In a recent press release, Wendy Williams’ team confirmed that the former daytime talk show host has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These conditions affect language and communication abilities, as well as behavior and cognitive functions, respectively. This revelation follows Bruce Willis’ announcement last year about being diagnosed with the same type of dementia.
Wendy Williams, renowned for hosting “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2021, faced medical challenges related to Graves’ Disease and lymphedema, leading to her stepping down from hosting. The talk show was later canceled, airing its final episode in June 2022 after various guest hosts filled in for her.
Over the past few years, concerns had been raised about Wendy’s ability to process information, leading to speculation about her condition. The press release addressed these concerns, stating, “The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.”
The announcement coincides with the upcoming premiere of a two-part documentary, “Where Is Wendy Williams?,” airing on Lifetime on February 24 and 25. Produced by Wendy herself, the documentary provides an intimate look at her life, including struggles with Graves’ Disease.
Despite the challenging diagnosis, Wendy’s sister, Wanda Finnie, assured People magazine that Wendy is in a better emotional place than depicted in the documentary. Wanda shared, “She is, from what I understand, in a wellness, healing type of environment…We cannot reach out to her, but she can reach out to us. And she is in a healing place emotionally. She’s not the person that you see in this film.”
The press release concludes with Wendy’s care team dispelling inaccurate rumors and expressing gratitude for the support. Wendy is still able to maintain her sense of humor and appreciates the kind thoughts and good wishes from her fans.
The documentary aims to shed light on Wendy Williams’ journey, providing insight into her health struggles and raising awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.