- Wendy Williams' son Kevin Hunter Jr., 23, revealed for the first time that his mother is struggling with alcohol-related dementia and was personally told by doctors
- Her care team said the dementia diagnosis occurred in 2023 and the news was only made public last week, shortly before the documentary aired
- The film was supposed to document Williams' comeback in 2022, but had to stop filming in April 2023 because she was admitted to a facility for cognitive problems
Wendy Williams' son confirmed for the first time that his mother has alcohol-induced dementia in the Lifetime documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?” on Sunday night.
Kevin Hunter Jr., 23, revealed that doctors told him that alcohol had begun to affect “her headspace and her brain.”
“I was able to really learn more about my mother's inner workings.” They basically said that because she drank so much, her headspace and her brain were being affected. So I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia.”
Doctors' diagnosis goes some way to explaining Williams' often antisocial and erratic behavior, which the salacious new documentary shows her burping, sleeping all day in bed with bottles of alcohol at her side, and flouting the slightest infractions.
Williams was first told of her alcohol-related brain injury diagnosis in 2019 during her time at a Delray Beach rehab center, although her care team said her dementia diagnosis wasn't made until 2023.
Williams' care team said the dementia diagnosis occurred in 2023 and the news was only made public last week, shortly before the documentary aired. Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., 23, revealed for the first time that his mother is struggling with alcohol-related dementia and was personally informed by doctors. Williams' niece Alex Finnie also revealed that she would tell her about her aunt's dementia diagnosis in the fall of 2022 became. During a visit to her family members in Miami, Williams insisted she would be back on television
Williams' niece, Alex Finnie, also revealed that she was told about her aunt's diagnosis in the fall of 2022.
“All I know is that it was dementia.” When you look back on little things, things progress slowly. It's little things like: “When is your birthday again?” You know? “What's his name again?” -But after seeing my aunt and actually spending time with her in the state she was in, I quickly realized that things just weren't normal. It's heartbreaking.
“When it comes to my aunt’s dementia, there are three things that didn’t help her: the divorce, the pandemic, and then the loss of my grandmother,” Alex explains.
In one of the most shocking incidents in the documentary, which details her struggles with alcohol abuse and mental health in recent years, Williams may be seen going out to dinner with her publicist Shawn Zanotti.
While dining at a restaurant overlooking Los Angeles, Williams was seen drinking several glasses of vodka with lunch before openly burping loudly in front of the camera.
After lunch, Williams and Zanotti head to Universal Studios in Los Angeles to present a new talk show as part of the star's “return.”
NBCUniversal declined to comment on its meeting with producers.
Williams appears to lose all sense of where she is as she emphasizes that she doesn't want the show to film “here in Miami” – even though she's in LA.
When asked by producers if there were any concerns about the amount of alcohol she consumed, Zanotti replied: “Wendy knows her limits.”
Other family members would disagree, including her son and nephew Travis Finnie, who openly state that Williams “has a drinking problem.”
The devastating diagnosis was made public late last week, just days before the four-and-a-half-hour documentary aired.
While dining at a restaurant overlooking Los Angeles, Williams was seen drinking several glasses of vodka with her lunch. Williams' devastating dementia diagnosis was made public late last week, days before the four-and-a-half-hour documentary aired. At one point in the documentary, Williams visited her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
“As Wendy's fans know, she has been open with the public in the past about her medical issues with Graves' disease and lymphedema, as well as other significant challenges related to her health,” her team said in a statement.
“The decision to share this message was difficult and was made after careful consideration, not only to promote understanding and compassion for Wendy, but also to raise awareness of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and to support the thousands of others who are faced with similar circumstances.”
“The diagnosis allowed Wendy to receive the medical care she needs.”
Frontotemporal dementia is a rare disorder that affects parts of the brain that control behavior and language. These parts of the brain shrink as the disease worsens.
