Wendy Williams’ Dementia Diagnosis Confirmed, Family Challenges Guardianship

Former daytime talk show queen Wendy Williams has undergone an extensive medical evaluation that confirms her 2023 diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and aphasia. Cementing the need for her court-appointed guardianship, in place since May 2022. But the decision isn’t sitting well with everyone: her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, and some family members are waging a heated legal battle to challenge the guardianship and its overseer, Sabrina Morrissey, claiming it’s doing more harm than good.

Wendy Williams’ latest round of medical tests was no small feat. Doctors conducted a barrage of neurological and neuropsychological exams, complete with brain imaging scans, to dive deep into her cognitive health. The verdict? Her 2023 diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) - a progressive condition that impacts behavior and language and aphasia, which hinders communication, remains firmly in place. These results, finalized in 2025, underscore the ongoing need for her legal guardianship, which has managed her finances and healthcare decisions since May 2022. Despite Williams’ public claims of mental clarity, the evaluation leaves no doubt: her condition requires continued oversight.

Sabrina Morrissey, Williams’ court-appointed guardian, is pushing to extend the guardianship for another three months, until November 5, 2025, but the decision rests with a judge. Morrissey faces fierce opposition from Williams’ ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, and certain family members who argue the guardianship is flawed and her leadership questionable. They’ve raised serious concerns about mismanagement and overreach, accusing Morrissey of mishandling Williams’ affairs. Legal documents reveal a growing rift, with multiple parties, including attorneys for Williams’ family and her ex, signaling their intent to challenge not just Morrissey’s role but the very foundation of the guardianship itself.

In June 2025, Kevin Hunter dropped a bombshell, filing a $250 million lawsuit on Williams’ behalf. The explosive complaint paints a grim picture, alleging that Williams has endured emotional distress, financial exploitation, and unjust confinement under the guardianship’s watch. Hunter’s demands are bold: he wants a new, impartial guardian to replace Morrissey, a full forensic audit to uncover any financial mismanagement, and hefty compensation for damages to Williams’ finances, reputation, and emotional well-being. He accuses the court of imposing the guardianship through a secretive process that denied Williams proper legal representation. Hunter’s attorney has noted that Williams may not be fully aware of the lawsuit’s details, raising questions about her capacity to engage in the legal fight.

Williams isn’t staying silent. On March 11, 2025, she made a surprise call to Good Day New York, boldly declaring she passed mental competency tests “with flying colors” and firmly denying she’s incapacitated. Her caretaker, Ginalia Monterrosa, backed her up, telling anchor Rosanna Scotto that Williams is cognitively sound and capable. The bold claims came just weeks after Williams’ February 5 appearance on The Breakfast Club, where she similarly rejected any notion of being incapacitated. But Sabrina Morrissey tells a different story. In a February 2025 court filing, she described Williams as “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated,” prompting the court to order the recent medical evaluation to settle the conflicting narratives. Williams’ public defiance and Morrissey’s legal stance have only deepened the drama surrounding her care.

On March 10, 2025, the situation took a dramatic turn when the New York Police Department intervened, removing Williams from her assisted living facility during a welfare check. She was rushed to a hospital the same day, sparking widespread concern about her safety and well-being. The incident, which unfolded amid growing scrutiny of her guardianship, raised red flags for her family and the public. Was Williams receiving proper care? Was the guardianship protecting her or failing her? The hospitalization intensified the legal and public debates, with many questioning whether the system in place is truly in Williams’ best interest.

Adding fuel to the fire, Williams is caught in a legal showdown with A&E Television Networks over the Lifetime docuseries Where Is Wendy Williams?. The series, which aired amid her ongoing health struggles, put her personal and medical challenges under a harsh spotlight, thrusting her private battles into the public eye. Morrissey has pointed to the series in court, arguing it highlighted Williams’ cognitive struggles, while critics argue it exploited her vulnerabilities. The debate raises ethical questions about how Williams was portrayed and whether she could fully consent to the project given her condition. The legal battle with A&E has only amplified the public’s fascination with her case, keeping her in the headlines.

With the guardianship extension request pending through November 2025, the courts are gearing up for a pivotal moment. Judges will decide in the coming months whether Sabrina Morrissey remains Williams’ guardian, if the guardianship process overstepped her legal rights, and what measures are needed to safeguard her health and finances moving forward. The outcome of Hunter’s $250 million lawsuit, combined with the family’s challenges and the A&E dispute, could reshape Williams’ future. As the legal battles heat up, all eyes are on the court to determine how this chapter of Wendy Williams’ story will unfold, with her health, finances, and legacy hanging in the balance.

(Rh/Eth/VK/MSM/SE)