Wendy Williams documentary ‘humiliated’ her for little profit, complaint alleges
(NewsNation) — Wendy Williams’ guardian has filed a new complaint against multiple parties and entities involved in the creation of Lifetime’s controversial documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?”
PEOPLE magazine reports guardian Sabrina Morrissey filed the complaint against A&E Television Network, Lifetime Entertainment Services, EOne Productions, Creature Films and executive producer Mark Ford for taking advantage of the talk show star.
Williams, who remains under court-ordered guardianship after being diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, was “highly vulnerable and clearly incapable of consenting to being filmed, much less humiliated and exploited,” the court documents, obtained by the Asbury Park Press, allege.
The series showed an inebriated, incapacitated and frequently incoherent portrayal of Williams, the product of “brutally calculated, deliberate actions of powerful and cravenly opportunistic media companies working together with a producer to knowingly exploit” her,” according to the complaint.
- FILE – TV talk show host Wendy Williams attends a ceremony honoring her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles. Williams has been diagnosed with a rare form of dementia called frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, according to a statement released Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, on behalf of her caretakers. It affects parts of the brain controlling behavior and language. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
- This image released by Lifetime shows Wendy Williams, subject of the Lifetime documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?” (Calvin Gayle/Lifetime via AP)
- Television personality Wendy Williams speaks at an event marking the 10-year anniversary of “The Wendy Williams Show” in Atlanta on August 16, 2018. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
- NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 21: Wendy Williams attends a private dinner at Fresco By Scotto on February 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
The complaint also says Williams received “a paltry $82,000” for the two-part docuseries while the defendants have “made millions.”
The complaint argues “profits from the program should go to W.W.H., who will need significant funding to provide proper medical care and supervision the rest of her life.”
Morrissey previously tried to stop the documentary from airing in February, but the effort failed. In March, a judge unsealed some of the documents in Morrissey’s case.
In those documents, Morrissey claims the series was made under false pretenses, including misleading contractual language like, “Producer is and shall be the sole and exclusive owner, throughout the universe and in perpetuity, of The Program.”
Wendy Williams legal battle timeline
2020: Williams displays concerning behavior on the set of “The Wendy Williams Show,” including falling down, forgetting words and freezing.
2021: A series of guest hosts fill in for Williams while she takes care of her health. At that point, it is only known she has Graves’ disease and lymphedema.
January 2022: Williams’ talk show is canceled.
February 2022: Wells Fargo initiates guardianship proceedings. Morrissey is made guardian.
June 2022: Allegedly unbeknownst to Morrissey, a company called The Wendy Experience was created by NYC-based law firm The Baldonado Group. No one knows who the CEO is, as signatures are illegible.
August 2022 to April 2023: Williams films the docuseries.
November 2022: Contract for “Where is Wendy Williams?” is drawn up between main production company Entertainment One and The Wendy Experience.
Jan. 2, 2023: Contract “executed.”
Feb. 17, 2023: Contract amended.
March 1, 2023: Contract amended again.
May 2023: Williams is diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
Feb. 5, 2024: “Good Morning America” teases the Lifetime doc, to Morrissey’s shock and dismay.
Feb. 21, 2024: Williams’ aphasia and dementia diagnosis is shared with the media.
Feb. 25, 2024: “Where is Wendy Williams” premieres on Lifetime.
March 15, 2024: Judge unseals exhibits
Sept. 16, 2024: Morrissey files a new complaint
NewsNation Senior Story Producer Paula Froelich contributed to this report.
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