Daytime talk show icon Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia. Last year, at 59, Williams was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, according to a Thursday press release from her representatives.
“Wendy would not have received confirmation of these diagnoses were it not for the diligence of her current care team, who she chose, and the extraordinary work of the specialists at Weill Cornell Medicine. Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she requires,” the press release said.
News of the diagnosis emerged a day after a source published a cover story featuring the first public comments from Wendy Williams’ brother, sister, and niece on the talk show host’s personal journey over the past few years.
“We’ve all seen the images over the last few months and, really, few years of what has seemed like a spiral for my aunt,” Williams’ niece and Miami news anchor Alex Finnie said. “It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state.”
Williams currently resides in an undisclosed care facility. According to her sister Wanda Finnie, Williams can initiate calls to the family, but they are unable to contact her directly, and they are unaware of her exact location within the facility.
In March 2019, Williams disclosed that she was residing in a sober house. Shortly after, a month later, Williams filed for divorce from her husband of 21 years, Kevin Hunter, who also served as a co-executive producer of her long-standing daytime talk show “The Wendy Williams Show,” commonly known as “Wendy.” The couple shares one adult child, Kevin Hunter Jr.
Two years later, in fall 2021, “Wendy” encountered numerous production delays. To fill the void, a rotating roster of guest hosts, such as Leah Remini, comedian Michael Rapaport, and former “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd, took turns hosting the show. However, “Wendy” faced cancellation in 2022 following Williams’ medical leave amid a battle with the autoimmune disorder Graves’ disease.
That same year, Wendy Williams was placed under financial guardianship, with Wells Fargo arguing that she was an “incapacitated person,” as reported. Subsequently, the production company behind “Wendy” replaced the show with “Sherri,” featuring Sherri Shepherd, in the same timeslot in September 2022.
The upcoming two-part Lifetime documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?” which delves into Williams’ sudden retreat from public life, is set to air on Saturday and Sunday.
This follows the network’s airing of a biopic about the talk show host’s life, “Wendy Williams: The Movie,” and a documentary, “Wendy Williams: What a Mess,” both in 2021.
Wendy Williams’ diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia shares similarities with actor Bruce Willis’s diagnosis. Willis was initially diagnosed with aphasia in 2022 before receiving a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis last year.
More About The Diagnosis
Aphasia, a disorder stemming from brain damage affecting language processing, is outlined by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
It can impact both the expression and comprehension of language, as well as reading and writing abilities. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that aphasia affects men and women equally.
Most individuals with aphasia are middle-aged or older, a demographic that includes Wendy Williams, who turns 60 in July. It remains unclear whether aphasia results in a complete loss of language structure or complicates language access.
Frontotemporal dementia, although a brain disorder, differs from Alzheimer’s disease. It is less prevalent and recognized, as noted by the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
The precise cause of frontotemporal dementia remains elusive, although various medical organizations suggest genetic mutations are associated with the disorder.
While no specific risk factors for developing frontotemporal dementia are identified, the Mayo Clinic indicates that individuals with a family history of dementia may face an elevated risk.
However, the disease is predominantly considered “sporadic,” according to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
