Wendy Williams, a Former Little League Baseball games announcer, popular media personality, and host of The Wendy Williams Show, has entertained audiences for over a decade but has faced serious health issues affecting her life and career.
From Graves’ disease to lymphedema, substance abuse to her most recent diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Wendy’s story is one of resilience, controversy, and an ongoing fight for autonomy.
Her journey with Wendy Williams’ illness has affected her and touched the hearts of fans who continue to root for her.
Wendy, Diagnosed With Aphasia And Frontotemporal Dementia
In 2023, Wendy received life-altering news following extensive medical testing: she was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
These neurological conditions impair communication, behavior, and cognitive functions, presenting significant challenges.
Aphasia affects her ability to speak and understand language, while FTD impacts her personality, decision-making, and memory.
By November 2024, her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, declared in a court filing that Wendy was “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and legally incapacitated” due to early-onset dementia.
Despite this, Wendy strongly disagrees with these claims.
In a January 2025 appearance on The Breakfast Club and a March 2025 interview on The View, she insisted she is not cognitively impaired, describing her New York memory care facility as a “luxury prison.”
She underwent an independent mental competency evaluation in March 2025, claiming she passed, though her guardian requested further testing, with results still pending as of spring 2025.
Wendy wants to tell her own story and shows strong determination, even as her health gets worse.
Wendy is struggling with her illness, which goes beyond her recent diagnoses.
She has been open about her health challenges for years, endearing her to fans with her candor.
Nineteen years before 2018, she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, a condition causing hyperthyroidism.
The illness led to debilitating fatigue, forcing her to take breaks from The Wendy Williams Show in 2018, 2020, and 2021.
She also revealed in 2019 that she was living with lymphedema, a condition causing tissue swelling due to fluid buildup, which added physical discomfort to her daily life.
Substance abuse has been a major challenge for Wendy, she has spoken candidly about her past cocaine addiction and struggles with alcohol.
In 2019, she lived in a sober house, and in April 2023, she entered a treatment facility for alcohol-related cognitive issues.
Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., speculated in the 2024 Lifetime docuseries Where Is Wendy Williams? that her dementia might be alcohol-induced.
However, her official diagnoses remain aphasia and FTD, conditions not directly linked to alcohol but potentially exacerbated by it.
Wendy’s Health Issues Have Seriously Impacted Her Career And Legacy
The Wendy Williams Show, which aired from 2008 to 2021, was a cultural touchstone, known for Wendy’s bold commentary and “Hot Topics” segment.
However, her illnesses led to frequent absences, and the show was canceled in 2022, with Sherri Shepherd taking over the time slot.
Fans feel sad about losing Wendy’s unique voice. However, her impact as a leader in daytime television continues.
Since 2022, Wendy has been under a financial guardianship initiated by Wells Fargo amid allegations of financial exploitation.
Wendy and her family strongly oppose guardianship. They say it isolates her from others and limits her independence.
Her sister, Wanda Finnie, has expressed frustration over limited access to Wendy, alleging that Morrissey tightly controls communication.
The guardianship has fueled public and legal debates. Wendy advocates for her independence while her guardian highlights the need for care due to her progressive conditions.
In August 2024, Wendy was spotted with her son at a holistic store in Newark, New Jersey, a rare public appearance that sparked hope among fans.
However, she has primarily resided in a New York memory care facility since at least April 2023.
In March 2025, a wellness check led to a brief hospitalization, but she returned to the facility after an independent evaluation.
Her life shows the struggle between her wish for freedom and her health issues.
As of May 2025, Wendy Williams’ illness remains a subject of intense public and legal scrutiny.
Her fans continue to rally behind her, inspired by her transparency and tenacity.
Despite her neurological challenges, Wendy’s determination to share her story highlights her strong spirit.
