Wendy Williams' conservatorship has been a rollercoaster filled with conflicting headlines, dramatic photos, and fans rallying behind her. After a top neurologist claimed she did not have frontotemporal dementia, the diagnosis that’s kept her legally confined since 2022, her attorney Joe Tacopina is confident she will be out of her conservatorship sooner rather than later.
Tacopina was a guest on "Nightline," where he revealed a plan that should have her free by the end of the year. "There are guardianship attorneys ... and we're watching and waiting, and they've assured Wendy by year's end she'll be out of guardianship," he explained. It's already December 10, so that means in less than three weeks, she can regain control of her life.
There's been so much confusion regarding Williams' diagnoses, with mixed opinions on whether she really is okay. But Taopina assured Nightline's Byron Pitts, "You and I can go take a walk downstairs right now ... we'll find 5 people in an hour who will belong more in a guardianship program than Wendy Williams."
He claimed her dementia was induced by alcohol addiction. "There's something called alcohol-induced dementia. That may have been something Wendy was suffering from back in [2023], 24. She was an alcoholic, no question about it," Tacopina said. "Wendy was drunk almost 24 hours a day. She looked like she needed help. She did need help. She needed alcohol rehabilitation."
According to TMZ, Williams underwent a full round of neurological testing in New York City, and the specialist who reviewed her results concluded she does not show signs of the degenerative condition. The findings directly contradict what her court-appointed guardian previously claimed.
Frontotemporal dementia, as experts note, doesn’t improve over time, yet those close to Wendy say she’s shown “remarkable neurological resilience” since getting sober three years ago.
Following the new medical tests, her legal team planned to file paperwork requesting that the guardianship be terminated. If the judge refused, powerhouse attorney Tacopina assured he was ready to demand a jury trial and ask jurors to do it. But the powerhouse attorney sounds confident it won't get to that point.
Meanwhile, Williams has been enjoying tastes of freedom. On a Thursday night, she hit the city with her niece, Alex Finnie. Finnie has been one of her greatest advocates. In photos published to Daily Mail, they were spotted leaving Brooklyn Chop House in downtown Manhattan just before midnight.
A source told the outlet that they were celebrating Finnie's birthday. Williams' outings are restricted and require approval from her legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey. But Morrissey "often allows" them to hang out together, according to a Daily Mail insider.
They hung out again at the Italian restaurant Fresco by Scotto in Manhattan. Finnie shared a video of their dinner lit up with sparklers and a cute sign, and Williams was all smiles, looking great. "Grateful for all that God has done and continues to do in my life. Surrounded by love! Nothing better. Here’s to a new year!" she captioned the post.
Fans loved seeing her celebrate with her aunt, and her comments were filled with positive words like "Happy Birthday Alex and THANK YOU for standing by your Aunt" and "You deserve an award, what an awesome person. HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
Earlier this fall, Wendy made a surprise appearance at New York Fashion Week, her first major public outing in months. “I feel like a zillion dollars!” she told TMZ at the time