Wendy Williams’ guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has filed a brand new grievance towards A&E Tv Networks, the father or mother firm of Lifetime, claiming the community humiliated and exploited Williams of their docu-series The place Is Wendy Williams? which targeted on her battles with alcohol abuse and her varied well being struggles. Morrissey additional alleged that Williams was compensated a mere $82,000 for her involvement within the two-part sequence that aired in February.
In response to courtroom paperwork obtained by PEOPLE, on Sept. 16, Morrissey filed a lawsuit within the New York Supreme Court docket towards A&E Tv Networks, government producer Mark Ford, and a number of other different events concerned within the docu-series. The swimsuit alleges that they portrayed Williams in a “extremely demeaning and embarrassing” method, regardless of having led the previous speak present host to consider she can be depicted in a “optimistic” gentle.
“As is patently apparent from the very first couple of minutes of the Program itself, W.W.H. was extremely weak and clearly incapable of consenting to being filmed, a lot much less humiliated and exploited,” Morrissey penned within the 75-page grievance, in accordance with Folks.
“When the Guardian found that Defendants’ true intentions had been to painting W.W.H. in a extremely demeaning and embarrassing method, she instantly sought to guard and to protect her dignity. However the defendants fought to maneuver forward… with out a legitimate contract and launched with out the Guardian’s consent,” Morrissey famous.
The brand new lawsuit contends that Williams’ signature allegedly signed on Jan. 25, 2023, was solid, and that there is no such thing as a proof she really signed the contract as a result of she was incapacitated and unable to consent on the time. Moreover, the grievance alleges that Guardian Morrissey was not concerned within the manufacturing or the contract for the TV mission and solely noticed a duplicate months after it was supposedly signed.
In response to the lawsuit, Willams acquired “a paltry” quantity for her participation.
Notably, following the discharge of The place Is Wendy Williams? on Feb. 24 and Feb.25, Morrissey claimed that A&E Tv Networks and its associates “made hundreds of thousands” from the docu-series, whereas Williams allegedly acquired a mere $82,000 for her involvement.
In 2023, Wendy Williams was recognized with major progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Aphasia disrupts language and communication skills, typically following mind accidents or strokes, whereas FTD considerably alters conduct, cognitive perform, and persona.
The lawsuit asserts that government producer Mark Ford and his staff had been conscious of Williams’ important cognitive and bodily impairments however opted to movie her regardless. Morrissey additionally alleges that Ford and his crew turned Williams right into a “laughingstock” and harmed her fame by broadcasting unflattering photos throughout her well being struggles.
“This case arises from the brutally calculated, deliberate actions of highly effective and cravenly opportunistic media corporations working along with a producer to knowingly exploit W.W.H., an acclaimed African-American entertainer who, tragically, suffers from dementia and, because of this, has turn into cognitively impaired, completely disabled, and legally incapacitated,” she added contained in the grievance. “Wanting to sensationalize and revenue from W.W.H.’s cognitive and bodily decline, Defendants took benefit of W.W.H within the cruelest, most obscene manner doable for their very own monetary acquire, in a fashion that really shocks the conscience.”
Morrissey desires all income from the docu-series be directed towards overlaying Williams’ substantial healthcare bills. Moreover, the grievance requests the courtroom to ban A&E from any additional broadcasts, gross sales, or releases of the documentary.
Do you suppose Morrissey is doing the correct factor?