Where Is Wendy Williams? Explained

Country:United States
Num Episodes:4
Language:English
Network:Lifetime

Where Is Wendy Williams? is a 2024 American documentary series. It follows Wendy Williams following the cancellation of her talk show.

It premiered on February 24, 2024, on Lifetime.

Premise

The documentary follows Wendy Williams after the cancellation of her talk show. The series additionally explores Williams suffering mental and physical issues, erratic behavior and declining health, issues with alcohol as well as being placed under a guardianship.[1]

Production

The documentary series was initially pitched to Lifetime as a documentary following Williams launching a podcast, but as production began, the story changed. Nothing was filmed without permission from Williams or her manager.[2] Williams granted the filmmakers unparalleled access into her life, following the cancellation of The Wendy Williams Show, documenting her life from August 2022 to April 2023, when production stopped due to Williams' health.[3] [4] [5] Producers attempted to speak with Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey; however, she declined to speak with them.[6]

Lawsuit

On February 23, 2024, Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, filed a lawsuit against Lifetime's parent company A&E Networks to prevent its release.[7] That same day, the court ruled the documentary could air as planned.[8] [9]

Reception

Critical reception

Joel Keller of Decider stated the series was "hard to watch", writing: "If you are at all interested in what’s been going on in her life in the last few years, or have been following the confusing drama around her care, this is a must watch".[10]

Aramide Tinubu of Variety criticized the series as "unsettling and exploitative", writing: "One thing has never been more certain: the cameras should have stopped rolling in Williams’ life the moment she left her show's set for the last time".[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lifetime to Debut the Raw and Compelling Documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" as a Two-Night Event Debuting February 24 & 25. The Futon Critic. February 2, 2024. February 23, 2024.
  2. Web site: Wendy Williams documentary will still air this weekend after legal guardian files lawsuit against Lifetime’s parent company. CNN. Elizabeth. Wagmeister. February 23, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  3. Web site: Wendy Williams won't be silenced yet. Salon.com. Melanie. McFarland. February 23, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  4. Web site: Wendy Williams Seen for First Time in a Year in Devastating Lifetime Documentary Trailer. The Hollywood Reporter. James. Hibbard. February 2, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  5. Web site: The Biggest Bombshells from Lifetime's Where Is Wendy Williams? Documentary Currently Under Litigation. People. Brianne. Tracy. February 24, 2024. February 25, 2024.
  6. Web site: Inside Wendy Williams' Family's Fight to Free Her from Her Guardianship: 'This System Is Broken' (Exclusive). People. Brianne. Tracy. Janine. Rubenstein. Danielle. Bacher. February 22, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  7. Web site: Wendy Williams Doc ‘Will Air This Weekend as Planned’, Despite Lawsuit to Block It. Rolling Stone. Jon. Blistein. February 23, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  8. Web site: Lifetime's Highly Anticipated Documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" Will Air This Weekend as Planned. The Futon Critic. February 23, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  9. Web site: Lifetime’s Wendy Williams Documentary Can Be Aired As Planned, New York Appeals Court Justice Rules. Deadline Hollywood. Ted. Johnson. February 23, 2024. February 24, 2024.
  10. Web site: Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Where Is Wendy Williams?’ On Lifetime, A Docuseries About The Talk Show Host’s Decline And The Fight Over Her Care. Decider. Joel. Keller. February 25, 2024. February 25, 2024.
  11. Web site: ‘Where Is Wendy Williams?’ Docuseries Is Unsettling and Exploitative: TV Review. Variety. Aramide. Tinubu. February 24, 2024. February 25, 2024.

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