Over the course of two years, Lifetime cameras have documented the former television host and radio star Wendy Williams on what she called her “comeback,” following the end of her iconic talk show The Wendy Williams Show, which ran for 13 successful years. The documentary provides an unfiltered, honest, and raw reality of Williams’ life after being placed under financial guardianship. It also sheds light on the vulnerabilities that have made her a hot topic.
Williams’ erratic behavior, health decline, and delicate state of mind were all captured over two years at various stages of severity. The documentary Where is Wendy Williams? shows Williams’ quest to revive her career and uncovers potential unforeseen issues within her family and management team. After watching the four-part documentary, I am left with more questions than I started with.
Who genuinely advocates for Williams’ well-being? Who exactly manages her finances? What is her complete medical history? And precisely, where is Wendy Williams now?
Episode 1: “I’m Not a Crier”
Episode 1 begins recounting Williams’ rise to fame as a radio host, which led her to eventually land her talk show. Williams has openly admitted to partaking in drug use during her time on the radio, but explained that she stopped after she wanted to start a family with her second husband, Kevin Hunter. Although the couple successfully had a son in 2000, they divorced in January 2020 as a result of Hunter’s infidelity.
In the documentary, Williams’ manager Will Selby explains how hard the cheating was on Williams and how her separation, with the combination of COVID-19, took a huge toll on her mental well-being. Former Wendy Williams Show musician, DJ Boof, reveals that he found Williams unresponsive in her NYC apartment in 2020 and ultimately decided to leave the show because he couldn’t continue to watch her state decline. Due to the decline in her health, Williams made her last television appearance in 2021 with her show. She hired guest hosts to fill in until the show was canceled in 2022.
Episode 1 concludes with a discussion of Williams being placed under a financial guarantor in 2022. However, unlike Britney Spears, Williams’ guardian was independent of her family, alleging that her inner circle had been involved in stealing money from her.
Episode 2: “I Really Want to Be Back on Television”
Episode 2 begins detailing Williams’ loss of control over her finances. The documentary explains that her Wells Fargo account was flagged in 2022 because the bank thought she was being taken advantage of. However, the case is under a confidentiality seal, as it’s still under investigation.
Williams’ son, Kevin, and nephew, Travis Finnie, both spoke openly in the series about the accusations against them. Williams was previously living in Florida with Kevin, her power of attorney, and funding both her and her son’s lavish living expenses.
The episode focuses next on Williams’ substance issues. It opened with a viral TikTok clip of Williams in bed with wide-glazed eyes, screaming at her manager to “keep it there.” She was referring to a large bottle of alcohol hidden beside her bed. Williams’ manager, Will, creates tension with the celebrity as he actively throws out her alcohol and prohibits her from ordering drinks when out. After discovering Will is getting in the way of her substance abuse, Williams angrily says, “I will smoke when I smoke, I will liquor when I liquor.”
She continues this erotic behavior throughout a six-minute clip (31:47-37:14) where she screams at her publicist, driver, and Lifetime crew members over acquiring her specific vape. After taking a two-day break from filming, Lifetime producers found Williams in her apartment with her eyes rolled back, slurring her words. They call Will, who is greeted with an aggravated Williams. She eventually gains her senses and apologizes, saying she didn’t realize it was him.
Episode 3: “I Love Being Famous”
Episode 3 opens with Williams’ niece and goddaughter, Alex Finnie, who speaks about how much Williams has inspired her in both her professional career and personal life. Alex meets Williams’ publicist, Shawn, during an interview in Williams’ home, where Alex gets visibly worked up and tells producers that she doesn’t feel comfortable speaking with Shawn.
After this interaction, Williams reveals that Shawn controls her finances. The docuseries jumps to 2023 when Williams travels to Los Angeles with Shawn without notifying her guardian or family. Williams has plans to meet with Universal Studios in hopes of getting back on television. The Finnies and Williams’ son, Kevin, express numerous times that they don’t think she should continue working and that her only focus should be on improving her health. NBC declined to comment and never came through with an offer for Williams, although the host said for months after meeting with Universal Studios that she was getting her show.
Episode 4: “I am Gorgeous”
Episode 4 opens with Williams going back to Miami to see her family. This episode reveals her official diagnosis of alcohol-induced dementia, as Williams continues to be convinced she’s going to be on television again. Williams enjoys dinner with her father and extended family right before the documentary explains that they halted filming in April 2023 due to health concerns surrounding Williams.
After filming, Williams was institutionalized for six months, and her family was kept in the dark about her treatment. Williams’ sister, Wanda, explains in her interview that she originally offered to be Williams’ guardian, but was told she was unfit while undergoing the courses needed to become certified. Although her family is thankful to have her back, they feel as though it shouldn’t have taken two years to get to this point.
However hard to watch, Williams’ family explains that they ultimately released the docuseries to spread awareness. Williams’ financial guardianship is up for review in 2024 and the family hopes to be more involved going forward.
After viewing Lifetime’s documentary, I still have so many questions. Although the series sheds light on Williams’ struggles with health issues, substance abuse, and loss of control over her finances, I’m struggling to understand how it got to this point in the first place. Viewers are left grappling with difficult questions about who truly has Williams’ best interest at heart, the extent of her health concerns, and the ongoing management of her affairs.
However, amidst the uncertainty, one thing remains clear: There is a pressing need for greater transparency, support, and accountability in Williams’ journey toward recovery and stability. The documentary serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, understanding, and awareness in addressing the complexities of mental health and personal struggles.
As we await further developments in Williams’ story, one can only hope that the lessons learned from her experiences will pave the way for positive change in the future.
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