The film was scheduled to chronicle Williams' comeback in 2022, but had to cancel filming in April 2023 due to her entering a facility for cognitive issues. During one episode, Williams is seen in her bedroom with a mimosa by her side
The disease often involves primary progressive aphasia, meaning it causes problems with language skills. A person with this type of FTD may have difficulty finding words or understanding language.
Williams' self-titled daytime talk show ended in 2022 due to her health issues. Sherri Shepherd, who filled in for Williams as a guest host, was given her own show.
Williams said in 2018 that she was diagnosed years ago with Graves' disease, which causes overproduction of thyroid hormones and can cause widespread symptoms that can impact overall health.
During Sunday night's documentary, family members revealed that they don't know where she is and can't call her themselves, but that she can call them if she wants.
“I don't know exactly where she is, but I know that she is in an environment that is helping her heal emotionally, psychologically and physically,” Wanda said when asked by producers. “I hope that happens when she gets home.”
“Wendy is in a more positive and stronger state than she was a year ago,” explains Wanda. “It's almost like I'm talking to Wendy from years ago. 'It really is.'
During Sunday night's documentary, family members, including Wendy's sister Wanda, revealed that they don't know where she is and can't call her herself, but that she can call her if she wants her son Kevin Hunter Jr. gone, and her nephew Travis Finnie. Right, let's say they want Williams to move to Miami where she will be cared for by family
“It's been a long journey for our family and for Wendy,” Wanda Williams, Wendy's sister, says in the documentary.
“I hope to come out of this showing people the love we have for each other as a family, as well as the love we have for Wendy, and understanding that the journey we've been through hasn't always been perfect.” “Everyone wanted the same thing: to see Wendy healthy and happy.”
Wanda was seen helping family members try to regain responsibility for Williams' care from her court-appointed guardian.
“When the whole process began, every member of this family was contacted about Wendy and what we needed for her. “As her sister, I felt that Wendy needed to have someone with her 24 hours a day for the next few months,” Wanda explained.
“I was told it was about taking some kind of course and I said, 'Yes, I'll do that.' I said, 'Whatever I have to do, I'm going to focus on Wendy's health.' And then suddenly the wall came down and there was nothing.'
Family members share concerns about who has access to Williams and the possible intentions of those around her.
“I still see my mother very often. She still has the chance to live a good and healthy life, but she has to want it. “I think she's just weak and vulnerable and she needs to be around people who won't take advantage of that,” son Kevin said.
“I think my mother should have a family around her. I talked to her a lot about staying in Florida and how much it would benefit her if she couldn't harm herself.”
I think in the back of her mind she knows she could still be up there drinking and doing things she shouldn't be doing. I feel like my mother should never be alone or alone.
Even before Williams was placed under court guardianship, efforts to strip her and her family's rights began.
“My power of attorney was revoked at the start of the legal process,” Kevin explained. “And then during the trial they tried to say that if we wanted to take her to Florida it would be considered kidnapping.”
The documentary crew set out to document Williams' comeback in 2022, but had to stop filming in April 2023 when her manager and jeweler Will Selby explained how she had to enter a facility to treat “cognitive issues.”
Her son Kevin says in the documentary that doctors directly linked her cognitive problems to her excessive drinking.
In May 2022, the New York State court system appointed an independent guardian to manage Williams' finances.
The conservatorship began when Williams' bank, Wells Fargo, froze her accounts after her then-financial advisor allegedly raised concerns that she was “mentally unsound,” according to Williams' subsequent court filings.
Wells Fargo then asked a New York court to place the talk show host under conservatorship, which a judge later approved in January 2022.
At the time, the bank claimed it feared Williams could be financially exploited because of her “cognitive issues.”
Her son Kevin was accused of debiting $100,000 from her American Express card, but he defended himself and clarified in the documentary that he never spent a dime without his mother's permission.
“Do you think your mother should have a guardian?” the show’s producer asks Hunter Jr.
“I think my mother should have a family. The family side of the story has not been told, leaving a bit of a gray area as to who is really telling the truth or what is really going on. I always wanted the best for my mother. “You know, I just stay strong,” Hunter Jr. explained.