The filing addressed the settlement terms, proposed legal fees and the distribution of any funds to be paid out.

A documentary that sparked immediate backlash

The two-part docuseries chronicled roughly two years of Williams’ life during a period of significant personal and medical decline. It aired in 2024, just days after her care team publicly disclosed that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, a combination of conditions that severely affects language, behavior and cognitive function.

Her guardian moved quickly, filing an initial lawsuit in February 2024 in an effort to stop the documentary from being released. That attempt did not succeed, and the series aired as scheduled.

The amended complaint and its core allegations

Several months later, the guardian filed an expanded version of the lawsuit that laid out a more detailed set of claims. The amended complaint alleged that the documentary was produced without a legally valid contract and that Williams was in no condition to provide meaningful consent at the time filming took place.

The filing described her as highly vulnerable and clearly incapacitated during the period she was recorded. It alleged that producers presented a contract for her signature after she had already been filmed in a state that observers on set could not have reasonably interpreted as coherent or capable of informed agreement.

The lawsuit further alleged that A&E Network deliberately took advantage of a severely impaired individual and generated substantial profits from the resulting content. According to the complaint, Williams received approximately $82,000 from the production while the network earned considerably more from the series.

What the guardian demanded

At the heart of the legal action was a demand that all profits generated by the documentary be redirected to Williams herself. The filing noted that her ongoing medical needs would require significant financial resources for the remainder of her life, and that the disparity between what she received and what the network earned was both unjust and legally indefensible.

Where Is Wendy Williams? followed the former talk show host through a turbulent chapter that ended with her being placed under court-ordered guardianship in 2022. That guardianship arrangement, which transferred legal decision-making authority to an appointed third party, was already in place when the documentary was being produced and eventually released.

A settlement reached

The joint motion filed by both sides signals that the parties have agreed to resolve the matter without proceeding to trial. The specific financial terms of the settlement have not been made public, and the proposed distribution of any payment remains subject to court approval.

For Williams, who built one of the most recognizable brands in daytime television over decades in the industry, the case represented something far larger than a contract dispute. It raised pointed questions about how media companies approach subjects who are no longer able to fully advocate for themselves and whether the pursuit of compelling content can cross into genuine harm.

The settlement does not resolve those broader questions, but it does mark the formal conclusion of a legal chapter that drew significant attention to the intersection of entertainment, illness and informed consent. 

Full Article & Source:
Why the Wendy Williams Lifetime lawsuit ended the way it did 

See Also:
Is “The Bad Guardian ”Based on a True Story? What to Know About the Real-Life Accounts of Guardianship Abuse That Inspired the Movie

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

Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Will Reportedly End This Year

Girl, 7, dies after alleged abuse in dad’s fiancée’s custody; mother targets officials with $250 million lawsuit

Story by Front Page Detective Staff

The mother of a deceased 7-year-old child has blamed Suffolk County and the Bayport-Blue Point School District for her daughter’s death, citing that they failed to protect her and placed her in the custody of an allegedly dangerous woman.

Jor’Dynn Duncan, 7, died in December 2025, months after she was placed in the custody of her father’s fiancée, Emily Kelly, 50. Duncan’s mother, Portia Duncan, alleges that Kelly tortured her daughter for a long time, but county officials and the school district ignored warning signs.

Portia Duncan Sues Suffolk County Officials Over Daughter’s Death

Duncan has filed a $250 million lawsuit against Suffolk County, its child welfare agencies, and the Bayport-Blue Point School District. The lawsuit alleges that Suffolk County failed to vet Kelly before placing Jor’Dynn in her care, and that Child Protection Services failed to monitor Jor’Dynn’s wellbeing.

Jor’Dynn was removed from Duncan’s custody because of the mother’s drug abuse and mental health issues. She could not be placed with her father, either, as he was in prison. In December 2024, Suffolk County Child Protective Services placed her in the care of her father’s fiancée, Kelly. In April 2025, Kelly was granted full custody and guardianship of the child.

