Talk show host Wendy Williams was placed under a
court order in 2022 after a Wells Fargo petition claimed she was a
'victim of undue influence and financial exploitation'
By Tracy Wright
Wendy Williams' return to television last weekend raised concerns among fans about their favorite television talk show host.
Last week, a representative with Williams' care team issued a
statement on Wendy's behalf to "correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors
about her health," saying the former talk show host was diagnosed with
"primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)" in 2023.
While
Williams has largely remained out of the spotlight the last few years, a
new Lifetime documentary revealed she still has no direct access to her
money after a legal guardian was appointed over her finances in 2022.
Prior to the release of the documentary, a legal guardian attempted to
block the project from airing, a move denied in court.
Benazeer "Benny" Roshan,
partner at Greenberg Glusker and chair of the Trust and Probate
Litigation Practice Group, questioned why Williams' guardian would
attempt to prohibit income for the unemployed star.
"From the press accounts, Wendy’s guardianship situation sounds a
little like the Netflix hit, ‘I Care a Lot.’ Media accounts appear to
suggest red flags that should not be ignored if we are to learn anything
from the
Britney Spears conservatorship saga," Roshan said.
"A
question that’s top of mind for me is, why would Williams’ guardian
purportedly try to block the documentary from airing? Without disclosing
the exact underlying reason, the public is left with many questions.
"Why
block a project that will inure to Wendy’s financial benefit? After
all, aren’t guardians charged with safeguarding (not to mention,
maximizing) their ward’s financial well-being? Time will tell whether a
‘Free Wendy’ movement is ripe here."
A
Lifetime representative confirmed to Fox News Digital last week that
the network was still moving forward with the release of the two-part
docuseries.
 |
A Williams representative released a statement last week saying she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. (Getty Images / Getty Images) |
"Lifetime appeared in court today, and the documentary ‘Where is Wendy Williams?’ will air this weekend as planned," a spokesperson wrote in a statement.
Morrissey did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
In
2022, a legal guardian was appointed for her finances and health, and
court documents were sealed. Williams later filed a temporary
restraining order against Wells Fargo, asking the court to "reopen any
frozen accounts or assets" and grant Williams "access to any and all
accompanying statements."
"After all, aren’t guardians charged with safeguarding (not to mention, maximizing) their ward’s financial well-being?"
- Benny Roshan, partner at Greenberg Glusker
According
to Williams' filings to the court, the bank's move reportedly came
after Williams' former financial adviser claimed Williams "was of
unsound mind." The filing did not "specify who or what is exploiting or
unduly influencing Williams," according to People magazine.
The bank reportedly maintained that Williams' financial adviser
"witnessed telltale signs of exploitation, including [Williams'] own
expressed apprehensions, but also upon other independent third-parties
who know [Williams] well and share these concerns."
"One judge and
three doctors say my money is still stuck at Wells Fargo, and I’m going
to tell you something. If it happens to me, it could happen to you,"
Williams said in the documentary.
 |
Williams' self-titled show was canceled in June 2022. (Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank / Getty Images) |
"Wendy
appears to be under a financial guardianship, which means all of her
financial decisions are made by a third-party, court-appointed person
who makes all the financial decisions on behalf of Ms. Williams and owes
her a panoply of fiduciary obligations," Roshan told Fox News Digital.
She
noted that guardianships are "fairly common in cases where the impacted
individual suffers from obvious cognitive impairments, as in Ms.
Williams' case, and do not have a designated person such as a power of
attorney or successor trustee to step up to the plate when needed to
assist."
Williams' son, Kevin Jr., was scrutinized for spending her money but, in the documentary, denied he ever exploited her.
"I've never taken [money] without her consent," he said.
"My mom made me power of attorney because, at that time, the banks
started accusing the family of doing things that weren’t true and saying
that my mom wasn’t fit to make choices."
Her nephew, Travis
Finnie, who was also helping with her care in Florida, said the bank
questioned a $100,000 purchase amount. He recalled Kevin's birthday
party that Williams booked totaling more than $100,000, Kevin's rent was
$80,000 and his UberEats bill "probably exceeded $100,000."
"For them to have a court case and rip him away from taking care of his mother, it’s very questionable," Travis said.
 |
In 2022, a legal guardian was appointed for her finances and health, and court documents were sealed. (Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank / Getty Images) |
When
a producer asked if Williams still supported Kevin Jr., Wendy became
emotional and said, "I’ve got so much money. I want it for my son."
"This
matter was conducted under seal. Any claims against Wells Fargo have
been dismissed," representatives for Wells Fargo told Fox News Digital.
There's still hope for Williams to regain her independence from the guardianship, according to Roshan.
"Cognitive impairment comes in many forms, and from litigated
precedent (in California), cognition may be restored with treatment and
care in some cases. For instance, in Britney Spears’ case, it appeared
from court files that she had arguably regained her cognitive capacity
long before her conservatorship was terminated," Roshan said.
The 59-year-old television personality
was diagnosed with the conditions in 2023, her representatives
confirmed in a statement Thursday. Last week, Williams' representatives
shared a personal statement from the talk show host that was facilitated
by her care team.
"I want to say I have immense gratitude for
the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of
Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)," Williams wrote. "Let me say,
wow! Your response has been overwhelming.
 |
Williams strayed from the public eye and is reportedly under the care of a court-appointed guardian. (Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images) |
"I
continue to need personal space and peace to thrive. Please just know
that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated."
Williams'
brother, Tommy Williams Jr., told Us Weekly his sister is on the mend
now that she's living in an undisclosed treatment center.
"When I
speak to Wendy, she sounds fine. Wendy has improved," he said. "I know
my sister from where she was to where she is now, and she has a
substantial amount of improvement. It’s dialogue and conversation,
topics, content, speech pattern, everything.
"The past was obvious. We saw it. She was in a worse state, and the
[documentary] depicted it. Now [she is in] a different state."
Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams' financial guardianship raises 'red flags' after adviser attempted to block documentary: expert
See Also:
Wendy Williams top 5 documentary bombshells
Inside Wendy Williams' Family's Fight to Free Her from Her Guardianship: 'This System Is Broken' (Exclusive)
Wendy Williams diagnosed with aphasia, frontotemporal dementia: What to know ahead of documentary release
Wendy Williams Seen for First Time in a Year in Devastating Lifetime Documentary Trailer
What's happening with Wendy Williams? From talk show no-show to 'incapacitated person'
SHOCK
CLAIMS Wendy Williams’ bank calls her an ‘incapacitated person’ who is
possible ‘victim of financial exploitation’ in lawsuit
Wendy Williams had to be told several times her show had been canceled, execs say
Wendy Williams’ Ex Sells House Amid Big Money Troubles
