Former talk show host Wendy Williams, who in 2020 had an estimated net worth of $40 million, claimed she has just $15 to her name during a rare call from her treatment facility to “The Breakfast Club” radio show on Jan. 16.
The day before this shocking assertion, her niece Alex Finnie launched a GoFundMe campaign to help free her from what they call an “unjust” guardianship.
A Surprise Appearance By Wendy
The funds raised through the crowdfunding campaign for Williams will serve multiple critical purposes, all aimed at supporting her journey toward reclaiming her independence while addressing immediate family needs, said Finnie, who is the daughter of Wendy’s sister, Wanda Finnie.
A portion will assist the former radio host in traveling to Florida to visit her loved ones, especially her father, who will celebrate his 94th birthday in February. The remaining funds will be allocated to essential legal expenses, including retaining experienced guardianship counsel, covering court filing fees, and securing expert witnesses to provide medical and psychological evaluations in her favor, according to Wendy and her niece.
Additional costs include legal research, documentation preparation, and consultations with financial advisors to evaluate her best interests. Support services such as counseling or advocacy will also be funded to ensure Williams receives comprehensive assistance during this challenging time. With limited access to the wealth she once earned, this campaign aims to provide Wendy with the resources needed to challenge her guardianship and regain control of her life.
“I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison,” the mother of one told the radio show on Thursday. “I’m in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. There’s something wrong with these people here on this floor.”
The media personality has been under court-ordered guardianship since May 2022, when Wells Fargo froze her accounts claiming she was “incapacitated.” Despite apparently being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, Williams insists she is capable of managing her own affairs.
“I keep the door closed,” Williams described her daily life in the facility that she likens to a luxury-style prison, adding, “I watch TV. I listen to the radio. I watch the window. I sit here, and my life goes by.”
The former media maven called the situation “emotional abuse” and revealed the stark reality of her financial situation.
She said in tears, “I have $15. I have $15. What does that do? My money is in prison.”
Williams even shared that when she wants simple things like makeup or hairbrushes, she has to get permission from someone else, who will send someone to Sephora, one of her favorite stores, to get it for her.
Finnie has stepped in, launching a GoFundMe with a $50,000 goal. The campaign has already raised $24,052 from approximately 1,000 donors since Thursday, with contributions ranging from $200 to $300 from fans rather than celebrities.
“The guardian assigned to her has severed her connections with friends and family, leaving her without the support network she so desperately needs,” the campaign page states.
In June 2024, Williams’ best friend, Regina Schell, said she hadn’t heard from her in over a year, highlighting the isolation Williams faces under the guardianship of Sabrina Morrissey.
The current arrangement has stripped Williams of both financial and personal autonomy.
Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., who previously held power of attorney, had his authority revoked by the court. While he faced accusations of unauthorized spending, he maintained all expenditures were approved by his mother.
Despite the restrictions, Williams was permitted to travel to Miami last month to attend her son’s college graduation, WSB-TV 2 reported. However, her supporters argue she belongs in Florida permanently, surrounded by family support rather than isolated in New York.
“Wendy’s family is passionately advocating for her return to Florida, where she can once again be surrounded by the love and support of those who care about her,” the GoFundMe page reads. “They are suffering emotionally as they witness the toll her isolation is taking on her well-being.”
The campaign organizers — identified as “friend” and Finnie — emphasize that Williams’ family has exhausted their financial resources fighting the guardianship.
“Unfortunately, they have exhausted their financial resources in their fight against this unjust guardianship and are in dire need of assistance to secure legal representation,” the page states. “Legal services can be prohibitively expensive, and without our support, they may struggle to navigate the complexities of the situation.”
“Let’s come together to support Wendy and her family during this critical time!” the page urges. “It is essential that she is not left to suffer in silence in New York while her family is waiting for her return to the warm embrace of Florida, where she truly belongs.”
The fundraising effort continues as Williams’ supporters hope to secure the legal representation needed to challenge the current guardianship arrangement.
For the former talk show host, who once commanded a media empire which was valued at tens of millions of dollars through her many publishing, tv and film ventures, the current situation represents a dramatic reversal of fortune that her supporters say could only be remedied by returning her to Florida and her family’s care.
