Wendy Williams Insists She's Not Cognitively Impaired and Is Trapped in a Conservatorship: ‘I Feel Like I Am in Prison’

Wendy Williams was in tears Thursday, Jan. 16, as she begged to be released from her conservatorship and returned to life outside the walls of the New York wellness facility where she was ordered to live.

Appearing on The breakfast club for a rare interview, the former TV show host, 60, opened up about her situation to host Charlamagne Tha God.

“I’m not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I’m in prison,” Williams said. “I’m in this place with people who are in their 90s and 80s and 70s. … These people, there’s something wrong with these people here on this floor. I’m clearly not.”

Wendy Williams makes a rare public appearance at son Kevin Hunter Jr.’s college graduation.

“Listen, this system is broken, this system that I’m in. This system has been rigged a lot,” she said, noting that she doesn’t have access to her money. – For the last three years, I have been caught up in the system.

She explained that she spends all days in her room, takes all meals in bed and watches TV.

I can call you, but you can’t call me, Williams said. “I don’t even know what kind of phone I have. … I can’t sit on the phone and look at things and scroll through things. I can’t do that. I don’t have a laptop. I don’t have an iPad.”

“[It’s] basically what some people would call a luxury prison,” explained Williams’ niece Alex Finnie, who joined her aunt in the interview. “It’s small. It has a bed, a chair, a TV, a bathroom and through one window it looks at the buildings across the street.”

Wendy Williams in her Lifetime series ‘Where’s Wendy Williams?’

Lifetime

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Williams claimed the facility did not allow her to come and go when she wanted, with the elevators locked. Visitors are limited, so much so that even Breakfast Club personality Lauren LaRosa was not allowed to see her despite Williams speaking to the front desk herself and asking for LaRosa to come.

The facility also regularly administers Williams’ medications, some of which she claimed she does not know why she was prescribed. “They’re all like babysitters, so to speak. They come and give you pills and then they leave,” Williams said. “I’ve been taking two pills all my life… There are 7 pills, I have no idea what this pill does? I haven’t been with a person who takes pills for a long time [to ask] ‘Excuse me doctor, can you tell me what this pill is for?’ ”

When she asked to see her thyroid doctor, Williams — who has Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone — was reportedly given “the pill that you have for [your] thyroid is perfect.”

“This is my life, people.” she said. “This is my life. This is my damn life.”

Wendy Williams in October 2019, after receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Leon Bennett/WireImage Wendy Williams’ family say they are still ‘out of touch’ but ‘rooting’ for her as she marks her 60th birthday: Source

In the most emotional parts of the conversation, Williams broke down as she expressed her fear of not being able to visit her father for his upcoming 94th birthday. She lives in Miami, where Williams hopes to move to be with her family, including son Kevin Hunter Jr.

“I don’t know if I can fly to Miami to wish my dad a happy birthday,” Williams said. “This person who is holding me hostage, I don’t know if they will let me see my dad for his birthday… I’m exhausted thinking about what if I can’t see my dad for his birthday. In 94, the day after is not promised.”

A source familiar with the matter explained that the custody court ultimately decides whether it is safe for Williams to travel to Florida or other locations. He is currently in a facility with 24/7 medical care.

“My life is like, screw you,” Williams cried, expressing her concern about the retaliation that could come from her interview. “What if they take my phone? I won’t be able to talk to anyone!”

Wendy Williams in December 2019 Evan Falk/Shutterstock Wendy Williams’ $3.75 million New York penthouse, where she was found unresponsive in 2020, has sold at a loss

Asked how fans can help, Finnie urged fans to “make as much noise as possible” using the social media hashtag #FreeWendy or supporting various Change.org petitions and GoFundMe campaigns. “Whatever we have to do to make sure my aunt is in a place where she lives her life with dignity.”

“It’s still a legal situation so yes, there are things my aunt can’t talk about,” Finnie said. “There are things that we as a family can’t talk about. But I think the thing that we can talk about is that my aunt sounds great. I’ve seen her in a very limited capacity. I’ve seen her. We’ll talk to her. That’s why we say she’s in luxury prison and that she is punished for whatever reason they invent why she has to be kept in this position.”

“We’re not asking for much. I’m not asking for much. All I’m saying is treat the woman with dignity and give her the freedom she deserves,” she added.

Wendy Williams in the documentary series ‘Where is Wendy Williams?’

Lifetime

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PEOPLE has reached out to Morrissey for comment.

Morrissey is currently in a legal battle with media companies A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment and other affiliates, which were involved in the release Where is Wendy Williams?documentary series about guardianship of television personalities, health diagnoses and life after them The Wendy Williams Show.

“This case stems from the brutally calculated, deliberate actions of powerful and cunningly opportunistic media companies working alongside the producer to knowingly exploit [Williams]” the filing states in part, referring to Williams’ diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

A&E later filed a counterclaim denying the allegations.

Days before the documentary premiered on Lifetime in February 2024, Williams’ team revealed that she had been diagnosed with progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A press release issued at the time noted that she was diagnosed in 2023, stating that the conditions “already posed significant obstacles in Wendy’s life.”

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FTD is “a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. “This causes the lobes to shrink. FTD can affect behaviour, personality, language and movement.”

“At this time, no treatments can cure or slow the progression of FTD.”

“Wendy can still do many things for herself,” her team’s statement continued. “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.”

Nearly two months ago, Morrissey shared an update on Williams’ health. In court documents obtained by PEOPLE at the time, Morrissey said the former talk show host is “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled and legally incompetent.”

Wendy Williams and her niece Alex Finnie.

Lifetime

But Finnie, go on The breakfast clubhe seemed to deny that diagnosis.

“My aunt hasn’t had a medical to see if her rights have been restored,” Finnie said.

“It’s a shame we’re in this place,” Finnie added. “This is how sick it is and how tired I am of having to talk about this and have these conversations with my aunt, because it’s not just her. Thank God we have platforms like this. But there’s a lack of oversight across the board… There’s a lot of neglect as well as financial exploitation of some of the most vulnerable people.”

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, who is suing A&E, Lifetime and the film’s producers Where is Wendy Williams? docuseries on behalf of Williams, says the former talk show host “suffers from frontal lobe dementia, a degenerative brain disease for which there is no cure.”

“As a result, a state court has found her legally incompetent, meaning she is incapable of making her own legal and financial decisions,” Kaplan says in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “Unfortunately, due to her diagnosis, Wendy’s condition will only get worse over time and she will need care for the rest of her life. But as anyone who has had a family member with dementia knows, Wendy has her good days and her bad days. It’s a real shame that is now paying so much voyeuristic attention to this, since it only leads to the same kinds of exploitation that we saw in the so-called documentary, as stated in our complaint.”

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Last month, Williams made a rare appearance at her son Kevin Hunter Jr.’s graduation. at Florida International University. Surrounded by her family, Williams sat on a motorized scooter wearing a sequined low-cut dress, black boots and a large “W” necklace.

Before the celebration, Williams was seen with Hunter at the Bolingo Balance holistic store in Newark, NJ in August 2024.

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Source: HIS Education