Wendy Williams just broke her silence in rare interview: ‘I feel like I am in prison’
Wendy Williams is not OK.
That’s according to the beloved TV personality herself.
In a rare interview with old friend Charlamagne Tha God on “The Breakfast Club” Thursday, she gave a disturbing update on her current situation living at a New York City treatment facility.
“I feel like I am in prison, you understand what I’m saying?” said Williams, whose niece Alex Finnie was also on the call. “I’m in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. I’m sexy and gorgeous. Look. There’s something wrong with these people here on this floor. I am with these people. I am clearly not...”
The radio vet, who was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal lobe dementia, disputes the claim that she is “cognitively impaired” — a term used by court appointed guardian Sabrina Morrissey, a Manhattan lawyer.
Her biggest concern was not being able to travel to the Magic City to celebrate her father’s 94th birthday next month.
“I don’t know if I’m able to fly to Miami,” she revealed. “That person who is holding me hostage [assumed to be Morrissey]. I don’t know if she’s going to let me see my dad for his birthday. I’m exhausted thinking about it.”
Talk of her father finally made Williams break down in tears.
“My life is, like, f---ed up!”
Williams has been to South Florida at least two times in the recent past. Thursday’s podcast comes on the heels of two sightings of Williams, outside an oyster restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, and at her son Kevin Jr.’s graduation from Florida International University at the Modesto Madique Campus in West Miami-Dade.
Though Williams claims to be fine mentally, it’s unclear how she is doing physically. In the first outing, she was seen sitting in the backseat of a SUV, the second on a mobility scooter.
The small-screen star, who stepped away from her purple chair for good in 2021 amid Grave’s disease and other health issues, was placed under a court-ordered guardianship the next year.
“Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy’s ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions,” read a February 2024 press release. “Wendy is still able to do many things for herself. Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed.”
Apparently, the troubled celeb’s accommodations are a far cry from her high flying days on TV, commanding a salary of $10 million a year. Finnie described her aunt’s current quarters as “small” and Spartan. The New Jersey native lives without a computer or cellphone and is not allowed to have her twin cats with her.
“She has a bed, a chair, a TV, a bathroom, and she’s looking out one window at buildings across the street,” Finnie said, adding they were not able to discuss much more due to legal ramifications.
“I think the thing we can talk about is that my aunt sounds great,” she added.”Just treat the woman with dignity and give her the freedoms she deserves.”
Fans can help by engaging in a social media campaign similar to the one used to get Britney Spears out from under her father’s guardianship. The hashtag is #FreeWendy. Additionally, there’s a GoFundMe that had raised a little over $5,000 of its $50,000 goal a few hours after the podcast.
“Your generous contribution can make a profound difference! By uniting in solidarity, we can help speed up Wendy’s homecoming and ensure she no longer has to endure the pain of loneliness and disconnection,” reads the online fundraiser. “It is essential that she is not left to suffer in silence in New York while her family is waiting for her return to the warm embrace of Florida, where she truly belongs. Let’s come together to support Wendy and her family during this critical time!”
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM.
