Wendy Williams to be grilled by A&E in deposition amid lawsuit… despite her dementia diagnosis

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Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Even though Wendy Williams is sadly battling dementia now, they’re *still* making her testify in this lawsuit! It’s just awful! Can you imagine? They’re actually going to force her to go through a deposition, despite everything she’s going through. I’m so worried about her, it’s just terrible news. I can’t believe they’re putting her through this right now!

A judge has ordered Wendy Williams, 61, to give a deposition for A&E Television Networks, according to documents from People magazine.

Williams was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in May of 2023. 

This deposition is being taken now to preserve testimony in case Williams’ health or memory declines later in the legal process. It’s a precaution to ensure we have a record of their statements if needed in the future.

The deposition will be held on November 4.

The Daily Mail has contacted both Williams’ lawyer, Joe Tacopina, and her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, for a statement, but they haven’t replied yet.

The judge decided that Williams’ medical condition doesn’t excuse her from testifying in the case. The judge explained that the rules of evidence don’t require witnesses to have a certain level of mental ability, so Williams can be questioned during a deposition.

The judge indicated that it will be the jury’s responsibility to determine how much importance to place on the statements Williams made during their deposition.

Wendy was diagnosed a year after a court put her under legal guardianship, controlling her finances and healthcare. This happened because Wells Fargo froze her accounts in 2022 after her financial advisor said she wasn’t thinking clearly.

In February 2024, Sabrina Morrissey, who is Wendy Williams’ guardian, sued A&E Television Networks because of the documentary *Where is Wendy Williams* that aired that same month.

The documentary included disturbing footage of the former host drinking vodka while in bed and experiencing panic attacks, which caused fans to criticize Lifetime.

Morrissey claimed in his lawsuit that A&E Television Networks, the company behind Lifetime, had unfairly and offensively exploited him through the documentary.

As a longtime supporter of Ms. Williams, I was deeply disturbed by what was presented in court. Her legal team rightfully pointed out how appalling it is to take advantage of someone so vulnerable, especially given her health struggles and how much she means to so many people – not just within the African American community, but everywhere. It’s simply unacceptable, and I’m hopeful justice will be served.

According to court documents, Morrissey stated the talk show host wasn’t able to give consent. He also claimed producers didn’t obtain his permission, as Williams’ legal guardian, to create the show.

Honestly, it just breaks my heart to hear this. Apparently, they totally led Erika Williams to believe this documentary would be *good* for her, like it would show her in a positive light and help her reputation. The lawsuit says she was completely misled – they weren’t making it to celebrate her at all! It’s just awful to think they tricked her like that.

A&E responded by suing Morrissey, claiming she overstepped her bounds by attempting to alter and censor the documentary.

The network stated that filming a documentary about someone with dementia isn’t illegal.

Okay, so the network is saying, and honestly, I *believe* them, that even without a signed contract, everything they did was totally above board. Like, they didn’t do anything wrong, period! It’s such a relief to hear, because I knew they’d never intentionally do anything shady. They’re amazing!

A&E responded to Morrissey’s lawsuit by claiming he was trying to violate their First Amendment rights. This counter-claim stemmed from Morrissey’s earlier attempt in February 2024 to block the original documentary from being broadcast.

The network stated that Morrissey made them and their production company spend time and money defending against unfounded accusations stemming from the documentary.

In its response, A&E claimed Morrissey was attempting to prevent Williams from having one of her final opportunities to make her own decisions and connect with her audience authentically, in the direct and honest way she was known for throughout her career.

The judge put a hold on the lawsuit against A&E on the same day they made a decision about Williams’ testimony, giving time for a review of the legal guardianship that had been established for him in court.

The judge instructed everyone involved in the guardianship case to send in a single letter, together, explaining where things stand, and the deadline for this letter is November 5th.

The court will decide if Williams still needs someone to manage their affairs, and whether Morrissey should continue as that person or if a new guardian should be appointed.

Even while dealing with legal issues and health problems, Williams appeared cheerful at the LaQuan Smith fashion show during New York Fashion Week, just a day after a judge issued orders in her case.

The celebrity, known for being in the tabloids, looked incredibly happy while being interviewed by Extra. She wore a fluffy black and white coat with beige fishnet stockings.

Despite continuing to reside in a high-end assisted living facility costing $18,000 monthly, Williams has recently been permitted several public appearances during New York Fashion Week.

On Monday evening, she turned heads in a bright yellow outfit featuring gold sequin stripes. She paired the jacket and miniskirt with a Gucci tote bag.

She turned heads at New York Fashion Week the previous day at the Bach Mai show. She posed with the designer wearing a short black dress and a statement Gucci belt.

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2025-09-17 17:21