Wendy Williams was paid $400K for Lifetime documentary, network claims contrary to her guardian's claim of $82K payment

According to a report by The Sun dated November 26, 2024, Wendy Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, was counter-sued by Lifetime and its parent company, A&E, over claims on the Where is Wendy Williams documentary. Sabrina was also sued by the Create Films production company, its president Mark Ford, and the production company Entertainment One.

In September 2024, Sabrina Morrissey sued Lifetime's parent company, claiming that they allegedly took advantage of a "severely impaired person" and paid Wendy Williams $82,000 for the documentary about her. Sabrina's lawsuit was filed seven months after Williams' documentary premiered in February 2024, and the guardian also filed a restraining order just days before the documentary was released. However, a judge ruled that stopping the documentary from airing would be a restraint of the First Amendment.

In the counterclaim, Entertainment One clarified that they allegedly paid Wendy approximately $400,000 for participating in the documentary and that the payment was made to Wendy's company, The Wendy Experience, Inc.

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"It appears that Morrisey is misusing her position as a guardian"- Wendy Williams' documentary producers mention in counterclaim

Wendy has been living under court-ordered guardianship since May 2022, wherein her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, oversees her health and finances. In February 2023, Wendy's team disclosed that the former presenter had been diagnosed with primary aggressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

The producers of Wendy's docuseries claimed in their counterclaim against her guardian that Sabrina allegedly wanted to stop the documentary from releasing because it showcased a raw and unfiltered insight into Wendy's life after she was placed under court-ordered guardianship.

Alleging that Wendy Williams' guardian was misusing her position, the documentary's producers mentioned in their counterclaim:

"Thus, it appears that Morrisey is misusing her position as a guardian of [Wendy] to silence criticism of her controversial and failed administration of [Wendy's] guardianship."

As per The U.S. Sun, the claim also mentioned that Wendy's documentary displayed how the guardianship aimed to secure the former presenter's interests, which led to Wendy being isolated from her family. The counterclaim stated that Wendy was left "largely alone and unattended in her apartment, exacerbated her self-destructive behavior and mental decline, and failed to prevent her use and/or abuse of alcohol."

According to the same outlet's report on Lifetime's counterclaim against Wendy's guardian, the producers claimed that the former presenter's family members had reportedly seen the documentary before it aired. The producers alleged that Wendy's family members not only approved the documentary's content but also supported its release and gave press interviews to promote the same.

In their counterclaim, Entertainment One alleged that once Wendy Williams' guardian saw the documentary, she realized it would raise doubts about Wendy's treatment and care. The production company said they believe Where is Wendy Williams showcased a "raw, honest, and unfiltered" peek into the former presenter's life after being placed under guardianship. Entertainment One said that the documentary showcased Wendy's authenticity despite her struggling with loss.

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In her lawsuit against the documentary's producers, Wendy's guardian alleged that the former presenter did not have the cognitive ability to consent to the same and that the producers misled her about the documentary's outcome.

Where Is Wendy Williams? is a four-part docuseries that highlights Wendy's career rejuvenation through her new podcast.