<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wendy-williams">Wendy Williams</a>’ publicist criticized the producers of the new <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/documentary">documentary</a> “Where Is Wendy Williams,” claiming filmmakers took advantage of the media personality.
&#8220;I felt that [Williams] was being exploited,&#8221; Shawn Zanotti told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wendy-williams-documentary-exploits-star-publicist-dementia-rcna140839">NBC News</a>. &#8220;She thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career. &#8230; She would be mortified. There’s no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way.”
Zanotti, who had been working for the talk show host since 2021, is also featured in the documentary. According to a recent <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/tv/10516677/wendy-williams-manager-will-selby-publicist-shawn-zanotti-out/">report</a> by The Sun, Zanotti has not worked for Williams since May, but those rumors are so far unconfirmed.
She claims the filmmakers intentionally used clips of Williams looking erratic to make her look bad.
“When I mentioned [doing a documentary] to Wendy, she immediately said: &#8216;Yes, I would love to do it. I would love to be able to get my story out there,&#8217;” Zanotti added. 
“That is not the project that [Williams] signed up for,” she said of the finished product. “That’s not the project [the producers] brought to me. That’s not what I told her this was going to be about.”
“There were a lot of good moments. None of those good moments were shown,&#8221; Zanotti added.
One day before “Where Is Wendy Williams” aired, her team announced that the 59-year-old daytime TV host had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Filmmakers <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/wendy-williams-documentary-backlash-producers-interview-rcna140553">responded</a> during a TODAY interview, saying they didn’t know about her medical diagnosis during filming. 
&#8220;I think we all ultimately wanted to shed light on this period of time in Wendy’s life to help understand what she was going through. I can totally understand how, at times, it’s hard to watch,&#8221; documentary maker Erica Hanson said. &#8220;It was hard at times to film, but we wanted to be honest in painting a real picture of her isolation and her struggle with addiction.&#8221;
She added, &#8220;We didn’t know that she had dementia. We didn’t know that it was confusing at times. Some days, Wendy was on and very Wendy. Other days, she wasn’t. We all felt this was a complex and sensitive story to tell, and we all felt a great responsibility to do it with dignity and sensitivity.”  
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But Zanotti believes they would have gone ahead with filming either way.
&#8220;I don’t think [the diagnosis] would have stopped them at all. The producers were asking questions throughout the entire time — would ask questions where she would somewhat seem confused, and I feel as though it was done to be intentional at that moment in time to make their storyline,&#8221; Williams’ former publicist said. &#8220;Again, this was presented as a documentary to her, but to me, it looked as though it was a reality show of a circus, a circus to her downfall.”

Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams’ Publicist Says Lifetime Documentary ‘Exploited’ Her: ‘She Would Be Mortified’

Wendy Williams’ Publicist Says Lifetime Documentary 'Exploited' Her: 'She Would Be Mortified'

Documentaries

Entertainment

U.S.

