In the latest development of the ongoing saga surrounding former daytime talk show host Wendy Williams, her ex-husband Kevin Hunter has taken legal action to demand two years of back alimony payments. This move comes after Wendy’s guardian claimed she had no remaining funds, sparking a financial battle between the former couple.
According to recent reports from The Sun, Kevin Hunter is insisting that Wendy resume the payments that he claims were agreed upon in their Marital Settlement Agreement. These payments abruptly ceased just before Wendy was placed under guardianship in 2022, leaving Kevin without his expected income for nearly two years.
In exclusive court filings obtained by The U.S. Sun, Kevin Hunter expressed the impact of the sudden halt in payments on his financial stability. He stated, “I rely on the severance pay for my living expenses and having been without this income for twenty-three months has affected me greatly.”
Kevin’s legal filings reveal his intention to bring the matter before the court once again after failed attempts at out-of-court mediation. He has petitioned the court to compel Wendy, through her guardianship, to immediately fulfill any outstanding severance payments owed to him.
Kevin Hunter is seeking resolution regarding Wendy’s AFTRA Retirement Plan. He requested the court’s intervention to ensure Wendy signs the Qualified Domestic Relations Order for the AFTRA Retirement Plan or appoint him an Attorney in Fact to execute the document if Wendy fails to comply within seven days of the court’s order.
“I would not have to file this motion if the plaintiff did not stop my severance payments and if the plaintiff would have signed the qualified domestic relations order for the AFTRA retirement plan,” Kevin emphasized in his filing, indicating his frustration with the lack of cooperation from Wendy’s side.
The legal dispute between Wendy Williams and Kevin Hunter underscores the complexities of financial matters in high-profile divorces. As the legal battle unfolds, it sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals navigating post-divorce financial arrangements, especially when one party’s financial situation becomes uncertain.
Celebrity talk show host Wendy Williams recently became a trending topic after the release of her Lifetime documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams? The emotional documentary was designed to be a sequel to two other projects: Wendy Williams: What A Mess, about her public image and divorce, and Wendy Williams: The Movie film about her career journey. However, this new project seems to be much different. In fact, it has garnered much more public interest about what exactly is going on with the media veteran, as many shocking details have been revealed. Moreover, fans believe the documentary should never have aired in the first place.
Averaging 1.04 million same-day viewers, the 4.5-hour documentary was split across two consecutive nights, airing on February 24th and 25th. Where is Wendy Williams? has been described as shocking, unsettling, and even exploitative. Fellow talk show host Charlamagne Tha God of The Breakfast Club has publicly commented that the show was “hard to watch.” Wendy Williams is evidently not doing so well, but the revelations in the documentary have been quite alarming.
“I Can Only Feel… 2 Percent Of My Feet”
In the documentary, Wendy Williams meets with Nadeem Waheed of Daniel’s Leathers to pick out a coat. She shows Waheed her bound feet, saying, “Do you know lymphedema? I should be in a wheelchair but I refuse. I’ve had that for seven years.” During a photoshoot, there’s also a moment where Williams requires assistance to stand up. She asks for a chair, stating, “I can’t continue to do this. I need to sit down again.”
Lymphedema is a chronic condition which occurs when lymph fluid builds up in various parts of the body due to a problem with the lymphatic system, which normally drains the fluid. Wendy Williams has secondary or acquired lymphedema. This is a type of lymphedema that develops over the course of a person’s life, often due to cancer or surgery. For some people, it is easy to overlook, as the swelling may go away at night. However, over time, it usually becomes more severe. This seems to be the case with Wendy. Although incurable, the pain from lymphedema can be alleviated with physical training. Nonetheless, despite her trainer’s suggested exercises in the documentary, she says she is too afraid to fall, choosing to walk with her bodyguard’s help instead.
“I Will Liquor When I Liquor”
Wendy Williams’s alcoholism is a ghost that hangs around every waking moment in the documentary. This is especially concerning because it seems to be responsible for a lot of changes that now affect the star’s current condition. Will Selby, Williams’s manager, spoke about his efforts to get her to stay sober. “Everyday I come here, I look for alcohol. Just in case,” he said.
However, this seems to be an occasionally fruitless effort. In one scene, he happens upon an empty bottle of vodka during one of his visits. The reason why is, I really feel she knows how to control herself.” Outside of work, Williams also confirmed that her drinking was negatively affecting her relationship with her son, Kevin, and sister, Wanda. Not long after this, however, she vehemently defends her actions. “I will smoke when I smoke, and I will liquor when I liquor,” she says. Williams also seems to have a problem with smoking; specifically with a vaping problem. She was shown delaying a trip for a specific brand of vape that she loved.
“What’s Oscars?”
