Wendy Williams' guardian has filed a lawsuit against Lifetime’s parent company, A&E Television Networks.
The guardian, whomTMZnames as Sabrina Morrissey, filed the suit under seal on Thursday, two days before the planned premiere of Lifetime’s new documentaryWhere Is Wendy Williams?, which explores Williams' life under her guardianship.
“The new lawsuit appears to be filed as an attempt to prohibit the airing of the upcoming documentaryWhere Is Wendy Williams?“a source with knowledge of the case tells PEOPLE.
A hearing date has reportedly been set for next week for a judge to determine whether the documents should remain under seal.
Morrissey and A&E have not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
While speaking to PEOPLE for this week’s cover story about Williams, Mark Ford, the executive producer of the documentary, said that “Wendy’s attorneys and the guardianship attorneys were consulted and signed off on” the project.
Manny Carabel/Getty
Wendy Williams in 2021.BACKGRID
BACKGRID
Williams claims in the documentary that her guardian, whose identity remains private in the film, has stolen money from her. Filmmakers say she didn’t provide evidence.
When the Lifetime documentary crew began filming in August 2022, it set out to follow Williams’ comeback as she prepared tolaunch a new podcast. The film quickly evolved into something entirely different, as the crew captured Williams in the throes of alcohol addiction and struggles with health issues includingGraves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause bulging eyes, and lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in her feet.
Earlier on Thursday, Williams' care team announced that she has primaryprogressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia(FTD), a diagnosis the family says they were left in the dark about.
According to apress release, Williams received her diagnosis last year and her medical team said the conditions “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
“Wendy is still able to do many things for herself,” the team said in a statement. “Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.”
Wendy Williams on her show in 2019.Fox
Fox
Williams remains in the facility to this day, and her family says her guardian is the only person who has unfettered access to her.
Her family says they don’t know where she is and cannot call her themselves, but she can call them.
“The people who love her cannot see her,” says Wendy’s sister Wanda. “I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here?”
source: people.com