There’s been something going on with talk show host and entertainment industry Wendy Williams for years. Now her team has officially revealed a diagnosis as a means to &#8220;correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health.”
The rumors have been vicious over the years as Williams, 59, displayed erratic behavior all in full view of the public eye. These incidents included fainting on air during her talk show, canceling multiple episodes due to flu-like symptoms, and voluntarily entering rehab for substance abuse.
Now the talk show host has a new diagnosis via her rep. On Thursday, her team released a statement saying that Williams was battling progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Aphasia affects a person’s ability to communicate and can also develop gradually as a result of other degenerative pathologies that impact the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia, which affects behavior and cognitive functions, typically starts with personality changes. These changes progress into memory loss. There is no cure for the disease.
“In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” the press release said, noting how her symptoms “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”
“The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances,” the statement continued, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wendy-williams-diagnosed-with-aphasia-and-dementia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“Unfortunately, many individuals diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioral changes but have not yet received a diagnosis.”
Williams hails from Asbury Park, New Jersey. Her mom was a special education teacher while her father was a high school principal. Though Williams’ parents thought she’d become a nurse, she went to college at first to become a television anchor then switched majors to focus on becoming a DJ instead.
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She gained notoriety as a radio DJ and host, eventually becoming a shock jock in New York City. The 2006 VH1 reality television series “The Wendy Williams Experience” documented notorious on-air feuds she had with various celebrities.
“The Wendy Williams Show” daytime talk show launched in 2008 and was hugely successful, expanding from select markets to nationwide prominence. At its height, the show competed with “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” as the most-watched syndicated talk show in their target demographic, which was women aged 25 to 54.
<div id="attachment_701791" style="width: 680px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-701791" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-701791" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-669471260-300x208.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 17: Wendy Williams attends the Build Series to discuss her daytime talk show 'The Wendy Williams Show' at Build Studio on April 17, 2017 in New York City." width="670" height="465" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-669471260-300x208.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-669471260-831x576.jpg 831w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-669471260-768x532.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-669471260-1536x1065.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-669471260-2048x1420.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px" />Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage</div>
Williams took a leave of absence due to health issues in 2021. The New Jersey native had told fans she had Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause an overactive thyroid. She also revealed at various points that she suffers from other ailments, including vertigo and lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling.
Shortly after, it was announced that Sherri Shepherd would take over hosting the “The Wendy Williams Show” for the 2022-23 season.
The former radio DJ’s rep said at the time that Williams “understands” why the change had to be made. “It’s been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues. She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time,” her rep said at the time, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wendy-williams-reacts-to-sherri-shepherd-replacing-her-following-announcement-that-her-talk-show-is-officially-canceled" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television — you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s The Maybe Wendy Show,” the statement continued. “She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.”
Williams also admitted to living in a sober living house in 2019. She had spoken candidly about her addiction issues. “You know I’ve had a struggle with cocaine in my past,” she told her audience during an emotional episode, as Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/entertainment/wendy-williams-health-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “I never went to a place to get the treatment … there are people in your family, it might be you … I want you to know more of the story.”
Besides health concerns, Williams went through personal turmoil after her husband of more than 20 years, Kevin Hunter, fathered a child with his mistress. The talk show host filed for divorce in April 2019 citing irreconcilable differences. Williams and Hunter share a son, Kevin Hunter Jr, who was born in 2000.
The mystery surrounding the talk show host’s personal and medical struggles inspired the Lifetime documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?” which premiered on February 24.
<div id="attachment_701787" style="width: 681px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-701787" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-701787" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-300x200.jpg" alt="HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 17: Wendy Williams is honored with Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 17, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)" width="671" height="447" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/02/GettyImages-1181714280-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 671px) 100vw, 671px" />Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic</div>
Williams’ family members claim they didn’t know about her diagnosis while filming the series. “I don’t know, honestly. I don’t know,&#8221; her sister Wanda Finnie told People of the diagnosis. She went on to say how communication with Williams was restricted after the star’s court-ordered guardianship began in April 2022.
“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,” Finnie continued. “She had a health team in place, nurses in place and she had family in place. She was getting healthier.”
Her son, who had power of attorney for his mom at one point, said he was told Williams was suffering from alcohol-induced issues. “Because she was drinking, I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia,” Kevin Jr. says in the documentary. He said he tried to stop his mom from drinking.
“We&#8217;ve all seen the images over the last few months — and, really, few years — of what has seemed like a spiral for my aunt,” Williams’ niece Alex Finnie said in the documentary. &#8220;It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state.”
The documentary film crew began documenting Williams’ life in August 2022 and stopped filming Williams in April 2023. The first two episodes of the documentary went into some detail about Williams’ personal struggles, including her alcohol addiction.
&#8220;Well, I love Tito Puente. I love vodka,&#8221; Wendy said in the doc. &#8220;And the problem with Wanda is she&#8217;s my sister. I love Wanda, but she hates that I love alcohol.&#8221;
The talk show host’s friend, Regina Shell, said Williams began abusing alcohol again heavily following her divorce.
Another surprising revelation from the Lifetime series regarded a time when Williams was discovered unresponsive in her apartment in May 2020. Williams&#8217; nephew, Travis Finnie recalled how she was rushed to the hospital and given three blood transfusions.&#8221;
&#8220;DJ Boof was there, and he called us crying saying that she was going to die, and she needs help,&#8221; Finnie said in the documentary. &#8220;We called Kevin, who at the time was her medical proxy. He called the ambulance. The ambulance came. My auntie had three blood transfusions and that&#8217;s the only reason she&#8217;s alive today.&#8221;
He continued, &#8220;From what DJ Boof said, it&#8217;s the combination of them just letting her sit in bed and drink liquor, and then thinking she&#8217;s gonna be ready to go.&#8221;
In the documentary, Williams also said she doesn’t have access to her money after having a legal guardian appointed to oversee her finances and health in 2022. The decision was made by her former financial adviser who claimed she was of “unsound mind.”
Williams filed a temporary restraining order against Wells Fargo requesting them to &#8220;reopen any frozen accounts or assets&#8221; and grant her &#8220;access to any and all accompanying statements.&#8221;
&#8220;One judge and three doctors say my money is still stuck at Wells Fargo and I’m going to tell you something, if it happens to me, it could happen to you,&#8221; Williams said in the documentary, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/wendy-williams-top-5-documentary-bombshells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>.
Williams’ son Kevin denied claims that he spent any of his mom’s money without permission despite rumors to the contrary.
Several scenes showcase Williams displaying aggressive and erratic behavior.
&#8220;There are some times when Wendy is just a little bit more aggressive, she&#8217;s just a little bit more demanding,&#8221; her manager Will Selby said during the Lifetime documentary. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know what it is. I don&#8217;t know if there&#8217;s something special in the water. At the end of the day, she&#8217;s probably one of the biggest personalities we&#8217;ve seen in quite some time.&#8221;
Her family claims that they are still unable to contact her and only communicate with Williams when she calls them from a blocked number. She’s currently under the care of a guardian and medical professionals at an undisclosed location.

