Wendy Williams’ legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has filed a lawsuit against A&E Networks, Lifetime, and other parties involved in producing the documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?. The lawsuit claims that while the network and producers profited immensely from the two-part series, Williams herself received only $82,000. The documentary, which aired in February, chronicled the former talk show host’s health decline, struggles with alcoholism, and her court-ordered guardianship.
Wendy Williams’ Guardian Speaks Out
According to Morrissey, the docuseries exploited Williams, 60, while she was mentally incapacitated due to her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. “This is a paltry sum for the use of highly invasive, humiliating footage,” Morrissey’s lawsuit states. The complaint adds that the footage portrayed Williams during some of her most vulnerable moments, capturing her emotional breakdowns and financial troubles.
“By willfully taking advantage of a severely impaired, incapacitated person, defendants have made millions on W.W.H.’s back,” Morrissey claims in the lawsuit. The legal guardian also notes that Williams was incapable of consenting to being filmed and accuses the production of moving forward without valid contracts.
Profits at Williams’ Expense
The series documented many painful moments in Williams’ life, including scenes where she expressed confusion over her finances, at one point saying, “I have no money.” Morrissey contends that Williams’ financial struggles and declining mental health were exploited for profit. “Defendants have been unjustly enriched by millions of dollars while cruelly exploiting [Williams’] illness,” the lawsuit alleges.
Morrissey further argues that the profits from the documentary should be allocated toward Williams’ ongoing medical care, stating, “Wendy will need significant funding to provide for proper medical care and supervision for the rest of her life.”
The lawsuit highlights the stark disparity between the earnings of the network and the modest payment Williams received, as her reputation and image were allegedly destroyed for entertainment purposes. Morrissey hopes to halt further exploitation and recover damages for Williams.