Perhaps the most unsettling part of the documentary is watching Wendy Williams’ cognitive decline on camera. Her memory deterioration has evidently reached such a critical stage. When asked if she was interested in attending the Oscars, she had no idea what the ceremony was. In another scene, she expressed a belief that NBC Universal would simply offer her another talk show after The Wendy WilliamsShow was canceled in 2022.
“I think she’s losing memory. Have you guys noticed that,” asked Williams’s driver. He described it as her “going blank,” saying she did not recognize him sometimes. Williams’s condition was described by her son as alcohol-induced dementia. However, less than 72 hours before the documentary aired, a press release purportedly from Williams and her care team disclosed her diagnosis in 2023 as primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
The Commission
In May 2020, DJ Boof, who worked with Wendy Williams on her show, found her unresponsive at home. She was rushed to the hospital and needed several blood transfusions. Another friend confirmed that Williams had been drinking more since her divorce from Kevin Hunter Sr. The situation reached a breaking point in April 2023 when Selby found Williams hiding in the bathroom with a bottle in her bed. The next day, Selby says he worked with the legal guardian to get her admitted to a facility where she remains. Her family confirmed this to be the only good thing to come out of Williams’ guardianship. Williams’ niece, Alex Finnie, told interviewers that they were notified that Williams is also being treated for her cognitive issues at the facility. However, Williams’ family claims they were not told about the diagnosis revealed during filming.
“I Have No Money”
The documentary concluded during Wendy Williams’s ongoing treatment for cognitive challenges. The final portion also focused primarily on interviews with Williams’s relatives, addressing the topic of guardianship. Her niece Alex Finnie broke down when she discovered no food in Wendy’s fridge in New York. In 2022, instead of a family member, the courts designated a third party as Williams’s guardian. This decision came after a petition filed by Wells Fargo.
Her son, who had power of attorney, could not be a candidate. He had access to her American Express cards and probably triggered Wells Fargo’s petition by charging them over $100,000 for Uber Eats. He denied that the expenses were ever his to begin with but his mother’s. Her sister Wanda was also considered. She claimed she took classes to become Wendy’s guardian before “the wall came down.” Suddenly, she was disqualified from being Williams’ guardian.
The verdict is in. Lifetime’s Where is Wendy Williams? set a ratings record for the network. As reported by Deadline, here are the numbers … The controversial 2-part documentary averaged “1.2 million total viewers over the two nights in Nielsen Live+3 and 6.2 million total viewers across linear and digital platforms to date.” So what does that mean? People were glued to the screen watching the latest saga in what is shaping to be a somber moment in the legacy of Wendy Williams.
Back to the analytics … Lifetime said, “‘Where is Wendy Williams?’ is Lifetime’s best new non-fiction performance in two years since the Janet Jackson documentary, with total viewers W25-64 and A25-64.” The documentary outdid The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, dropping to No. 2 in L+SD.
Regarding social media, on the night Where is Wendy Williams? The documentary premiered on February 24 and was the top program on television among total social media interactions (Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube), according to Lifetime.
ICYMI, Where is Wendy Williams? aired only days after the former queen of daytime television was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, the same disease that Bruce Willis suffers from. Williams’s guardian even filed a lawsuit against Lifetime parent A+E Networks, seeking “a temporary restraining order to block the network from airing the project.” The ruling by a New York appeals court justice ultimately denied the TRO.
If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the official description:
Over the course of nearly two years, cameras chronicled the former television host and radio star Wendy Williams on the next phase of her life, following the end of her iconic talk show. The documentary provides a raw, honest and unfiltered reality of Wendy’s life after she was placed under financial guardianship, shedding light on the vulnerabilities that have turned Wendy into the Hot Topic herself. Suffering mental and physical issues, Wendy’s delicate state of mind, erratic behavior and declining health were all captured by the cameras.
Last week, Where Is Wendy Williams? took the internet by storm, with countless social media users weighing in on the controversial Lifetime doc. Even before it was released, speculation that Williams was being exploited began, which was only compounded once it was revealed that she’d been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia. The personality has since received an outpouring of support from fans and peers and later thanked them in a statement.
While Wendy appears to be doing better since filming, her brother Tommy says that he and the rest of their family don’t approve of how her treatment has been approached. “I know that she is stuck and we are trying to unstick her. Her family is here and she doesn’t need a facility. We are here to take care of her,” he told US Weekly in an exclusive interview earlier this week. “All I want for her is freedom. We have a father who would love to see her.”
Tommy Williams Says Wendy “Doesn’t Need A Facility”
Wendy Williams is seen leaving her TV Show on July 16, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Say Cheese!/GC Images)
“We’re dealing with unknowns,” he continued. “We just want to be able to check in with her. I would fly up there [to New York], but where do I go? No one knows anything.” Tommy also revealed that communicating with his sister has been difficult, claiming it “seems like forever” since he’s seen her.
