Wendy Williams documentary producers reveal they became ‘worried’ TV star’s living conditions were ‘very dire and scary’ during filming
The producers of Lifetime’s Wendy Williams documentary Where is Wendy Williams? revealed their concerns about the TV host’s ‘dire conditions’ under her guardianship during production.
Executive producers Mark Ford and Erica Hanson said they were ‘very worried’ about Williams’ circumstances, which included the star living alone without any food in her refrigerator, during a panel discussion in Hollywood on Wednesday, per People.
‘Towards the end of the documentary, [we] were very, very worried and saying to her management, who was the only other person that was coming into her apartment on a daily basis, ‘Something has to be done to help her, this is getting very dire and scary,’ Ford explained, per the outlet.
At the time of filming, the producers were not made aware of William’s frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis, Ford claimed.
‘The deeper we got into it, we didn’t want to let go of Wendy until we got her back in touch with her family,’ he added. ‘Because we felt that at a certain point that’s who’s going to be there for her to care for her.’
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The producers of Lifetime’s Wendy Williams documentary Where is Wendy Williams? revealed their concerns about the TV host’s ‘dire conditions’ under her guardianship during production; Williams in 2019
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Executive producers Mark Ford and Erica Hanson said they were ‘very worried’ about Williams’ circumstances, which included the star living alone without any food in her refrigerator, during a panel discussion in Hollywood on Wednesday
Ford also claimed Williams’ legal and financial guardian Sabrina Morrissey was ‘not responding to any kind of calls for help.’
DailyMail has reached out to Morrissey for comment.
On February 20, Morrissey initiated a lawsuit aiming to prevent the airing of the 4.5-hour docuseries.
She criticized the network’s documentary, alleging that it ‘shamelessly exploits [Williams] and portrays her in an extremely demeaning and undignified manner.’
Morrissey filed the lawsuit under temporary seal (which keeps details in the case protected from the public) last month, but the docs were unsealed and reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, revealing explosive accusations in the case.
‘This blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition who is beloved by millions within and outside of the African American community is disgusting, and it cannot be allowed,’ the legal team for Williams’ guardian told the court.
Williams’ guardian Morrissey told the court that the talk show host ‘did not have the capacity to consent,’ according to THR, and producers did not get her consent, as her court-appointed guardian, to produce it.
Williams was misled by producers into thinking that the documentary would be a ‘positive and beneficial’ project for her public image and reputation, the suit stated.
!['Towards the end of the documentary, [we] were very, very worried and saying to her management, who was the only other person that was coming into her apartment on a daily basis, 'Something has to be done to help her, this is getting very dire and scary,' Ford explained](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/06/17/84513889-13387653-_Towards_the_end_of_the_documentary_we_were_very_very_worried_an-a-12_1715012627228.jpg)
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‘Towards the end of the documentary, [we] were very, very worried and saying to her management, who was the only other person that was coming into her apartment on a daily basis, ‘Something has to be done to help her, this is getting very dire and scary,’ Ford explained
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‘The deeper we got into it, we didn’t want to let go of Wendy until we got her back in touch with her family,’ he added. ‘Because we felt that at a certain point that’s who’s going to be there for her to care for her’
The televised special on the embattled celeb premiered to strong ratings, as Lifetime touted its best numbers in two years for a nonfiction project.
Among the people listed as its executive producers included Williams, her son Kevin Hunter Jr. and manager William Selby, according to THR.
Morrissey brought the lawsuit in February in New York County Supreme Court in an effort to get a temporary restraining order on airing the documentary, which was initially granted before an appeals court overturned the decision, allowing it to air, according to the outlet.
In information that was previously kept under seal, Appeals Court Justice Peter H. Moulton cited ‘impermissible prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment of the Constitution’ as his legal rationale to allow Lifetime and its partners to broadcast the documentary.
Footage on the controversial project was taped in conjunction with a January 2023 business deal, the outlet reported, citing the newly-unsealed complaint.
