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- Wendy Williams denies she's 'cognitively impaired,' says guardianship feels 'like I'm in prison'
Wendy Williams denies she's 'cognitively impaired,' says guardianship feels 'like I'm in prison'
Wendy Williams sobbed on the phone from the New York care facility where she is currently residing, detailing the duress she's been under since entering into a guardianship, in a new interview.
"I am not cognitively impaired, you know what Iβm saying," she said in an interview on iHeartRadio's "The Breakfast Club" Thursday morning, where she was joined by her niece, Alex Finnie. In February 2024, Williams' team announced she'd been diagnosed with both progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
"I feel like Iβm in prison," the 60-year-old admitted on the radio program.Β
WENDY WILLIAMS EMERGES FOR FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR AFTER DISCLOSING DEMENTIA AND APHASIA DIAGNOSIS
"Iβm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s," she continued. "Thereβs something wrong with these people here on this floor."Β
She detailed the extreme supervision she was under, sharing that while she could make outgoing phone calls, people were not allowed to call her.Β
"Where I am⦠you have to get keys to unlock the door to press the elevator to go downstairs, first of all. Second of all, these people here, everybody here is like nursemaids, so to speak," she said, explaining that staff just doles out medicine. Williams admitted she isn't privy to what she's taking. "Excuse me, doctor, can you tell me what this pill is for?"
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"For the last three years, I have been caught up in the system," Williams added, saying that she'd spent her last three birthdays alone. "This is what is called emotional abuse."
The conversation took a turn when Williams expanded on restrictions, starting to sob at the thought of not being able to travel to Miami to celebrate her father's 94th birthday next month. "At 94, the day after that is not promised."
She said through tears, "My life is like f---ed up?"
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In February, Williams' team publicly shared the depths of her health struggles.
"As Wendy's fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves' Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health," a public statement from her team read. Williams had taken several absences from her talk show, "The Wendy Williams Show," beginning in 2017 after fainting on air. During an episode in 2019, she revealed she was living in a sober house.Β
"Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy's ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy's condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions," the statement continued.
"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia andΒ frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life."
Days later, Lifetime aired a documentary called "Where Is Wendy Williams?" which followed the talk-show host after her show had been canceled in pursuit of starting a podcast. In the documentary, she detailed her issues with substance abuse, condemned her guardianship and progressively became "more aggressive" in interactions with others.
In Thursday's interview, Williams confirmed that she had seen the documentary β something her guardian had suggested. Throughout the interview, she balked at the notion she was "cognitively impaired and incapacitated."
"How dare? Do I seem that way? God d--- it," she said.
A representative for Williams did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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- Bears' game-winning field goal drops Packers in NFC playoff seeding, snaps 10-game losing streak
Bears' game-winning field goal drops Packers in NFC playoff seeding, snaps 10-game losing streak
The Chicago Bears werenβt necessarily playing spoiler on Sunday when they took on the Green Bay Packers, but there was still a ton to play for as they wanted to finish the season on a high note.Β
Thatβs exactly what happened thanks to Cairo Santos drilling a 51-yard field goal to beat the Packers, 24-22, snapping Chicagoβs 10-game losing streak to end the season with a 5-12 record.Β
It was also a historic kick made by Santos as the Bears finally defeated their NFC North foe, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Packers.Β
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The game-winning drive came after the Packersβ Brandon McManus drilled a 55-yard field goal to put Green Bay up 22-21 with 54 seconds left to play in the game.Β
Caleb Williams and the Bearsβ offense knew they had one timeout remaining and needed the right yardage to get in range for Santos to walk it off. The drive didnβt start off well as Williams was sacked, but a costly penalty changed everything.Β
A horse collar tackle was called, leading to a 15-yard swing that put Chicago on the 35-yard line instead of back on their own 13. The very next play saw Williams connect with fellow rookie Rome Odunze to put the Bears at midfield with 40 seconds to play.Β
BEARS SHOCK PACKERS WITH PUNT RETURN TRICKERY FOR TOUCHDOWN
Then on 3rd-and-6 from Green Bayβs 46-yard line, Williams found D.J. Moore for 12 yards, but an illegal shift was called to negate the gain that wouldβve given the Bears enough yards for Santos.Β
So on 3rd-and-11 with 15 seconds left and no timeouts remaining, Williams dropped back and found Moore in the middle of the field for an 18-yard pickup. Chicago rushed to the line of scrimmage and spiked the ball with two seconds left, giving Santos the chance to win it.Β
The kick was hit with enough distance and the right trajectory, and the celebrating ensued at Lambeau Field.Β
And while the Packers were already in the playoffs, the loss, coupled with the Washington Commandersβ own game-winning drive, dropped Green Bay to the No. 7 seed in the NFC. They have to go to Philadelphia to face the No. 2 Eagles instead of going to Los Angeles to face the No. 3 Rams.
In the box score, Williams was 21-for-29 for 148 yards with a touchdown pass to Moore, who had nine catches for 86 yards. DβAndre Swift also found the end zone on one of his 20 rushes for 65 yards.
Chicago also had one of the leagueβs best trick plays of the season as Josh Blackwell ran back a 94-yard punt for the gameβs first touchdown after going virtually untouched with the Packers thinking a second Bears punt returner was going to catch it.
For the Packers, Jordan Love initially started this game but was taken out as a precaution with what was called an elbow injury. Malik Willis took over and went 10-of-13 for 136 yards. Josh Jacobs found the end zone for Green Bay again this season as well.
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