Wendy Williams Asks for ‘Personal Space and Peace’ amid ‘Overwhelming’ Response to Dementia Diagnosis (Exclusive)

Wendy Williams is speaking publicly for the first time about her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

In a statement obtained exclusively by PEOPLE on Friday, Williams, 59, thanked fans for their “overwhelming” support in the hours following the news.

“I want to say that I am beyond grateful for the love and kind words I received after sharing my diagnosis of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” she said. “Let me just say, wow! Your response was overwhelming. The messages shared with me touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion.”

“I hope others with FTD can benefit from my story. I also want to thank the Frontotemporal Degeneration Association for their kind words of support and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of FTD,” added Williams. “I still need personal space and peace to thrive. Just know that we deeply appreciate your positivity and encouragement.”

Wendy Williams visits SiriusXM Studios on September 6, 2018 in New York City.

Santiago Felipe/Getty

Wendy Williams, 59, diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, according to her medical team

Williams’ care team announced her dementia diagnosis on Thursday. In a press release, the former talk show host’s team said she was diagnosed last year and the conditions were “already posing significant obstacles in Wendy’s life.”

“Wendy can still do many things for herself,” the team said in a statement. “Most importantly, she maintains her trademark sense of humor and receives the care she needs to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is grateful for the many kind thoughts and good wishes that have been sent to her.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, aphasia “takes away your ability to communicate” and “can affect your ability to speak, write, and understand language, both spoken and written.” The group adds that the condition “usually appears suddenly after a stroke or head injury. But it can also develop gradually from a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes progressive, permanent damage (degenerative).”

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This means that parts of these lobes atrophy, and shrinking of these areas can cause speech problems, emotional problems and personality changes. Other symptoms may include loss of motor skills — trouble walking, swallowing, or muscle spasms. Symptoms worsen over time. Patients usually begin to notice symptoms between the ages of 40 and 65, but it can affect people who are younger. It is the most common form of dementia in people under the age of 60.

Wendy Williams 2022.

Calvin Gayle

Wendy Williams Family Breaks Silence On Her ‘Shocking And Heartbreaking’ Struggles Over The Last 3 Years (Exclusive)

Williams dealt with a number of ongoing health problems, including Graves’ disease, lymphedema and alcohol abuse. She entered a facility to treat “cognitive issues” in April 2023 and was appointed a court-appointed legal guardian.

Her sister, Wanda Finnie, and niece, Alex Finnie, told PEOPLE in this week’s cover story that they noticed a positive change in her condition, even though they were unaware of her FTD diagnosis because of the limited contact they have with Williams at the facility. (While she was at an undisclosed location, Williams’ family says they were unable to contact her because of guardianship rules, which require Williams to call first from a blocked phone number.)

“She sounds really great. Hearing my aunt now in terms of how clear she is, how focused she is on the importance of family and reality in terms of dealing with and understanding where she is physically, mentally and emotionally, it’s like a 180,” Alex said.

“I don’t know what works, but I know that when she spoke to me, she was a very different person than what we see in that documentary,” Wanda added, speaking of Where is Wendy Williams?Lifetime’s new documentary shot between August 2022 and April 2023.

Wendy Williams PEOPLE cover. Wendy Williams struggled with alcohol during her show: ‘She’d be drunk on air,’ source says (Exclusive)

The documentary was due to premiere on Saturday, but following the news of her dementia diagnosis, Williams’ court-appointed guardian filed a lawsuit seeking to stop its screening.

That effort was rejected by an appeals court Friday afternoon, after which the network confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that they plan to go ahead with the first edition of the documentary. “The lifer appeared in court today, and the documentary film Where is Wendy Williams? will air this weekend as scheduled,” the network said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Where is Wendy Williams? executive producer Mark Ford previously confirmed to PEOPLE that Guardian had originally signed on to produce the series (which also listed Williams as an executive producer).

documentary films the trailer teased a look into Williams’ life and health off-screen. Many scenes showed members of her family confronting Williams over her drinking.

For Williams, the documentary is a way to share her honest story, according to Alex. “She said, now is the perfect time because I want to take ownership of my story,” Alex said on Thursday’s episode of the show Good morning America.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education