Wendy Williams Loses a Close Family Member amid Personal Struggles — Details

A quiet family announcement has fans worried about Wendy Williams once again. As condolences pour in, many are questioning how much more the former talk show star can handle.

Another emotional chapter has quietly unfolded in Wendy Williams' already difficult journey. This time, the heartbreak surfaced without fanfare — and fans immediately sensed something was wrong.

The revelation came not from the TV personality herself, but through her niece, Alex Finnie, who shared a deeply personal Instagram tribute.

The post featured compiled home videos and pictures of Williams's father, offering rare, intimate moments that felt especially poignant.

In the caption, Finnie wrote, "I'll be loving you always ❤️🕊️🙏🏾," before confirming the passing of her grandfather, Thomas D. Williams. She described him as "an author, educator and keeper of historical facts," praising his lasting impact on both family and community.

As the post circulated, reactions poured in across X. One netizen wrote, "Such a tragedy 😭🎭," while another observed, "Oooh she loved her father." A third warned, "This lady is going to spiral again. She's going through a lot all at once."

On Instagram, concern turned protective. One commenter asked, "What's going to happen to Poor Wendy," while another urged, "Check on Wendy 😢." A separate message read, "Sending love and prayers to Wendy and the family! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ We are here for you."

Later in the post, Finnie revealed her grandfather lived 94 years.

The family loss comes as Williams remains under heightened public scrutiny regarding her health and living situation.

As reported in March 2025, a spokesperson told USA Today that the New York Police Department conducted a welfare check at Williams' senior living facility on March 10, after which emergency medical services transported her to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Before her hospitalization, TMZ obtained a video of Williams standing by the window of her facility earlier that morning. She appeared to be talking on the phone, waving as she looked outside.

At times, she waved, pressed her hands against the glass, and raised her arms, seemingly trying to get the attention of the photographer filming from outside.

The TV host's hospitalization led to further medical evaluations. According to TMZ, doctors at Lenox Hill Hospital conducted an independent psychiatric assessment to determine whether she is capable of managing her own affairs.

A psychiatrist determined that Williams remains mentally capable, a finding that could impact the court-ordered guardianship currently controlling her finances and personal decisions.

She reportedly took a "capacity test" consisting of 10 key questions designed to measure cognitive function. Though it took some time, she ultimately answered all correctly, scoring a perfect 10.

Despite being deemed mentally capable, Williams remains under strict guardianship. As reported on February 13, she claimed she was confined in a New York assisted living facility.

According to TMZ, the iconic media personality described her life as feeling like that of a prisoner — not due to any crime, but because of the extreme restrictions she faces under her guardianship.

In the new documentary, "TMZ Presents: Saving Wendy," now streaming on Tubi, details emerge about her highly controlled living situation. Williams resides in an assisted living facility in New York City, confined to a room on the fifth floor.

She is not allowed to leave the floor without staff permission and has only been outside twice in the past month. Both of these instances were for dental appointments.

Access to Wendy Williams is also tightly restricted — she cannot receive phone calls and can only make them, visitors are mostly prohibited, and she has no internet access. She eats in her room, preferring solitude over being surrounded by elderly residents with severe health conditions.

Despite these limitations, those who have spoken to her, including Harvey Levin of TMZ, report that she is coherent, engaged, and back to her former self.

While her legal guardian claims that Williams is permanently disabled due to Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) — a condition that does not improve over time — those who have spoken to her argue that Williams' mental state has significantly improved, especially since achieving sobriety.

Although she struggled with heavy drinking in the past, her recent behavior suggests a return to normalcy — raising questions about the necessity of such extreme guardianship.

In a snippet shared on Facebook from "TMZ Presents: Saving Wendy," which shows the telephonic interview Williams did with Levin, the reporter told her, "It feels like you're screaming for help."

He said this as he watched the former talk show host pace back and forth in front of a huge glass window. "I want my life back. I want my freedom back," pleaded Williams during their conversation.

Due to the constraints on filming, the documentary was recorded from the sidewalk outside her facility, with Williams speaking through the phone from her window. Her situation has left many wondering if she truly needs the level of control imposed upon her.

"She seems very alert! Why are they doing this to her?" questioned a Facebooker, while another echoed, "I don't even understand how this is legal. It's basically being held hostage."

An Instagrammer echoed, "How is this legal?!" while someone else stated, "Horrible situation. Get her out of there." Williams' supporters also demanded her freedom with comments such as, "Free her. This is horrendous" and "FREE WENDY."

In addition to the quick snippet they shared on Facebook, TMZ posted another on TikTok. This one showed a different part of Levin's conversation with Williams.

After the journalist asked her if anyone had even explained why she was placed under guardianship in the first place, Williams disclosed, "No. Not exactly, but you know what? There are some things that I do know for myself [...] and I understand it's about my money, you know what I'm saying?"

Acquiring another perspective from an unidentified woman, Levin learned that after Williams' Wells Fargo bank account got flagged, they found large amounts had been taken out.

The footage then cuts to Williams disclosing details about how her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., had "overstepped his boundaries" with her money, adding, "he was inappropriately using my money without telling me." This is what then led to her account getting frozen by the bank. Williams also mentioned that other people, in addition to her son, were misappropriating her funds.

A statement from Wells Fargo that Levin read out during the interview stipulated that the bank made it clear that they were aware of Williams being a victim of "undue influence and financial exploitation."

Although the TV star revealed how it was her son who had been taking her money, she still dubs him as a good person. However, she also noted, "But at this point, he is a horrible person to me, you know what I'm saying? The way he moves with other people."

Levin went on to cite a specific example of how Hunter Jr. had lavishly spent an abundant amount of his mom's money on renting a boat for his birthday, which he ended up holding the bank responsible for.

A statement from a judge that Levin read out during the segment further backed Williams' reflections about her son. The judge admitted that the court was unconvinced Hunter Jr. would be able to safeguard his mother or her finances. Hunter Jr. has denied ever misusing his mother's finances.

Williams' niece also had the opportunity to speak on the matter and whether or not Williams should be taken care of by her son. "My aunt loves her son very much, but I think that there are other options at this point in terms of who can care for and make sure that his mother, at 60 years old, is taken care of properly," asserted the niece.

On February 13, Good Morning America (GMA) shared footage of another interview Williams did with "Nightline" co-anchor Byron Pitts, which again, was via a phone call. She expressed the same sentiments about feeling imprisoned in the memory unit of her assisted living facility.

"Look, I don't belong here...At all. This is ridiculous," expressed Williams, who vehemently questioned the audacity of the people responsible for diagnosing her with Frontotemporal Dementia, which she denies having as per an affidavit acquired by Levin.

According to ABC News, Williams questioning her diagnosis has prompted her court-appointed guardian to ask the court for a new medical evaluation.

Williams' revelations come around the same time that TMZ and other outlets report that the TV mogul has begun the process of ending her guardianship.

"We found out that Wendy has just signed an affidavit formally asking the judge to terminate the guardianship [...] These are the words in this affidavit, we're told, that she has regained her capacity to function normally," revealed Levin.

Additionally, revisiting the guardian's request for a new medical evaluation, Levin reported that Williams would be evaluated by a doctor chosen by her personal lawyer, who has been working to end her guardianship.

If the judge denies the request to end it, her lawyer plans to ask for a jury trial. The jury will then decide whether Williams is mentally capable of managing her own affairs.