On December 29, 2025, Kelly called 911 after finding Jor’Dynn unresponsive outside a bathroom. She was pronounced dead an hour later. An autopsy determined that she died of an infection caused by sharp force injuries. According to the medical examiner, the child had around 90 injuries on her body. 

Kelly and Her Family Members Have Been Charged in Jor’Dynn’s Death

Kelly and two of her family members have been charged in Jor’Dynn’s death. Kelly is facing a second-degree murder charge. Her 75-year-old mother, Barbara Renner, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, while her 24-year-old daughter, Elyssa Seymore, is accused of first-degree unlawful imprisonment. The trio appeared in court in June 2026.

Duncan is seeking justice for her daughter and says she wishes her child had never been taken from her custody. “They need to do more protecting of our kids because there are no other hands she should have been in than mine. I might have been an addict, but I was … I was a damn good mother,” she said in an interview with CBS News.

Her legal team has described Kelly’s home as a ‘house of horrors.’ “[They] took her from the place where she never missed any school, was getting swimming lessons, and put her into a house of horrors and death,” attorney Lowanda Williams said. Duncan also regrets not being able to take care of her kid due to her addiction, as she said, “If I can turn back time, I would have done things so much different.” 

Full Article & Source:
Girl, 7, dies after alleged abuse in dad’s fiancée’s custody; mother targets officials with $250 million lawsuit 

Horrifying details released in case against suspended Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard

by  Apryl Marie Fogel

A scathing 120-page complaint outlines seven charges against Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard.

"Judge Blanchard's conduct has degraded the public's confidence in the integrity of the judiciary and brought the judicial office into disrepute. Judge Blanchard's delay and lack of attention in handling her cases have harmed the litigants, protected persons, respondents, family members, attorneys, healthcare professionals, healthcare services, and others who have business before the Probate Court," the report explains.

The meticulously detailed complaint alleges that Blanchard's behavior made life miserable for court staff, created a "threat to public safety," kept individuals hospitalized longer than necessary and created a logjam of cases.

The charges against Blanchard include:

1. Pattern and practice of failing to diligently discharge judicial duties
2. Pattern and practice of failing to follow the law
3. Pattern and practice of exhibiting bias against attorneys appearing in Judge Blanchard's court
4. Failure to disqualify from a case in which Judge Blanchard served as an attorney
5. Harassment, intimidation, and retaliation against probate court staff
6. Allowing other court officials subject to Judge Blanchard's direction and control to engage in harassment and intimidation of probate court staff
7. Failure to maintain professional competence in judicial administration

The report repeatedly states that Blanchard was late to hearings on her schedule.

"Judge Blanchard told her staff on one occasion that she was late to her involuntary commitment docket because she had three dogs to walk," the complaint says.

Included in the report is one of three emails from hospital staff to the court regarding the consequences of the judge's delay of the case:

“With the cancellation and the rescheduling of her hearing to December 2, this patient will now remain hospitalized for an additional two weeks solely due to the lack of timely access to the hearing process. This not only prevents her from being home with her family for Thanksgiving, but it also generates unnecessary hospitalization costs and creates avoidable emotional distress for the patient and her loved ones.

Beyond this single case, the cancellation of the docket disrupts unit flow, delays care for other patients needing admission which can pose a threat to public safety and places our staff in untenable operational positions. It is difficult to reconcile today's action with our shared responsibility to ensure patients receive timely due process and appropriate, least-restrictive care.

The sequence of events today reflects a disregard for the rights of our patients, the time and safety of their families, and the operational efficiency of the hospital.”

Following repeated emails advocating for the patient, Blanchard set a new hearing on November 20 and released the patient.

In another case, an individual was held for 18 days before having a hearing. State law says:

“When any respondent sought to be committed has any limitation imposed upon his liberty or any temporary treatment imposed upon him by the probate judge pending final hearings on such petition, the probate judge, at the time such limitation or treatment is imposed, shall set a probable cause hearing within seven days of the date of such imposition.”

