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WENDY Williams' guardian "isolated" the troubled star and "failed to protect her," Lifetime docuseries Where is Wendy Williams? producers claim in a new lawsuit.
Lifetime and A&E sued Wendy's guardian, as did Creature Films production company along with president Mark Ford and the production company Entertainment One, in their own counterclaims, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
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In the counterclaim for Lifetime, attorneys hit out at Wendy's guardian, Sabrina Morrissey for trying to stop the documentary from coming out in the first place in a restraining order filed in the days before its February release.
They claimed she was "inhibiting and interfering with the exercise of free speech rights regarding an issue of public concern by [Lifetime].
[The guardianship] isolated [Wendy] from her family, left her largely alone and unattended in her apartment, exacerbated her self-destructive behavior and mental decline, and failed to prevent her use and/or abuse of alcohol.
Lawsuit against guardian Sabrina Morrissey
They claim Wendy's guardian wanted to stop the documentary from airing, which they said captured "a raw, honest, and unfiltered window into the life of [Wendy], a well-known public figure, after she was placed under guardianship.
"The Documentary reveals how the guardianship system that was purportedly put in place to guard [Wendy's] interests had isolated her from her family, left her largely alone and unattended in her apartment, exacerbated her self-destructive behavior and mental decline, and failed to prevent her use and/or abuse of alcohol."
They further argued that Wendy's guardian wanted to stop the documentary's release because it made her look bad.
"Thus, it appears that Morrisey is misusing her position as a guardian of [Wendy] to silence criticism of her controversial and failed administration of [Wendy's] guardianship.
"This Counterclaim further arises from the present litigation itself and the attempts by Morrissey to inhibit the [Lifetime's] exercise of the constitutional right of free speech in connection with an issue of public interest, namely the Documentary."
Lifetime also alleged that Wendy's own family members "also saw the Documentary before it aired, in early February 2024.
And that they "approved its content and supported its release, and they noted that "Several of Wendy's family members even participated in press interviews to promote the Documentary."
ENTERTAINMENT ONE'S VS GUARDIAN
In Entertainment One's counterclaim they assert that Wendy's guardian's case against them "arises from the misguided and unjustified efforts by [the guardian] to exceed the scope of her judicial authority over her ward [Wendy], attempt to excuse her own failure to protect her ward, supplant [Wendy's] wishes with her own, and deny [Wendy] perhaps one of her last chances to exercise her autonomy and honestly reach her fans in exactly the frank and unfiltered manner that was the hallmark of her career."
This is allegedly "all in an effort to prioritize [the guardian's] own reputation, and deflect scrutiny of her own inaction and indifference" to Wendy's situation."
Wendy Williams' ex Kevin Hunter accuses star's guardian Sabrina Morrissey of 'depleting' host's finances in court
Entertainment One also denies previous allegations that they only paid Wendy $82,000 for the documentary.
"[Entertainment One] denies [Wendy] only received $82,000 for her participation in the Documentary and, instead, affirmatively alleges that [Wendy], through her company The Wendy Experience, Inc., was paid approximately $400,000 for her participation pursuant to the Talent Agreement."
"[Entertainment One] admits that two days before the Documentary was scheduled to premiere, when it had become clear that the Documentary would raise questions about [Wendy's] care and treatment under the guardianship, making Plaintiff’s own conduct the subject of scrutiny, Plaintiff served [Entertainment One] and [Lifetime] with an ex parte temporary restraining order (“TRO”), which was vacated as unconstitutional within 24 hours by Justice Peter Moulton of the New York Appellate Division, First Department.
"[Entertainment One] denies [the guardian's] characterization of the Documentary and respectfully refers the Court to the Documentary for its content and meaning and affirmatively alleges that the Documentary captures a raw, honest and unfiltered window into [Wendy's] life after she was placed under guardianship, showing how her authenticity still shined even as she struggled with her loss."
CREATURE FILMS' SUIT AGAINST GUARDIAN
Meanwhile, in Creature Films' counterclaim with President Mark Ford, they denied that the documentary raked in "millions" in profits.
"Except as so denied and admitted, the Creature Films Defendants… deny specifically that they earned anywhere near 'millions' of dollars from the Documentary."
The counterclaims for Lifetime and A&E, and Creature Films, as well as Entertainment One with Mark Ford all seek to be "awarded its reasonable costs, attorneys’ fees, and disbursements pursuant to New York Civil Rights Law Section 70-a or otherwise."
Additionally "that, pursuant to New York Civil Rights Law Section 70-a, AETN be awarded punitive damages; and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper."
RESTRAINING ORDER & LAWSUITS
Just before the Where is Wendy Williams? documentary aired in February, Wendy's guardian, Sabrina, tried to stop Lifetime from releasing it, by filing a restraining order.
An appellate judge quickly overturned the restraining order.
The judge ruled that stopping Lifetime from airing the docuseries would be a restraint of the First Amendment.
Wendy Williams Alcohol-Related Brain Damage, Aphasia & Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnoses
By The U.S. Sun's Senior Reporter Jessica Finn, who has reported on Wendy Williams for the past seven years.
As The U.S. Sun exclusively reported, Wendy Williams was diagnosed with alcohol-related brain damage in 2019 during a rehab stint in Florida.
An insider explained that a brain scan was done as part of Wendy's rehab stay in Delray Beach.
A neurologist sat down with the star, her son, and her then-husband, Kevin Hunter Sr.
"The doctor explained to them that Wendy was suffering from alcohol-related brain damage.
"They told her that her alcohol abuse had done permanent damage to the layers in her brain," the insider said.
"She was warned then and there that if she continued to drink, the damage would only get worse."
In that meeting, they gave Wendy a devastating prognosis.
The doctors at the rehab foretold of the eventual decline of Wendy's cognitive abilities, which have become apparent to those who have come in contact with the star in recent years.
"They told her that if she kept drinking she would continue to grow more forgetful, that she wouldn't remember people's names, and eventually, she could forget who people even were," the source said.
After a comment call was sent to Wendy's team, they released a statement saying Wendy had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia in 2023.
“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 and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances," the statement read.
Just days before the documentary was set to air, Wendy's guardian filed a lawsuit against Lifetime and the production companies involved, but according to recent filings, the guardian "never served the Original Complaint."
Instead, Wendy's guardian filed an amended complaint in September, which was served to all defendants, including Lifetime, Entertainment One Reality Production and Creature Films with President Mark Ford.
In October, the suit filed by the guardian was moved to federal court from New York Supreme Court.
Since then, all the defendants have filed countersuits against Wendy's guardian.
There may be additional countersuits filed as well, as three of the answers to the guardian's amended complaint have been filed under seal.
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English (US) ·