A Documentary And Diagnosis: The Latest Wendy Williams Drama Explained

Drugs

Health

Readers Pass

Media personality Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, her team said in a press release on Thursday.
Williams, who made a name for herself hosting &#8220;The Wendy Williams Show&#8221; from 2008-2021, has been out of the spotlight the last couple of years battling health problems.
Her team said that people started to wonder if she was okay after they saw signs that she was struggling to process information and understand financial transactions. She also started to struggle speaking and was behaving erratically at times.
&#8220;In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),&#8221; the statement <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wendy-williams-diagnosed-with-primary-progressive-aphasia-and-dementia-302068851.html">said</a>.
Aphasia, which impacts a person&#8217;s ability to communicate, typically manifests after a head injury or stroke. The disease can also develop gradually as a result of other degenerative pathologies that impact the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia, which impacts behavior and cognitive functions, typically starts with personality changes, including hyper-aggressive and hyper-sexual behavior, and then progresses to memory loss. The disease is caused by atrophy of a person’s frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. There is no cure for the disease.
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&#8220;The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Unfortunately, many individuals diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioral changes but have not yet received a diagnosis.&#8221;
Williams&#8217; diagnosis comes a year after the family for actor Bruce Willis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-bruce-willis-diagnosed-with-frontotemporal-dementia">revealed</a> that he was also diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Willis&#8217; family had previously revealed his aphasia diagnosis in 2022.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bruce-willis-wife-posts-video-telling-media-to-stay-away-from-husband-following-public-incident">Bruce Willis’ Wife Posts Video Telling Media To Stay Away From Husband Following Public Incident</a>

Wendy Williams Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Wendy Williams Diagnosed With Aphasia And Dementia

Celebrities

There are no hard feelings between Wendy Williams and her replacement, Sherri Shepherd. Shortly after the announcement was made that Williams’ talk show was being canceled, the 57-year-old host put out a statement wishing Shepherd well plus leaving the door open to return in the distant future.
Her spokesperson, Howard Bragman, explained that Wendy “understands” the decision to cancel “The Wendy Williams Show” and expressed her gratitude to her replacement, Sherri Shepherd, Deadline <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/02/wendy-williams-statement-talk-show-end-tv-return-1234957947/#recipient_hashed=cb2ab0d38727845e790f5a343a4fcce6c2cd6dd40079e589e170f899fb8e553b">reported</a>.
“It’s been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues. She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time,” Bragman said.
“She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television — you can’t go to the marketplace and sell a show that’s The Maybe Wendy Show,” the rep continued. “She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time.”
&#8220;The Wendy Williams Show&#8221; is coming to an end in June following Williams’ extended absences, which were due to ongoing health issues. The host has been battling Graves&#8217; disease, an autoimmune disorder.
The talk show swapped in a rotation of guest hosts including Shepherd, who quickly became an audience favorite. Now she’ll be getting her own show in the same coveted daytime slot called “Sherri,” TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/02/22/wendy-williams-show-ending-sherri-shepherd/">reported</a>. The new show is slated to premiere in September.
Shepherd also has experience on other talk shows including “The View” and “Dish Nation.”  
“We all have a great love and affinity for Wendy, who grew into a true icon during her 12 incredible seasons as the solo host of a live, daily talk show dishing on ‘Hot Topics’ and interviewing celebrities,” Debmar-Mercury co-presidents said in a statement. 
“Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now. We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery.”
Williams has been notably private about her health struggles and only described what she was going through in vague terms. But the talk show host shared a more personal video recently which showed her walking on a Miami beach and shooting down rumors that she was incapacitated and unable to care for herself.
“What do you have to say to those people who think you&#8217;re up to whatever it is?” her son Kevin, the person filming, asked his mom. Williams replied, “Excuse me, I am going back stronger.”
“At [57] years old, there are things that happen to people. I would say things usually start about 40 and they go up from there, you know, so you&#8217;ve got to eat the right food,” she said, according to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10539915/Wendy-Williams-reacts-Sherri-Shepherd-replacing-plots-possible-return-hosting.html">Daily Mail</a>.
The talk show mainstay concluded the video by reiterating her commitment to staying healthy and working on recovering. 
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Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams’ Publicist Says Lifetime Documentary ‘Exploited’ Her: ‘She Would Be Mortified’

A Documentary And Diagnosis: The Latest Wendy Williams Drama Explained

Wendy Williams Diagnosed With Aphasia And Dementia

Wendy Williams Reacts To Sherri Shepherd Replacing Her Following Announcement That Her Talk Show Is Officially Canceled