“It’s because of the people who she is around. You can’t leave. You’re there as part of a program,” he adds. “It’s the one thing that is holding her and keeping her from communicating, traveling and doing all the things she likes to do.” What do you think of Wendy Williams’ brother Tommy claiming that she’s “stuck” in a treatment facility after being diagnosed with dementia and aphasia? Do you think she’d be better off in her family’s care? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Charlamagne Tha God watched Lifetime’s Wendy Williams documentary and wants to set the record straight on some fan reaction. The Breakfast Club host responds to fans who believe dementia made Williams talk to others rudely. From his own experience, that’s not the case.
“That documentary was very triggering for me as someone who worked with Wendy for three years,” Charlamagne said. “I saw people saying dementia was causing her to talk to people like that. No, y’all shut the hell up. Y’all don’t know what y’all talking about that had nothing to do with dementia.
“I was looking at those moments and said, ‘there goes Wendy.’”
You can hear the full statement from Charlamagne Tha God below.
Last week, the eagerly anticipated docuseries Where Is Wendy Williams? finally arrived. Even before its release, the project had the personality’s fanbase up in arms, as early trailers indicated that it’d showcase her financial concerns, mental health struggles, and more. Just before the series came out, it was also revealed that Williams had been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia. Many argued that it was unethical to document Williams’ less flattering moments out of concern that she was unable to consent.
Now, Williams’ publicist, who appears in the doc, has spoken out. During an exclusive interview with NBC News, Shawn Zanotti shared that she believes Williams was misled about the project and would have never agreed to it had she known how she would be portrayed.
“I felt that [Williams] was being exploited,” Zanotti described. “She thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career. … She would be mortified. There’s no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way… That is not the project that [Williams] signed up for. That’s not the project [the producers] brought to me. That’s not what I told her this was going to be about,” she also added. “There were a lot of good moments. None of those good moments were shown.”
Zanotti went on to respond to producers’ claims that they would have approached the project differently had they been aware of Williams’ dementia diagnosis. “I don’t think [the diagnosis] would have stopped them at all. The producers were asking questions throughout the entire time — would ask questions where she would somewhat seem confused, and I feel as though it was done to be intentional at that moment in time to make their storyline,” she explained. “Again, this was presented as a documentary to her, but to me, it looked as though it was a reality show of a circus, a circus to her downfall.” What do you think of Wendy Williams’ publicist Shawn Zanotti claiming that the personality was exploited by producers? Do you agree with her? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
The producers of the new Lifetime documentary about Wendy Williams say they wouldn’t have filmed it had they known she had dementia. Producers Mark Ford, Erica Hanson, and Lifetime’s Brie Miranda Bryant, all spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the making of the piece for an interview published on Monday. Where Is Wendy Williams? aired last weekend, just days after the diagnosis became public.
A major response to the beginning of the documentary was whether it was exploitative. Discussing this reaction, Ford admitted that there were many conversations about what to keep in the film. “But ultimately, we stuck to the truth of our journey as filmmakers,” he explained. “And when you watch the film, it’s almost like you’re on the journey of discovery with us.”
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 06: Wendy Williams visits SiriusXM Studios on September 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
Ford further added: “We tried to be as transparent as possible, and the making of the film is as much a story in some ways as Wendy’s story itself. And that’s why we intentionally left a lot of the questions in — we wanted people to understand the journey of the filmmakers and how upsetting it was for all of us in certain instances and also how outrageous in some ways the situations were. Like, Wendy would be left alone without food, completely on her own in that apartment with stairs that she could easily fall down. There was no one there 24/7. So, these are just all the questions we had throughout. But, of course, if we had known that Wendy had dementia going into it, no one would’ve rolled a camera.” Check out a trailer for the documentary below.
Wendy Williams’ Life Detailed In Lifetime Documentary
Wiliams’ care team shared that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, last Thursday. Be on the lookout for further updates on Wendy Williams on HotNewHipHop.
Wendy Williams may have thanked fans for their support following her dementia diagnosis, but there’s little other firsthand accounts when it comes to the social media discussion of her situation. Moreover, caregivers, industry peers, and family members are debating who is to blame for the more damaging parts of this situation, and how they should respond. The latest to chime in is the TV host’s former disc jockey, DJ Boof, who spoke to TMZ on Monday (February 26). He shared that no one on the show really knew the extent of her illness, and that it’s best for her to be with her family.
