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Wendy Williams has continued to live her life in the public eye, even through her most vulnerable moments. In February 2024, the former daytime host of The Wendy Williams Show shared her story in the two-part documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?where she revealed the painful realities of her health and finances. “I have no money,” the 61-year-old admitted in the trailer, adding, “If it happens to me, it could happen to you.” The film also featured her family, including son Kevin Hunter Jr.voicing concern over her well-being. “My mom has done a great job making it seem like everything is okay always, but in reality, there’s something wrong going on,” Wendy’s only child said in the film.
A year later, in March 2025, Wendy was placed in an assisted living facility following a welfare check, though she soon passed a mental capacity test, according to TMZand began making public appearances again. Most recently, in August 2025, she was spotted dining in New York City with friends, smiling and telling those around her that she’s “better than good,” a defiant reminder of her resilience as she continues to push for independence despite her dementia diagnosis.
Here’s everything to know about Wendy’s life today below.
Wendy Williams’ Time on ‘The Wendy Williams Show’
After many delays to resume with Wendy in the fall of 2021, The Wendy Williams Show eventually had others fill in for her. By mid 2022, the longstanding talk show was officially cancelled. Sherri Shepherd‘s new show, Sherrithen took Wendy’s timeslot and the loss of her show reportedly “broke” her, per PEOPLE. The talk show premiered in 2008 and quickly became a fan-favorite for celebrity gossip lovers.
Wendy later opened up about making a possible comeback to TV during a March 2022 interview with Good Morning America. “I’m 57 years old now but I have the mind and body of a 25 year old,” she quipped during the interview. “Give me about three months. There are private things that I have to deal with and then I’ll be ready to come back and be free and ready to do my thing. Keep watching because I’m going to be back on The Wendy Showbigger and brighter than ever.”
Wendy Williams’ Health Struggles
There were continuous delays in Wendy’s return to her talk show due to her ongoing health issues. Years prior, in 2018, Wendy revealed that she had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease. In February of that year, she spoke to her live audience and opened up about her ongoing health struggles, per CBS News. “My thyroid has been totally cattywampus and that is the eye thing that you all have been seeing. You caught it before I did,” the Love Triangle alum said.
Wendy addressed the public’s speculation regarding the appearance of her eyes and noted it was due to her diagnosis. “My thyroid, my hyperthyroid is attached also to Graves’ disease,” she added. “Graves’ disease squeezes the muscles behind your eyeballs and so that’s the reason for — ” she then widened her eyes to get her point across. At the time, she was encouraged by her medical team to take three weeks off from work.
By 2022, Wendy’s health continued to decline. The former radio host’s publicist sent Hollywood Life a press release in September 2022 and revealed that Wendy had begun treatment at a wellness facility. “Wendy has entered a wellness facility seeking help to manage her overall health issues. She is taking some time to focus on her health and wellness as she prepares for a major comeback for the next level in her career with ‘The Wendy Experience Podcast,” the statement read. “Ms. Williams is being treated by a team of some of the best doctors in the world. We ask for your prayers and well wishes during this time.” Wendy then exited the rehab facility by October 2022.
On January 16, 2025, during an interview on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne Tha Godshe shared, “I am not cognitively impaired but I feel like I am in prison,” referring to being in a conservatorship. “I’m in this place with people who are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. …. These people, there’s something wrong with these people here on this floor. I am clearly not.”
What Wendy Williams’ Family Has Said
Ahead of the doc’s premiere, Wendy’s family has come forward with growing concerns for her health. Not only has she been battling Graves’ disease, but Wendy has also suffered from alcohol addiction, per PEOPLE. In June 2023, Kevin opened up about his mother’s drinking habits. “There are a lot of people who are very aware that there is an issue with her drinking and how that issue may be helped, but I think these people are taking advantage of it while allowing it to play out to make it look like they aren’t causing the issue,” he told The Sun at the time.
Later, Wendy’s manager Will Selby disputed Kevin’s claims. “Taking advantage of her for what? To get what? To do what? I’m not here to brag, but I was doing just okay before Wendy came along and I insisted on helping her because she requested my assistance,” he said during a conversation with Entertainment Tonight.
“Wendy is under a guardianship. Everything that she does gets approved by the guardianship. A court-appointed guardianship,” Will continued. “So, no one, even if they wanted to take advantage of her — everything has to get approved by that court. So, any type of business dealings that we do, Wendy, myself, and anyone — we have to get the guardianship to sign off on it. So how can anyone take advantage of her?”
Wendy is still seeking care at the wellness facility, per PEOPLEand the only one who has constant access to her is her appointed legal guardian. “The people who love her cannot see her,” Wendy’s sister Wanda65, said during the doc’s trailer. “I think the big is: How the hell did we get here?” Fans can catch the two-part documentary about Wendy on Lifetime beginning on February 24, 2024.
