Wendy Williams’ court-ordered guardian, Sabrina Morrissey is calling foul on Lifetime and its parent company, A&E, for “shamelessly” exploiting the popular television show host as she dealt with challenges in the docuseries, Where Is Wendy Williams?
In the lawsuit filed on February 20 after viewing the trailer for the explosive docuseries, Morrissey sought to have the project blocked from being broadcast claiming it “shamelessly exploits [Williams] and portrays her in an extremely demeaning and undignified manner,” according to the unsealed documents obtained by People.
Morrissey further accuses that Lifetime “incorrectly states that she is ‘broke’ and cruelly implies that her disoriented demeanor is due to substance abuse and intoxication.” She also alleges that the network failed to get final approval on all contracts needed to air the series with Williams being “not capable of consenting.”
“This blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition who is beloved by millions within and outside of African American community is disgusting, and it cannot be allowed,” says the document.
Docuseries executive producer Mark Ford says contrary to Morrissey’s lawsuit, all things were signed off by the appropriate parties.
“The film was signed off on by Wendy, her management, her attorneys, the guardianship,” he retorts. “They were aware of the filming all the way through. So, we did go by the book and get all the permissions that we needed to get. We went into this film thinking it was one thing, and the truth turned out to be another. Once we started seeing the truth of the situation, we couldn’t ignore it. And the film had to go in the direction of the truth.”
“We look forward to the unsealing of our papers as well, as they tell a very different story,” Lifetime said via a statement.
Where Is Wendy Williams? premiered on Lifetime on February 24 with a follow-up installment airing the next day.