Among the human resources complaints are accusations that the court's chief clerk and several other employees who were transferred from the Birmingham Probate Court building in downtown Birmingham to the Bessemer location, at times with little to no work or duties commensurate with their skill and pay level, were subjected to acts of retaliation or for no reason at all.

While each of those moved has their stories shared in the report, one shows a level of indifference that would shock even the hardest hearts.

“Another clerk sent an email to Judge Blanchard and to the Place 2 Judge on August 28, 2025, asking if she could be moved back to the Birmingham Division because her sister was dying of cancer. The clerk liked to visit her sister in the evenings after work and assist with her daily needs, and the commute to Bessemer-which was 35-40 minutes longer through heavy traffic-made visiting her sister more difficult. The Place 2 Judge expressed to the employee in person that there was nothing she could do because Judge Blanchard was the·Presiding Judge of the Probate Court. Judge Blanchard never responded to the email at all. Shortly thereafter, the clerk's sister died. The clerk was unable to make it to the hospital in time to say goodbye because she was stuck in traffic driving to the hospital from Bessemer.”

The full report details how Blanchard's actions affected hundreds of conservatorship and guardianship cases, as well as a detailed account of bar complaint filings and other conduct that led to charges.

Complaint Against Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard by aprylmarie.fogel

On Thursday, Blanchard was suspended from the bench, and retired Judge Sherri Friday was sworn in. 

Full Article & Source:
Horrifying details released in case against suspended Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard 

See Also:
Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit

Jefferson County judge suspended, complaint says she called herself “ultimate authority”

Glamorous judge accused of bullying, intimidation and delaying cases so she could take her DOGS for a walk 

Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit

Story by Joseph D. Bryant

A candidate who lost when she ran for the State Legislature is accusing embattled Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard of impropriety during the recent election and wants a circuit court clerk to intervene.

Mara Ruffin Blackmon, who ran for House District 57, said issues warrant “immediate investigation and preservation of records to protect voter confidence and the integrity of the electoral process,” according to her complaint filed this week in the Bessemer Circuit Court. 

Blackmon in her May 22 court filing, contends that Blanchard’s association with Rep. Patrick Sellers, whom Ruffin challenged in the Democratic primary, created a conflict that prevented her from being fair.

Sellers, a Democrat from Pleasant Grove, defeated Blackmon with 61.14% to 32.79% to win a second term.

“The lawsuit is frivolous,” Sellers told AL.com Wednesday. “There was a very expressive and declarative win. We need to get back to business as usual.”

AL.com’s efforts to reach Blackmon and Blanchard were unsuccessful this afternoon.

Blackmon’s complaint lists Blanchard and Sellers by name as defendants along with unnamed election chief inspectors.

The filing is the latest controversy connected to Blanchard, and was lodged just a day after Blanchard was suspended from the bench following a 120-page state complaint that accuses her of several infractions, including bullying and other misconduct.

The probate judge is also the chief elections official in Jefferson County.

“Plaintiff alleges that Judge Yashiba Blanchard maintained a relationship with Defendant Patrick Sellers that raises concern regarding impartial election administration,” Blackmon writes.

For example, Blackmon notes that Judge Blanchard has hired two of Sellers’ sisters to her staff, including Deputy Probate Judge Jacqueline Knox, who leads the Bessemer office.

“Plaintiff alleges that these overlapping relationships are relevant to concerns regarding: impartial election administration, poll worker supervision, staffing assignments, election management and public confidence in the neutrality of election operations,” the complaint reads.

Specifically, Blackmon alleges that Blanchard invited her to dinner in January where she offered to pay Blackmon’s campaign expenses if she withdrew from the race against Sellers.

Blackmon also challenges the appropriateness of using Sellers’ church in Birmingham as a polling place, along with alleged impropriety at other sites in Birmingham and Midfield.

“Plaintiff further alleges that individuals serving as poll watchers or otherwise associated with polling activities escort voters into precincts and transported ballots to vehicles outside polling locations,” Blackmon says in her complaint.

Blanchard has been sidelined from her public duties following the state report alleging numerous violations of judicial conduct unrelated to Blackmon’s lawsuit.

