Wendy Williams has broken her silence after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.
“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). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming,” Williams, 59, told People on Friday.
“The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion,” she continued. “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.”
“I continue to need personal space and peace to thrive. Please just know that your positivity and encouragement are deeply appreciated,” the TV and radio personality signed off.
The Post has contacted reps for Williams for comment.
Williams’ statement comes ahead of the release of her two-part Lifetime documentary, “Where is Wendy Williams?” which drops on Saturday and Sunday.
Since May 2022, Williams has lived under a court-appointed legal guardian â whose identity remains private â who oversees both her finances and her health. Her family claims her legal guardian is the only person with unlimited access to the media mogul, and have questioned if their decisions have been in Williams’ best interest.
However, The Post learned Thursday that a woman named Sabrina Morrissey, who claimed to be âacting in her capacity as temporary guardian of W.W.H.â â presumably Wendy Williams Hunter â filed a lawsuit against Lifetimeâs parent company, A&E Television Networks, this week seemingly in an effort to delay the release of the tell-all.
Reps for A&E told The Post on Friday that Lifetime appeared in court today, and that the documentary will air this weekend as planned.
On Thursday, Williams’ “care team” revealed in a statement that she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, which are the same two medical conditions “Die Hard” star Bruce Willis, 68, is battling.
âOn behalf of Wendy Williams Hunter, her care team is sharing this very personal update with her cherished fans, friends and supporters to correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health,â the statement read.
It continued, “In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with
primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) ⦠[they] have already presented significant hurdles in Wendyâs life.”
The statement also claimed that Williams is âstill able to do many things for herselfâ and that âshe maintains her trademark sense of humorâ while âreceiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed.”