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Dozens of fiercely loyal and loving fans gathered in the windy streets of New York in Hudson Yards at 505 West 35th Street to rally to free former talk show host Wendy Williams. Protesters cheering “Free Wendy!” and sporting Wendy’s favorite color, purple, and holding up colorful and vivid signs in front of the luxury Coterie Senior Living assisted living faculty.

Williams, 60, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD)- a degenerative disease of cognitive functions. She has been under a court-appointed financial guardianship since 2022.  

On April 1st, 2025, across the street from the luxury high-rise Coterie Senior Living, protesters chanted “Free Wendy! We Love You!” waving signs decorated in glitter and rhinestones. The protest is a sister protest, that is happening at the same, in Los Angeles on Hollywood Boulevard. As numerous media outlets stormed to cover the protest, former executive producers Suzanne Bass and her husband Brenda Higgins, attended the protest to support Williams being freed from her guardianship.

At 10:15 AM, Wendy, sporting a baby blue peasant top and red lipstick, came to the window of her fifth-floor room pressed her hands to the window, and waved to all her supporters. She was emotional, as she did heart signs, starting dancing and holding up #FreeWendy t-shirts.

Since September 2022, Williams has been living in the wellness faculty. Williams is currently paying $18,000 per month for the memory unit.

“She feels very positive and she is happy that everyone is out here!” said Bass. Williams spoke exclusively to Bass on the phone as she handled the numerous media outlets that followed her down the block to know the status of Williams’s health. “I talk to Wendy every day. She feels great, even though she is living there by herself. She is not with her family. She loves life and loves people. She sounds fantastic and is fighting for her life! We hope that she gets her freedom and she can live her life.” she said.

Williams’s road to the guardianship dates back to September 2021, when her talk show entered its 13th season. For 12 years, the daytime’s bold personality was replaced by a revolving door of guest hosts. Her show was ultimately canceled on July 16th, 2021.

William’s 20-plus year marriage to her ex-husband and former manager, Kevin Hunter, became victim to the tabloids when revealed that he had a baby named Journey with his mistress. Hunter was later fired as her manager in April 2019. A week later Williams filed for divorce.

On her final appearance of her talk show, Hunter filed a wrongful termination suit against the co-presidents, Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein. In 2022, Wendy’s bank account with Wells Fargo was frozen, and required guardianship, Wells Fargo made numerous allegations Williams was an “incapacitated person” and “a victim of undue influence and financial exploitation”. The bank placed a hold on disbursement of funds and filed a petition for appointment of guardianship.

Williams’s lawyer filed a letter in court explaining why they are filing a temporary restraining order in response to Wells Fargo freezing Williams’s account.

Next, Hunter sought alimony in their divorce and angrily filed a stipulation demanding over $112,000 in the divorce settlement. Hunter claims he hasn’t been paid in over 23 months.The divorce agreement was terminated once Williams agreed to the guardianship by her court-appointed legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, Elder Law Attorney at Morrissey & Morrissey, LLP.

Since May 2022, she has been controlling her finances and healthcare. Williams agreed to the guardianship to have a money person handle her finances and did understand that her whole life was going to be taken away.

Under the guardianship, Williams agreed to restrictions on communication with family and friends, which include access to her iPad, and cell phone, connection to Wi-Fi, and autonomy to make her own decisions.

Under the guardianship, Williams lost her right to choose where she lived, how to spend her money, or even maintain her bank account. Any out-of-state travel requires permission from her guardianship, Morrissey.

In an interview with TMZ host Harvey Levin, Williams described her life in the last year in her studio apartment. “Isolated,” she said.

“I am part of the memory unit. The memory unit is suffocating. I eat lunch and dinner in my bedroom. I don’t eat out there with the people that live here. There is a bathroom and closet and TV purchased, by me, through the guardianship.” said Williams. “I am not allowed outside, and no one can come into my apartment. In the last 30 days, I was allowed outside twice because of my teeth,” she said. “All of my belongings and clothing are in storage, and I was denied last week to go to my storage unit!”

“Stop guardianship abuse! said Evette Murtha, one of the protest organizers. “Wendy Williams is not stupid and is smart!” said Murtha.” It is unbelievable! We are going to do more events until she is out!” she said.

Williams currently has a Free Wendy Williams Petition on Change.org. As of April 5th, 2025, there are over 26,282 signatures.

Williams is currently refusing medical testing, which includes an MRI brain scan and neuropsychological assessment, and all have been reschedule. On March 11th, 2025, Williams received a welfare check at her assisted living facility. Williams’s health care advocate Ginalisa Monterroso, said she passed her mental capacity exams with flying colors. “She was alert and oriented,” said Montettoso.

Alex Finnie, William’s niece, and the Morning Anchor on ABC Miami, is currently by her side “Her life is lonely.” said Finnie. “She has a landline and can only make calls out and no one can call her. She can’t leave or go on the elevator without the assistance of the facility,” she said “It is a glorified hotel,” she said

On March 26th, 2025, allegedly, Williams’s son Kevin Hunter, Jr., 24, “inappropriately” was withdrawing large amounts of money out of his mother’s bank account. “He was overstepping his boundaries, and he was using my money without telling me,” said Williams. She said she has forgiven her son for the mismanaging of her money.Williams is ready for a long overdue legal battle and stated at the end of the guardianship, she is staying in New York. Despite claims of the guardianship, of being “permanently incapacitated”.Williams will continue fighting for her freedom, saying “I want my life back!”

Photo Credit: Sherica Daley