Lifetime Doc to Shed New Light on Wendy Williams' Struggles
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams has captivated audiences for decades with her bold personality and honesty during her prolific career in media. But in recent years, the former talk show host has faced turmoil and health struggles that led her to retreat from the public eye. (On Feb. 22, her representatives revealed that she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.) Now, a new Lifetime documentary attempts to pull back the curtain and answer the question—where is Wendy Williams?
The two-part project titled, surprise, Where Is Wendy Williams? follows the media icon for nearly two years after her daytime show was canceled in 2022. Williams gets candid on camera about her battles with addiction, her crumbled marriage and being placed under a financial guardianship. While Williams' manager claims she is focused on the future, her loved ones argue she is being taken advantage of. Meantime, Deadline reports that Williams's guardian filed a sealed lawsuit against A&E Networks (of which Lifetime is a subsidiary) just days prior to the documentary's release.
Read on to find out more about Where Is Wendy Williams?, which airs on Lifetime on Feb. 24 and 25.
Related: Wendy Williams to Go Into Depth on Health Struggles in Rare, Emotional New Documentary
Is there a new Wendy Williams documentary?
Yes, Lifetime is releasing a new documentary called Where Is Wendy Williams? that will provide an inside look at Williams' life and struggles in recent years.
What is Where Is Wendy Williams about?
The documentary follows Williams as she deals with health issues, including the autoimmune disorder Graves' disease, addiction battles and cognitive decline (she was diagnosed with dementia in 2023). According to People, the documentary crew began filming in August 2022, intending to chronicle Williams' comeback (she was set to launch a podcast), only to capture a much bleaker story instead.
Filming on the project reportedly ended when Williams entered a treatment facility for "cognitive issues" in April 2023, where she remains to this day. According to her family (via People), a court-appointed legal guardian is the only person who has "unfettered access to her."
Related: Inside Missy Elliott’s Health Battle and How She's Fighting Graves’ Disease
Does Wendy Williams approve of the Where Is Wendy Williams documentary?
Williams herself participated in filming the documentary over two years and is listed as an executive producer, but it's hard to classify her response to the documentary at this point.
One person who seemingly does not approve of the doc? Williams' guardian. According to Deadline, she "filed a sealed lawsuit against A&E Networks just days before subsidiary Lifetime is set to debut a documentary on the talk show host."
Who appears in the Where Is Wendy Williams documentary?
In addition to Wendy Williams herself, the documentary includes interviews with her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., her sister Wanda and other family members, including her niece Alex Finnie. Her manager Will Selby is also featured.
What is the Where Is Wendy Williams release date?
The two-part documentary will air on Lifetime on Feb. 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. ET.
Is there a trailer for Where Is Wendy Williams?
Yes, Lifetime has released an official trailer that shows a tearful and candid Williams declaring "I have no money" and questioning where her finances went.
The documentary also features interviews with Williams' family, who express concern for her wellbeing. Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., states in the footage that he believes his mother is surrounded by "yes people" and that her team is not properly protecting the 59-year-old media icon.
"We all make choices in life," says Williams' sister Wanda in an emotional interview clip. "We all go through our challenges. She's still a person. We are her family and you tell me that I'm not capable of taking care of my sister. What would you do? What should I do?"
Hunter Jr. and other family members interviewed in the documentary seem to be fighting for Williams' financial freedom and care, questioning whether she is being taken advantage of by those handling her affairs. The documentary suggests fractures within Williams' inner circle regarding her health and finances.
"All I know is how to be famous," Williams also shares in the trailer. "I really want to be back on television."
What is Wendy Williams doing today?
According to her manager, Williams is focused on the "new chapter" of her life after the June 2022 cancelation of her daytime talk show, which Williams stopped hosting the previous fall under strained and troubling circumstances. The documentary will hopefully provide more of her perspective on what she is doing now (or what she hopes to be doing), and her struggles in recent years.
Next, Inside Wendy Williams' Tumultuous Relationship With Ex-Husband Kevin Hunter
