A TV legend is celebrating another year—but with one heartfelt wish.
On Thursday, July 18, Wendy Williams turned 61. And while the iconic TV and radio host has built a powerhouse career over four decades, she says there’s only one thing she wants for her birthday: freedom from her court-ordered guardianship.
Williams has been out and about in the days leading up to her birthday. On Tuesday, July 15, TMZ spotted her at Delmonico’s in New York City, dining with two attorneys and her longtime friend and former executive producer Suzanne Bass. When asked what she was wishing for this year, she didn’t hesitate: “Out of guardianship.”
Placed under conservatorship in 2022 due to ongoing health issues, Williams revealed in 2024 that she’s been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. She’s reportedly been pushing for her release from the arrangement for years.
Back in February, she was said to be living on the fifth floor of an assisted living facility in NYC and shared she’d only been outside twice in a month—for dentist visits. She described feeling isolated and depressed. Then in March, reports surfaced that she scored a “10 out of 10” on a cognitive capacity test, signaling strong mental clarity despite her diagnosis.
Other stars who’ve been placed under guardianship or conservatorship include Amanda Bynes, who was freed from her nine-year conservatorship in March 2022, and of course, Britney Spears—whose 13-year conservatorship famously ended in November 2021 after the explosive Free Britney movement brought worldwide attention to her case.
Despite her own situation, Wendy Williams appeared to be in good spirits during her birthday dinner. Dressed in a festive black outfit and carrying a Chanel bag, she smiled for cameras. When asked what she and her group planned to talk about over dinner, Wendy quipped with her signature wit: “What to eat!”
