Wendy Williams Breaks Silence on Aphasia and Dementia Diagnosis: “Immense Gratitude”

Wendy Williams is speaking out for the first time following her recent primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis (FTD).

A representative for the former talk show host shared a statement from Williams with The Hollywood Reporter Friday: “I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion.”

The statement continued, “I hope that others with FTD may benefit from my story. I want to also thank the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for their kind words of support and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of FTD. I continue to need personal space and peace to thrive. Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated.”

The statement from Jennifer Hanley of Ridge Hill Group comes on the heels of Williams’ care team sharing the news on Thursday that she was officially diagnosed after undergoing medical tests last year.

Her team said in a statement that aphasia, a condition that impacts a person’s speech, and frontotemporal dementia, a disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, “have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life.”

The Lifetime docuseries airing this weekend, Where Is Wendy Williams?, is set to chronicle the ex-TV host’s physical and mental decline. The two-night docuseries began filming Williams following the June 2022 cancellation of her hit daytime talk show, and stopped filming Williams when she checked into an unknown facility in April 2023 and went under the care of a court-appointed financial guardian, who had been unknown publicly and to Williams’ family featured in the documentary. Williams remains a credited executive producer on the project, as she has a three-picture deal with Lifetime.

Two days before the documentary’s release, Williams’ court-appointed caregiver was publicly identified to be Sabrina Morrissey, as she filed a lawsuit on Thursday for injunctive relief against Lifetime parent company A+E Networks.

On Friday, the complaint was vacated and a rep for Lifetime confirmed to THR that Where is Wendy Williams? “will air this weekend as planned.” 

Morrissey was appointed caregiver for Williams when, following the cancellation of The Wendy Williams Show, the TV personality’s then-financial adviser alleged in late 2022 in a New York court that she was of “unsound mind,” leading the bank Wells Fargo to petition to have Williams placed under temporary financial guardianship. Williams remains in a facility under Morrissey’s care today and is still unreachable by anyone other than Morissey.

Jackie Strause contributed to this report.