Wendy Williams’ current living arrangements are being put under the spotlight once again.
After the ID Channel premiered a new special titled TRAPPED: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams?, some fans grew concerned about a claim that Williams, 60, was moved to a more restrictive area in her New York City assisted living facility after drinking on her birthday in July 2024.
According to a source, Williams did in fact get drunk while celebrating at a rooftop bar. The incident, however, didn’t have an impact on where she lived.
“She was always supposed to be on the fifth floor,” a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly. “But she got a temporary room on the third floor [which allowed her more access]. It was not a punishment [to move her to the fifth floor]. It was always going to be her room. She was just waiting for it to be empty.”
A source described Williams’ guardianship as like “a bad movie” and questioned why the talk show host was placed at a facility with a bar if the guardian knew she had issues with substance abuse.
Williams was originally placed in a guardianship in 2022 and diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) the following year.
While appearing on The View in March, Williams admitted that she “celebrated” her 60th birthday in July 2024, but insisted that she is now sober.
“[My] relationship [with substances] is fine and is wonderful,” she shared. “I’ve had my [vices] and I have to tell you something: I am easily going on with my life, alcohol-free.”
Last year, the former talk show host’s guardian Sabrina Morrissey filed a memo saying she’d become “cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated” following a diagnosis of early-onset dementia.
But Williams insisted to the ladies of The View that she is not cognitively impaired and does not know why she is being kept in a “memory unit” at an assisted living facility: “Get off my neck,” she said in the phone interview of her guardian and the judge who ordered the guardianship.
She added she just wants to “move on with my life: “It’s time for my money and my life to get back to status quo,” Williams said on The View.
Instead of discussing hot topics through a talk show or radio show, Williams tries to keep herself busy with her current living arrangements, the source told Us.
“She goes to the gym a couple times a week and she spends a lot of time in her room unless she has appointments,” the source shared. “She can see her family, but anyone else needs permission from her guardian.”
Williams is in “good spirits” after she obtained new attorneys, with the source adding they are working to help get Williams out of the guardianship.
“They have her best interests at heart. Moving forward, everything should be better for her,” the source claimed. “Whatever is best for Wendy, they will go through the proper channels and it will be in Wendy’s best interest.”
Back in March, Williams was spotted on a rare public outing where she enjoyed lunch with friends in Manhattan.
Although fans are unable to receive regular updates directly from the TV personality, the source said she is “positive and happy” – especially after gaining new legal representation.
“It’s not like it was before because there are people who are actually working on her case,” the source explained. “I believe Wendy will get out, but barriers will be put in place to protect her. I believe at some point, she will have as much independence as she can handle.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Williams’ attorney and guardian for comment.
