The purple chair is empty, but the drama is louder than ever. Honestly, if you’ve been following the news on Wendy Williams lately, you know it’s been a heartbreaking, confusing, and occasionally hopeful rollercoaster. One minute we’re hearing she’s "permanently incapacitated," and the next, she’s front row at New York Fashion Week looking like a "zillion dollars."
What’s the truth?
As we kick off 2026, the battle for Wendy’s freedom has reached a fever pitch. Her legal team is currently pushing for the total termination of the guardianship that has controlled her life, her money, and even her phone calls since 2022. It’s a mess. A high-stakes, medical-legal mess that feels more like a movie script than a real person's life.
The Dementia Diagnosis That Wasn't?
Back in early 2024, the world was rocked by the news that Wendy had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It’s the same thing Bruce Willis has. People were devastated. The Lifetime documentary Where is Wendy Williams? showed her looking frail, confused, and—let’s be real—exploited.
But then, things got weird.
In late 2025, reports surfaced that a top neurologist in New York City conducted a fresh battery of tests. The result? They found no signs of frontotemporal dementia.
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Wait, what?
According to sources close to her legal team, including powerhouse attorney Joe Tacopina, Wendy has shown "remarkable neurological resilience" since getting sober. The theory being floated now is that her previous "cognitive issues" might have been exacerbated by severe alcohol withdrawal and the physical toll of Graves’ disease and lymphedema, rather than a permanent, degenerative brain disease.
Life Inside the "Luxury Prison"
Wendy hasn't been shy about how she feels. In a rare call-in to The Breakfast Club, she described her assisted living facility as a "prison."
"I am not cognitively impaired," she insisted.
It’s a bizarre situation. She’s 61 years old, living in a memory care unit surrounded by people decades older than her. She’s had to fight for the right to use an iPad. She’s had to fight to visit her 94-year-old father.
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While her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has maintained that the restrictions are for Wendy’s protection, the "Free Wendy" movement is gaining steam. It’s hard to ignore the optics when Wendy is spotted out at Nobu or attending weddings, looking sharp and sounding like her old self.
Why Wells Fargo Started This
Lest we forget, this didn't start with a doctor. It started with a bank.
In 2022, Wells Fargo froze Wendy's accounts, claiming she was a "victim of undue influence and financial exploitation." They basically took the keys to her kingdom because her financial advisor, Lori Schiller, raised a red flag.
- The Son: Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., was accused of spending over $100,000 of her money on a boat rental and other luxuries.
- The Ex: Kevin Hunter Sr. (the ex-husband) has been trying to sue his way back into the picture, though Wendy recently told TMZ he’s just a "money-grubber."
- The Guardian: A court-appointed stranger now signs the checks.
What Happens Next in 2026?
The goal is simple: termination.
Tacopina has made it clear that if the judge doesn't release her based on the new medical evidence, they are going to demand a jury trial. Imagine that—a jury of peers deciding if Wendy Williams is "sane" enough to buy her own groceries.
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There are a few ways this could go.
First, the court could move to a "less restrictive" guardianship. This would give her back control over her daily life while keeping a professional eye on the millions of dollars in her bank account.
Second, she could be fully restored. This is what she wants. She wants her money, her house, and her career back. Though, let's be honest, a judge famously told her in 2025 that her "career is over." That’s a tough pill to swallow for a woman who lived for the "Hot Topics" segment.
How to Support the Queen of Media
If you’re looking for actionable ways to stay updated or help, keep an eye on the #FreeWendy movement on social media.
- Watch the Court Filings: Most of Wendy’s case is sealed, but major updates usually leak through her legal team or TMZ.
- Support Reform: Cases like Wendy's and Britney Spears' have highlighted how easy it is to lose your rights and how hard it is to get them back. Look into the C.A.S.E. Act and other guardianship reform legislation.
- Stay Skeptical: Not every "source" is friendly. There are a lot of people in Wendy’s orbit who benefit from her being "sick."
Wendy has spent decades judging everyone else. Now, she’s the one under the microscope. Whether she returns to TV or just retires to a beach in Florida with her own money, 2026 is shaping up to be the year we finally find out who Wendy Williams really is when the cameras are off and the lawyers are gone.
I can help you stay on top of this case as it develops—would you like me to track the specific dates for her upcoming guardianship hearings or find more details on the neurologist's report?
Actionable Insight: If you or a loved one are concerned about future autonomy, look into a Pre-Need Guardianship Declaration. It’s a legal document that lets you choose who should look after you if you ever become incapacitated, preventing a bank or a court from appointing a stranger.