Former talk show host Wendy Williams has been declared ‘permanently incapacitated’ due to early-onset dementia, according to court documents filed by her court-appointed guardian, attorney Sabrina Morrissey.

The filings, submitted in a New York court, highlight the toll cognitive impairment has taken on Williams, once celebrated as the unfiltered television personality.

The documents reveal that Williams’ diagnosis includes frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, conditions affecting behaviour, communication, and cognitive functions. Morrissey has requested redactions concerning Williams’ health, family, and finances, citing privacy concerns as her condition progresses.

Williams has remained largely out of the public eye since her health struggles intensified. Lifetime’s documentary Where is Wendy Williams? further brought her struggles into focus, though it incited debate over its portrayal of her life and health.

Fans have taken to social media to reminisce on her talk show and radio days, choosing to celebrate her legend during these heartrending times.

“You can hate on Wendy Williams all you want to but there will never be another woman like her again. She was never too afraid to say it to your face either,” one fan wrote on X.

“We love Wendy Williams. She brought us a lot of light and laughter. It’s important to think of people at their best. It helps their healing and gives them strength.” wrote another.

The court’s language paints a sad reality, with terms like “tragic” and “permanently incapacitated” reflecting both her medical state and the diminishing public hope for her return.