Wendy Williams, former host of The Wendy Williams Show, has been deemed “cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated,” according to a court filing by her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey. The filing, part of a lawsuit against A&E Television Networks and others, alleges that Williams, 60, suffers from early-onset dementia, diagnosed in 2023 as primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

These conditions, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, impair communication and affect the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, leading to behavioral changes and language difficulties. The legal filing contends that Williams’ health issues were exploited during the production of the February docuseries, Where Is Wendy Williams?, and that profits from the series should fund her long-term medical care.

In 2022, Wells Fargo petitioned for financial guardianship over Williams, citing incapacitation and undue influence concerns. Williams denied the claims but ultimately stepped back from public life.

Williams’ health struggles, which began publicly in 2017 after she fainted on-air, have included Graves’ disease, addiction, and extended absences from her show, leading to its cancellation in 2022. The lawsuit claims that A&E and others exploited her vulnerability for financial gain, with Morrissey asserting, “W.W.H. was highly vulnerable and clearly incapable of consenting to being filmed.”

A&E disputes these allegations, stating they are eager to share their side of the story. Representatives for Williams and A&E have not yet responded to requests for comment.