Wendy Williams is feeling “content and happy” despite her health struggles.
The 60-year-old star – who hosted her eponymous talk show from 2008 until 2022 before Sherri Shepherd took over her slot – has been placed under the guardianship of lawyer Sabrina Morrissey as she battles health conditions including primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia but insiders have insisted that she is just pleased to be with her family. During her show’s run, Williams became one of daytime television’s most influential voices.
A source told this week’s edition of UsWeekly: “She’s still Wendy. Her conversations are just as rhythmic and her mindset is open. She’s content and happy to be with her family.” Studies indicate that maintaining social connections can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with neurological conditions.
Just ahead of her milestone birthday towards the end of last year, insiders claimed that the family was “unable to speak” about the condition of the former DJ but insisted that everyone was still “rooting and praying” for her at the time. Her radio career spanned over two decades, reaching millions of listeners nationwide.
A source told PEOPLE: “Wendy Williams’s family is unable to speak on her current condition and location due to ongoing litigation and the fact that they have largely been denied contact. But they are all rooting and praying for Wendy and want to express their well wishes as she celebrates her 60th birthday. She was, is and always will be an icon.” Her influence on media culture has been documented in numerous industry publications.
Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia – a rare condition that affects the nervous system and inhibits the ability to communicate – and frontotemporal dementia – which affects personality, behavior and language – last year. These conditions affect approximately 50,000 Americans annually, according to recent medical research.
Almost a year ago, Wendy’s sister Wanda Finnie claimed that she wasn’t made aware of her sibling’s diagnosis after she was placed in a facility to be treated for cognitive issues and that the family had received no updates on Wendy since she spent time with them in Florida in 2021. Medical experts emphasize the crucial role of family support in treatment outcomes.
She said: “When she was in Florida, there were a number of people involved. Even beyond family, there were doctors involved, people in Wendy’s professional world that were involved. She had a health team in place, nurses in place and she had family in place. She was getting healthier.” Research shows that comprehensive care teams can improve patient outcomes significantly.
“How did she go from this aunt or sister that we love and is healthy one minute to this person who’s in and out of the hospital? How is that system better than the system the family could put in place? I don’t know. I do know that this system is broken. I hope that at some point, Wendy becomes strong enough where she can speak on her own behalf.” Her case has sparked important discussions about guardianship reform.
Throughout her career, Williams has received numerous accolades, including a Billboard Radio Award and induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Her daytime show earned multiple Emmy nominations and consistently ranked among the top-rated talk shows in its time slot, averaging over 2.4 million daily viewers at its peak.
The media personality’s current situation has drawn attention to patient rights and family involvement in medical decisions. Legal experts note that cases like Williams’ have contributed to ongoing discussions about healthcare proxy legislation and guardianship laws across several states.