“I don’t think no one knew exactly to the extent [of] how bad it was,” DJ Boof said of Wendy Williams. “I felt like people knew something was up with her. But they didn’t really know. I knew it because I’ve been around it, you know? It’s sad to see something like that happen to her. You know, she needs help. I speak to Wendy. You know, I don’t know if [the family] speak as much as I do. But last time I spoke to her was probably, like, about a month ago.
“I don’t think it’s her not keeping them in the loop,” Wendy Williams’ former co-worker continued. “I think it could be the guardianship that’s not letting them know exactly what’s going on. Yeah, [that’s how they’re seeing it, at least]. I mean, if you was to ask me, I think she does need to be around her family. It is hard for me a little, because you know, she’s my friend. You know, I’ve [been] with this woman for 12 years, so I’ve seen it all, you know? We had a relationship outside of the show that most people don’t have.
“I bumped back into her in Miami, which everyone’s seen,” he concluded. “And we took a picture together, and I seen her. She was 100% great, you know? She was recovering, and that was due. Because I seen her in Miami, she was with her son and Travis, and she seemed to be doing great. I think, if you was to ask me, I believe Florida would be a better place for her because that’s where her family is. She needs, I think, that 24-hour care.” For more news and the latest updates on Wendy Williams, stay logged into HNHH.
Over the weekend, the highly anticipated “Where is Wendy Williams?” documentary aired on Lifetime, offering viewers an intimate look into the life of the former daytime talk show host. However, what began as a documentary exploring the whereabouts of Wendy Williams took a shocking turn when it was revealed that she is suffering from alcohol-related dementia.
The revelation came as a surprise to many, including the producers of the documentary, who insist they were unaware of Williams’ condition when they began filming. According to ETonline, producers Mark Ford and Erica Hanson defended their project, emphasizing the extensive legal and ethical measures taken to ensure the documentary was handled with care and sensitivity.
Speaking with ET’s Kevin Frazier, Ford and Hanson explained that multiple lawyers were involved in the process, along with Wendy Williams’ manager, Will Selby, to ensure that the documentary was produced in a fair and respectful manner. Ford emphasized that every individual on Williams’ side of the equation, including attorneys and publicists, signed off on the project after detailed conversations with their legal team.
Despite initial skepticism from Williams’ family, Ford and Hanson stated that they eventually gained their trust and involvement in the documentary. While it took some time for the family to feel comfortable with the project, they ultimately became directly involved in sharing their side of the story, which Ford described as essential to the documentary’s exploration of Williams’ life and struggles.
“It turned out that they weren’t there in the beginning, but there were conversations pretty soon after we began in which we started having that conversation with them directly,” Ford explained. “And it just, of course, it took time for them to trust the project, trust us. But ultimately, we felt it was so essential that we — there was no way we’re gonna, we were going to proceed with this without the family completely on board.”
The “Where is Wendy Williams?” documentary has sparked conversations about mental health, addiction, and the ethical considerations surrounding documentary filmmaking. As viewers grapple with the shocking revelation about Williams’ health, the documentary serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of fame, fortune, and personal struggles in the public eye.
Wendy Williams is unfortunately the subject of a lot of media scrutiny and debate right now thanks to the controversial Where Is Wendy Williams? documentary. Moreover, amid aphasia and dementia struggles, shifting responsibilities for legal guardians, and a lot of family accusations, it’s a tough map to navigate. But her ex-husband Kevin Hunter Sr. thinks that the Lifetime docuseries missed out on some key narratives and bad-faith actions when it comes to the iconic TV host. Specifically, he alleged that Williams’ sister Wanda took advantage of her under false pretenses that she would get her show back.
“Ok so everyone heard “f**k Kevin” through docu-series,” Wendy Williams’ former partner wrote on his Instagram Story this weekend. “Np the SHOW took precedent over EVERYTHING including family. What I guess they let out was that while she was in Florida getting recovery 3 yrs ago there were the secret calls her SISTER would set up with DEMBAR MERCURY (MORT & IRA). With false pretense that she would be getting show back. That was a lie and broke s**t more than anything.
“They only were trying to get her there to satisfy an insurance claim so they could obviously replace losses and the money that they were STEALING (5-15mil),” Kevin Hunter Sr. continued. “They wanted CONTROL her SISTER was trying to get ultimate control herself and was medical proxy @the time. But her naiveté allowed her only to be PLAYED and once she got back to NY they kicked her sister out and she spiraled WORSE. I was involved @ the time… blood on ALOTTA HANDS.” Of course, with Wendy Williams not addressing many of these claims at the moment, this makes it very hard to discern what is really going on.
However, she did take some time to thank fans for their support. “I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD),” the 59-year-old stated. “Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion. I hope that others with FTD may benefit from my story. I want to also thank the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for their kind words of support and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of FTD.” For more news and the latest updates on Wendy Williams, stick around on HNHH.
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