Wendy Williams' Family Breaks Silence On Her 'Heartbreaking' Alcohol Abuse And Memory Loss
The family of Wendy Williams are speaking out amid swirling rumors about her well-being.
In this week's PEOPLE cover story, Williams' family broke their silence about the former talk show host's life.
"We've all seen the images over the last few months - and, really, few years - of what has seemed like a spiral for my aunt," says Williams' niece Alex Finnie, who also appears in the new Lifetime documentary, 'Where Is Wendy Williams? "It was shocking and heartbreaking to see her in this state."
The Lifetime documentary producers initially intended to chronicle Williams' comeback, focusing on her preparation for a new podcast when filming began in August 2022. However, the project reportedly took an unexpected turn, transforming into a portrayal of Williams, also an executive producer, grappling with alcohol addiction and battling Graves' disease. The autoimmune disorder, that can cause an overactive thyroid, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, is known for causing bulging eyes, and lymphedema, a condition resulting in swelling in her feet.
A somber moment unfolds in the documentary as Williams, approaching her 60th birthday in July, asks her driver to pass by the former 'The Wendy Williams Show' studio. In a heart-wrenching twist, she forgets that he had already fulfilled the same request just moments before.
"I don't know what the hell is going on," her driver says in the documentary. "I think she's losing memory. She doesn't know who I am sometimes."
As of now, the mother of one's family revealed that a court-appointed legal guardian is the sole individual with unrestricted access to her.
Williams' family reveals they are uncertain of her whereabouts and are unable to reach her directly. However, they mention that she retains the ability to initiate calls to them.
"The people who love her cannot see her," says Wendy's sister and Alex's mom Wanda, 65. "I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here?"
'Where is Wendy Williams?' premieres on Lifetime on Feb. 24 at 8pm EST.
