Wendy Williams Says She’s Being Held ‘Hostage’

Wendy Williams officially unveils her Madame Tussauds wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York on May 10, 2021 in New York City.

Wendy Williams spoke out about her health and current living conditions in an emotional interview on Thursday.

On Jan. 16, the former daytime talk show host called into the “Breakfast Club” alongside her niece Alex Finnie and got candid about her current living situation and health.

Williams has been under a guardianship with a court-appointed caregiver since 2022 and was checked into an unknown facility the following year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Last year, she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

Host Charlamagne tha God opened the segment by stating, “Wendy Williams is currently trapped in a conservatorship.”

Williams then responded that she feels like she is trapped “in a prison,” and insisted that she is “not cognitively impaired.”

Wendy Williams officially unveils her Madame Tussauds wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York on May 10, 2021 in New York City.

Cindy Ord via Getty Images

Williams went on to paint a bleak picture of her living situation, saying she spends most of her time in her room watching TV and looking out of her single window. Her niece also described the accommodations as a “luxury prison” and said William’s living quarters were small.

Williams also contended that “there’s something wrong” with the people living on her floor and said she had to “get keys to unlock the door to press the elevator to go downstairs.”

During the segment, “Breakfast Club” personality Lauren LaRosa said she had difficulties seeing Williams when she attempted to visit her at the facility, which is in New York.

Williams also contended that her “nursemaids” routinely come into her room with an array of pills and refuse to say what they are for.

“There are seven pills, I have no idea what this pill is doing,” she said.

She later expressed fears that she could lose her phone, one of the few ways she’s able to contact the outside world, in retaliation for using it for an interview. Finnie said that Williams can make calls, but cannot receive calls on the device.

Wendy Williams is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Oct. 17, 2019.
Wendy Williams is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Oct. 17, 2019.

Leon Bennett via Getty Images

“This system has falsified a lot,” Williams said. She also said she no longer has access to her own money after being “caught up in the system for three years.”

Williams was checked into her current facility in April 2023, after she was placed under the “care” of court-appointed guardian Sabrina Morrissey. Before this, Morrissey alleged that Williams was not of sound mind, which led her bank to “petition to have Williams placed under temporary financial guardianship,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

Williams said she’s not able to come and go as she pleases and tearfully discussed the possibility of not being able to celebrate her father’s 94th birthday with him.

“I don’t know if I’m able to fly to Miami to say ‘Happy birthday’ to my dad,” Williams stated. “That person who is holding me hostage, I don’t know if she’s going to let me see my dad for his birthday.”

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HuffPost was unable to reach Morrissey for comment in response to Williams’ claims.

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