Morrissey said in the suit that Williams at the time did not have the capacity to agree to such a deal, as she had been put into a guardianship the year prior.
Williams was ‘incapable of managing her own business and personal affairs, and indeed, was placed into a guardianship and under the supervision of this court,’ her guardian said in the legal complaint.
Morrissey said in the legal complaint that Selby had misled her into granting permission to move forward with the project, as it would depict Williams in a positive light ‘like a phoenix rising from the ashes’ following years of illness that led to her show being cancelled.
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Williams was ‘incapable of managing her own business and personal affairs, and indeed, was placed into a guardianship and under the supervision of this court,’ her guardian said in the legal complaint
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It comes after a lawsuit filed by a guardian for the talk show host against the parent company of Lifetime, A&E Television Networks, was unsealed – revealing allegations of ‘blatant exploitation’ in ‘disgusting’ fashion
Selby conveyed to Morrissey the notion that she and the court would have the ability to stop the documentary from coming out if it was problematic, according to the lawsuit.
Morrissey said that the arrangements weren’t honored, as a preview for the project was put out without her being notified ahead of time.
Morrissey ‘was horrified by the release of the trailer and its contents, which falsely depict [Williams] behavior and demeanor as being the result of intoxication rather than the result of her medical condition, which has been diagnosed by doctors at Weill Cornell,’ the lawsuit stated.
It continued: ‘Selby informed the Guardian that he, too, was surprised by the February 2, 2024 release, and that he had not reviewed or approved either the trailer or the documentary prior to the Trailer’s release.’
Another point of contention noted in the legal complaint was The Wendy Experience – the name of the company that worked with Entertainment One on the doc – and who was behind its formation, which came after Williams’ guardianship commenced.
Morrissey told the court she was not privy to the creation of the company and that the name of the person who signed the contract as the company’s CEO was ‘not clearly legible,’ and ‘highly distinguishable from’ Williams’ signature.
In the contract, Williams ‘waived all physician-patient privilege in connection with the filming of the documentary,’ the suit said, according to THR.
News of the case was revealed after Williams’ caretaker issued a statement February 22 saying that doctors have diagnosed Williams with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
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Initially, Zanotti said Williams was eager to do the documentary and ‘get my story out there’ – however Zanotti was disappointed to see a different story air; Williams pictured
The health struggles ‘have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life’ and have behavioral and cognitive impacts, according to the statement.
‘Wendy is still able to do many things for herself,’ the statement attributed to her care team read. ‘Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humor and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed. She is appreciative of the many kind thoughts and good wishes being sent her way.’
Williams’ publicist also blasted the Lifetime documentary that she signed her famous TV client up for.
Shawn Zanotti placed blame on the producers of the series, alleging the TV icon believed she was filming a program about her comeback – only for filmmakers to capture ‘a circus to her downfall.’
Zanotti, who has been working as a publicist for Williams since 2021, spoke with NBC News about her grievances with the making of Where is Wendy Williams?, a four-part documentary now airing on Lifetime.
In an interview with the outlet, Zanotti claimed: ‘I felt that [Williams] was being exploited.’
‘She thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career. … She would be mortified. There’s no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way.’
She also told PEOPLE that she felt ‘lied to’ about it.
Despite having encouraged her client to sign up for the show, Zanotti now says: “I would never let Wendy put her name and brand on the line like that ever. She’s an icon. It’s not the story we signed up for and I feel lied to.’
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News of the case was revealed after Williams’ caretaker issued a statement February 22 saying that doctors have diagnosed Williams with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia
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In a new docuseries, Wendy’s son Kevin Hunter Jr., 23, stated his mom’s medical team thought the dementia was ‘alcohol-induced’; Wendy, Kevin Jr, and and her ex-husband Kevin Hunter seen in 2017
Adding: ‘It’s so difficult for me to even watch. Wendy would be mortified.’
Her remarks come four days too late – the debut episode of the documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams?, premiered on Lifetime on February 24.
Two days before the project was released, it was announced that Wendy had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia.
DailyMail.com has contacted Zanotti for comment.
