Wendy Williams’ conservatorship battle has taken a new turn after her attorney publicly questioned the medical diagnosis that originally helped place her under court supervision.
During a December 9 appearance on ABC News’ Nightline, her lawyer Joe Tacopina said a new neurological evaluation contradicts the long-standing claim that Williams has frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and progressive aphasia. Those diagnoses were first revealed in 2023 and later cited in court documents tied to her guardianship, per USA Today.
Tacopina said Williams was recently evaluated by Dr. Samuel E. Gandy, a New York City neurologist known for his work in Alzheimer’s research. According to Tacopina, Gandy determined that Williams does not have frontotemporal dementia.
“Wendy Williams does not have frontotemporal dementia,” Tacopina said on the program, stressing that Gandy is “the top” expert in his field and that his assessment should be taken seriously.
Instead, he argued that Williams’ cognitive decline stemmed from years of heavy alcohol use, describing her condition as alcohol-induced dementia — a form of alcohol-related brain damage.
“There’s something called alcohol-induced dementia,” Tacopina said. “That may have been something Wendy was suffering from back in [2023], 24.”
He added, “She was an alcoholic, no question about it,” claiming she spent much of the day intoxicated and needed rehab at the time. Tacopina also clarified that Williams is no longer drinking.
According to The Cleveland Clinic, alcohol-related dementia can develop after prolonged heavy drinking and is associated with direct brain cell damage, structural changes in the brain, and nutritional deficiencies — especially a lack of thiamine (Vitamin B1). In more severe cases, it can progress into Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, or “wet brain,” which causes major memory issues, poor coordination, and cognitive problems. While early sobriety and proper nutrition can improve symptoms, long-term deficits may be permanent in advanced stages.
Tacopina also disputed previous reports claiming Williams’ original diagnoses had been reaffirmed earlier this year.
“I don’t agree with those results because I’ve not seen those results,” he said on Nightline. “We don’t know who the doctor is; we’ve not seen the report.”
Williams’ court-appointed guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, denied any wrongdoing in a statement to the program, saying she “emphatically denies any wrongdoing, mismanagement, or self-dealing,” adding that the court oversees everything done under the guardianship. Legal filings from 2024 described Williams as “cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.”
Still, Williams has appeared publicly several times in recent months, including at New York Fashion Week. Her longtime friend Sunny Hostin told Nightline, “I spoke to her several months ago, and she just sounds like the same Wendy.”
Meanwhile, Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter continues to fight the conservatorship in federal court. His lawsuit argues that the conservatorship violates her civil rights and claims Williams passed a competency evaluation earlier this year, with health professionals finding her alert and oriented during welfare checks.
If you or someone you know is dealing with alcohol addiction, confidential help is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or at samhsa.gov. Alcoholics Anonymous also offers peer support through local meetings listed at aa.org.
