Wendy Williams’ attorney denies dementia diagnosis, cites alcohol issues
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Wendy Williams’ lawyer has denied a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and aphasia, conditions for which the former talk show host was allegedly diagnosed with two years ago.
Attorney Joe Tacopina said Williams, 61, had been diagnosed with a New York City neurologist, Dr. Williams, who determined that the radio star “does not suffer from frontotemporal dementia.” He claimed to have been evaluated by Samuel E. Gandy.
During a recent event “Night line” Tacopina suggested that Williams was instead affected by alcohol addiction.
“There is something called alcohol-induced dementia. This may be something Wendy used to suffer from. [2023]24. There’s no question she was an alcoholic,” Tacopina said. “Wendy was drunk almost 24 hours a day. He looked like he needed help. He needed help. He needed alcohol rehab.”
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Wendy Williams’ lawyer, Joe Tacopina, claimed that Williams has “alcohol-induced” dementia. (Johnny Nunez)
The lawyer stated that he did not agree with the previous diagnosis and said, “We do not know who the doctor is, we have not seen the report!”
“Wendy was drunk almost 24 hours a day. She looked like she needed help. She needed help. She needed alcohol rehab.”
Guardian Sabrina E. Morrissey’s lawyer denied in a statement to “Dateline” that Williams’ case was “mishandled.”
“Ms. Morrissey categorically denies any wrongdoing, mismanagement, or behavior against her interests related to Ms. Williams’ guardianship,” the statement said. “All activities of court-appointed guardians are regulated and supervised by the court.”
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Tacopina claimed Williams could be released from her conservatorship by the end of the year. The television star had a tough 2025 and at one point taken to hospital for evaluation after receiving his welfare check, but also claimed on “The View” that he was not incapacitated and wanted to end his years of tutelage.
Wendy Williams was spotted in New York in February 2023, making her first major public outing in months after her talk show was canceled in 2022. (Johnny Nunez)
Tacopina and Morrissey did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Williams has largely stayed out of the spotlight since the cancellation of her self-titled show in June 2022. Williams’ struggle with alcohol addiction was highlighted in the Lifetime documentary “Where’s Wendy Williams,” which aired shortly after her diagnosis was announced.
When the producer asked if he still had a “substance abuse problem,” he was candid in his answer.
“Well, I love Tito Puente. I love vodka,” Wendy said. “And the problem with Wanda is that she’s my sister. I love Wanda, but she hates that I like alcohol.”
Williams stated that his son Kevin Jr. also does not like alcohol consumption.
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Long-time friend Regina Shell claimed that Wendy’s alcohol addiction peaked around the breakup of her marriage to her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, who fathered a child with another woman while married to Wendy.
A Wendy Williams documentary released in February 2024 explored the talk show host’s rise and fall during her dementia diagnosis. (Getty Images)
Williams entered a treatment facility in 2019, but returned to New York for his show and lived in a sober house during filming. She went to a wellness center for two months while filming the documentary, but wasn’t sure why she was accepted.
His manager, Will Selby, would search his house and try to dispose of bottles of alcohol hidden around his flat.
Wendy made a one-night public appearance in February 2023 and had dinner with Selby at Fresco by Scotto in Manhattan. He ordered alcohol, but Selby privately told the server to change his order to a non-alcoholic version.
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When producers asked Williams why she liked to drink, Wendy said: “Because I can. Because I value it.”
Williams was married to Kevin Hunter for 21 years, and they divorced in 2019 after learning he fathered another child while they were married. (Getty Images)
In February 2024, Williams’ team announced that he had been diagnosed with both progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.
“Over the past several years, questions have occasionally been raised about Wendy’s ability to process information, and many have speculated about her condition, particularly when she began to lose her words, acted erratically at times, and had difficulty understanding financial transactions,” the statement said.
“In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Aphasia, a condition that affects language and communication skills, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder that affects behavior and cognitive functions, have already created significant obstacles in Wendy’s life.”
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Following the announcement, Williams expressed her delight at the increased support in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital: “I am so grateful for the love and kind words I received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Wow! Your response was so moving. The messages shared with me touched me and reminded me of the power of unity and the need for compassion. I hope others with FTD can benefit from my story.”
