The drama surrounding Wendy Williams’ guardianship took a shocking turn this week after her niece, Alex Finnie, was accused of “breaking her out” of her $18,000-per-month assisted living facility in Manhattan. The incident, which was reported to the NYPD by staff at Coterie Lenox Hill, has once again raised concerns over Williams’ legal guardianship and whether she truly has control over her own life.
The Alleged ‘Breakout’ Incident
According to reports, Finnie visited her aunt and took her to an Italian restaurant in NoHo for dinner on Wednesday night. Despite claims that Williams has the right to leave, the facility accused Finnie of “evading staff” and taking Williams without proper authorization. However, conflicting reports indicate that a staff member escorted them to the lobby and even opened their Uber door, casting doubt on the facility’s claims.
Williams herself called the allegations “unbelievable,” stating, “Clearly, they are lying to me saying I can go out and do what I want to do.” Her niece, Finnie, expressed confusion over the situation, adding, “These people are going to plead their case [regarding what happened]. I don’t hear.” (This is a direct quote.)
What Role Does Conservatorship Play?
At the heart of this controversy is Wendy Williams’ court-ordered conservatorship, which has dictated her personal and financial affairs since 2022. A conservatorship is a legal arrangement where an appointed guardian manages the affairs of an individual deemed incapable of doing so themselves. While these arrangements are often put in place to protect individuals, they have also been criticized for restricting personal freedoms.
Williams was placed under conservatorship following her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, a degenerative brain disorder affecting behavior and cognitive abilities. Her guardian, Sabrina Morrisey, has been managing her care, leading to growing concerns about Williams’ autonomy.
High-Profile Celebrity Conservatorships
Williams’ situation echoes other high-profile conservatorship cases, where celebrities have fought legal battles to regain control of their lives:
Currently Under Conservatorship:
| Celebrity | Reason for Conservatorship |
|---|---|
| Wendy Williams | Cognitive decline due to frontotemporal dementia |
| Bam Margera | Struggles with substance abuse |
Celebrities Who Recently Fought to End Their Conservatorship:
| Celebrity | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Britney Spears | Freed from 13-year conservatorship in 2021 |
| Amanda Bynes | Conservatorship terminated in 2022 |
Timeline of Wendy Williams’ Health Issues
| Year | Takes an extended hiatus from The Wendy Williams Show |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Faints on live TV due to dehydration |
| 2018 | Diagnosed with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism |
| 2019 | Diagnosed with lymphoedema, causing severe swelling |
| 2020 | Diagnosed with Lymphedema, causing severe swelling |
| 2021 | Show indefinitely delayed due to “serious health issues” |
| 2022 | Placed under court-ordered guardianship amid cognitive decline |
| 2023 | Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia |
| 2025 | Assisted living controversy emerges over restricted movements |
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What’s Next for Wendy Williams?
The conflicting reports surrounding Wendy Williams’s ability to leave her assisted living facility have only added fuel to the debate over her guardianship. If she is mentally sound, as she claims, should she still be under legal guardianship? Or is her conservatorship necessary for her well-being?
Her family and fans remain divided. While some argue that her conservatorship protects her from potential financial and personal exploitation, others believe it is unnecessarily restrictive. Williams’ upcoming appearance on The View may provide more insight into her current situation and whether she plans to challenge her legal arrangement.
As more conservatorship cases come to light, Williams’s story highlights the ongoing debate about balancing protection with personal freedom. Whether this latest controversy will lead to legal changes remains to be seen.
Wendy Williams is set to appear on “The View” this Friday, March 14th, via phone interview ¹ ² ³. She’ll be joined by Ginalisa Monterroso, the founder and president of Connect Care Advisory Group. This will mark one of Williams’ first major TV appearances since her health issues and guardianship battles ².
Is this serendipity or a carefully orchestrated public relations move?
[1] People Magazine: “Wendy Williams to Appear on The View Amid Conservatorship Battle”
[2] Page Six: “Wendy Williams to make first TV appearance in months on ‘The View’”
[3] Just Jared: “Wendy Williams Set to Appear on ‘The View’ This Week!”
WBLS, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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