26 February 2024 , 11:11
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Wendy Williams is an American former broadcaster, media personality, and writer, with the US talk show legend's latest documentary released over the weekend.
From 2008 to 2021, the 59-year-old hosted the national television talk show The Wendy Williams Show, but then she remained out of the spotlight from 2022 onwards when her show was unexpectedly cancelled.
And now, a new Lifetime documentary takes a look at Wendy's life following her show's axe and how she made a comeback with a podcast before her struggles with alcoholism and various health issues came into play.
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Wendy has a new documentary about her life following her show's axeWhere is Wendy Williams, the new documentary, had its first two episodes drop over the weekend, which came shortly after it was announced that last year Wendy had been diagnosed with "primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)".
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But what are some of the biggest bombshells from the documentary so far?
She almost died in 2020
In 2020, amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Wendy almost died. DJ Boof, who worked on Wendy's hit daytime show when it aired, became concerned when the star began quarantining herself and isolating herself from the outside world.
Filming the show from her apartment, DJ Boof recalled how she "showed no emotion" while filming. Speaking on the documentary he said: "This is not COVID doing this".
Then, Wendy's nephew Travis Finnie said that it was DJ Boof who found Wendy unresponsive in her home in May 2020, when she was rushed to hospital and received three blood transfusions.
The starlet has had a turbulent few years (WireImage)"DJ Boof was there, and he called us crying saying that she was going to die, and she needs help," Travis recalled in the documentary. He added: "We called Kevin, who at the time was her medical proxy. He called the ambulance. The ambulance came. My auntie had three blood transfusions and that's the only reason she's alive today."
She struggles with alcoholism and 'loves vodka'
Wendy's struggles with alcohol are depicted throughout the show, with her even getting asked if she has a "substance abuse issue" in the documentary. Responding, Wendy says: "Well, I love Tito Puente. I love vodka. And the problem with Wanda is she's my sister. I love Wanda, but she hates that I love alcohol."
Her dementia is 'alcohol-induced'
During the documentary, Wendy's son Kevin Hunter Jr, 23, confirmed that his mother is suffering from alcohol-induced dementia. He revealed: "I was able to really learn more about things going on with my mother internally. They basically said that because she was drinking so much, it was starting to affect her headspace and her brain. So, I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia."
Also, Wendy's niece Alex Finnie weighed in, adding: "All I know is that it was dementia. You look back at little things, and it's a slow roll. It's little things like, 'When's your birthday again?' You know? 'What's his name again?' -But after seeing my aunt and really spending time with her in a state where she's in right now, I quickly realised that things were just not normal. It's heartbreaking.
"When it's come to my aunt's dementia, there are three things that didn't help her: divorce, the pandemic and then losing my grandmother," Alex went on.
She has become 'more aggressive and demanding'
In the documentary, Wendy's manager Will Selby says that she has become "more aggressive, demanding", although he added that she is "one of the biggest personalities we’ve seen in quite some time".
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He added: "Wendy being pissed off is normal. She changes her mind all the time."
She can't access her own money
Wendy has a legal guardian appointed to her to be in charge of her finances and health in 2022 after her formal financial adviser alleged that the TV legend was not of sound mind. She then filed a temporary restraining order against Wells Fargo, her bank, asking the court to "reopen any frozen accounts or assets".
She is suffering from dementia (WireImage)"One judge and three doctors say my money is still stuck at Wells Fargo and I’m going to tell you something, if it happens to me, it could happen to you," the talk show icon said in the documentary.
She suffers from lymphedema
Back in 2019 Wendy revealed her lymphedema diagnosis. Lymphoedema is described as "a long-term (chronic) condition that causes swelling in the body's tissues. It can affect any part of the body, but usually develops in the arms or legs," as per the NHS.
The site continues to note how it develops "when the lymphatic system does not work properly", adding: "The lymphatic system is a network of channels and glands throughout the body that helps fight infection and remove excess fluid."
Wendy has spoken of her feet being swollen, with her even admitting that she "should be in a wheelchair." And in the documentary she can be seen attempting to work out with a personal trainer but repeatedly says "no thank you" throughout the session. Also in the programme, Wendy reveals how she can only feel "6 percent" of each foot due to her condition.