Ahead of the release of a two-part documentary detailing the former talk show host’s recent struggles, her family is offering some insight into her current well-being.
“I spoke with her yesterday and I talk to her regularly whenever she reaches out to me,” shared her sister Wanda Finnie in an interview with People published on February 21. “From what I understand, she’s in a wellness-focused, healing environment.”
“She’s emotionally healing,” Wanda continued. “She’s not the same person you’ll see in this film.”
Over the past few years, Wendy, who stepped down from her show in 2022, has faced various personal and health challenges, including substance abuse, lymphedema, and Graves’ disease.
“We’ve all witnessed the images over the past few months—and even years—of what appeared to be a downward spiral for my aunt,” remarked her niece Alex Finnie to People. “Seeing her in that state was shocking and heartbreaking.”
Wendy has been candid about her struggles with addiction, revealing on her show in 2019 that she was residing in a sober living facility. Following her departure from the talk show in 2021—with Sherri Shepherd stepping in as a guest host until its conclusion in the following year—Wendy sought additional professional support by entering a wellness facility.
While Wendy’s family reports that she’s making significant progress, viewers will get an intimate look into the challenges she has faced over the past few years in the upcoming Lifetime documentary “Where is Wendy Williams?” Filmed from August 2022 to April 2023, the documentary delves into her financial hardships and possible neurological concerns.
Despite Wendy’s publicized struggles, her niece Alex, who also serves as an executive producer on the documentary, commended the 59-year-old’s decision to share her story.
“I’m proud of my aunt for taking control of her narrative because my aunt has always been such a public person and has been an open book,” Alex remarked. “We’ve all seen the images over the last few months and even years of what appeared to be a downward spiral for my aunt. So for her to actually put her voice in here and take ownership of what’s happened, where she’s at present day, I think it’s powerful.”
