Following the backlash to Lifetime’s controversial documentary, “Where Is Wendy Williams?,” fans were left with even more questions about the former talk show host’s health and agency. With viewers calling the project “exploitative” of Wendy’s dementia, the film’s producers were forced to defend themselves. They claim they were trying to shed light on the complex guardianship system and how it’s impacted Williams and her family. However, one former member of the media personality’s inner circle isn’t buying that excuse.
Williams’ former publicist, Shawn Zanotti, told NBC News she wouldn’t have let Wendy do the doc if she’d known what it was going to be. The film was originally supposed to chronicle her podcast comeback after the cancellation of her talk show. But when producers discovered all the issues surrounding her health and family, they changed the focus.
“She thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career,” Zanotti said. “She would be mortified. There’s no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way.”
Zanotti began working with Wendy in 2021, but told People she hasn’t spoken to her since April 2023 when the host entered a treatment facility. After the two-part film aired, Zanotti was criticized by fans who felt that she wasn’t taking Williams’ alcohol abuse or declining health seriously enough. This led to a series of interviews where she defended herself and called out the movie’s producers.
Producers claim Williams’ guardian and manager, Will Selby, both signed off on the film. And with Zanotti, as well as several of Wendy’s family members in the doc, they presumably had to sign releases. However, with rumors circulating that neither Zanotti or Selby still work with Wendy, we have to wonder if anyone truly has the TV star’s best interests at heart.
If you’ve ever cared for a loved one with dementia, you know that being a caregiver means making a lot of decisions on their behalf. They have to trust the people around them to keep them safe and healthy. What makes Wendy Williams’ situation so heartbreaking is that no one seems to truly know who’s caring for her and has her best interest at heart.
The No. 1 question being lost in all these headlines is: Who is caring for Wendy Williams and is she OK?
Let’s just hope she’s resting in a peaceful place where she can receive treatment away from all this drama, because—from the looks of that documentary—it seems that’s what she needs more than anything right now.