While not directly related, Blackmon, in her complaint, said the state investigation should “raise additional public confidence concerns regarding election administration, impartiality, oversight and procedural integrity.” 

Full Article & Source:
Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit 

See Also:
Jefferson County judge suspended, complaint says she called herself “ultimate authority”

Glamorous judge accused of bullying, intimidation and delaying cases so she could take her DOGS for a walk 

$5.5 million lawsuit alleges elder exploitation at Collierville facility

The former executive director of StoryPoint Collierville, an upscale senior living community, faces new accusations of exploiting the elderly in his care.

By Joyce Peterson and Lydian Coombs

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A new car, wads of cash, and gifts galore.

The former executive director of StoryPoint Collierville, an upscale senior living community, faces new accusations of exploiting the elderly in his care for his benefit. 57-year-old Timothy Johnson was arrested in December and charged with theft of over $10,000 and aggravated burglary after Collierville police say he stole items from residents’ rooms.

Now, he faces a $5.5 million lawsuit alleging he swindled another resident out of more than half a million dollars.

Timothy Johnson(Collierville Police Department)

Inside the impressive-looking StoryPoint Collierville Independent and Enhanced Living Facility at 691 South Byhalia Road, consumer protection attorney Kevin Snider says something ugly lurks.

“People need to know about this,” he warned, “because something’s not right out there.“

Snider sued StoryPoint last year after the company illegally took thousands of dollars out of his bank account and made unauthorized withdrawals from his mother’s bank account.

He also sued them for fraud and violating the Consumer Protection Act when he learned they falsely claimed to be a licensed assisted living facility.

His 84-year-old mother, Charlotte, had been a resident there for about three years. Her care, he said, was less than ideal.

“We found literally hundreds, if not thousands of pills scattered throughout the kitchen cabinets,” Snider told Action News 5, “and they were dated back days, sometimes weeks, sometimes months.“

The judge ordered StoryPoint to pay Snider $25,000. 

Kevin Snider, consumer protection attorney(Action News 5)

Two days later, he saw Johnson’s mugshot on the news, stunned to learn the former executive director of StoryPoint Collierville was charged with stealing items from residents’ rooms.

“It continued from there,” said Snider, “because that’s not even the end of it.“

Snider filed a $5.5 million civil lawsuit on Tuesday, February 3, accusing Johnson of gaining the trust of an elderly resident, Marvin Ford, then milking him for gifts, money and a new car. The trustee of Ford’s estate had reached out to Snider, concerned about a series of events.

The suit alleges 25 checks were written to Johnson, totalling about $20,000, along with cash withdrawals of roughly $25,000.

The complaint says another $20,000 disappeared from a locked safe in Ford’s apartment.

Johnson also received a new Toyota Corolla from Ford worth $40,000, and he wound up in Ford’s trust, inheriting $435,000 after Ford passed away in January 2025.

“So it begs the question, what’s really going on out there?” said Snider, “How big is this? Were there other people involved? You know, was corporate involved for that matter? I mean, who knows? They obviously don’t care. They obviously don’t exercise oversight over it.“

Snider points to an email attached to the lawsuit in which the trustee of Ford’s estate asked StoryPoint if managers should be named in residents’ wills or trusts.

StoryPoint Collierville Independent and Enhanced Living Facility, located at 691 South Byhalia Road(Action News 5)

The reply from the company’s Customer Insights and Reputation Marketing manager was: “I don’t see an issue with that.”

Snider’s mother is now in hospice. He’s handling the stress and emotional toll of that while focusing on finding out the truth about what went on inside StoryPoint Collierville.

“I’ve seen some horrible things that companies and people do to consumers,” said Snider, “but this is by far the worst. You’re doing it to the most fragile people at the end of their lives.”

Action News 5 called StoryPoint representatives multiple times Wednesday and reached out via email for a statement and heard nothing back.

Collierville police say the investigation into Johnson’s alleged thefts from residents has not yet concluded. 

Full Article & Source:
$5.5 million lawsuit alleges elder exploitation at Collierville facility 

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