Wendy Williams says ‘I want out!’ during rare public appearance amid ongoing guardianship battle

Williams’ latest plea highlights a years-long fight for independence after she was placed in a guardianship in 2022.

Wendy Williams is publicly renewing her call for freedom from the court-ordered guardianship that has controlled aspects of her life since 2022.

During a rare New York City appearance, the former talk-show host told a paparazzo, “I want out!” as questions surrounding her health, independence and legal status continue.

Williams’ brief public statement comes after years of controversy surrounding her guardianship and medical care. She has repeatedly objected to the arrangement, previously saying she wanted control of the money she earned throughout her career. According to Page Six, the guardianship began in 2022 after Wells Fargo raised concerns about Williams’ ability to manage her affairs. Attorney Sabrina Morrissey was subsequently appointed as her legal guardian.

Williams’ health has remained central to the dispute. In 2024, her representatives disclosed diagnoses of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia following medical testing. However, additional testing in 2025 reportedly led doctors to question or walk back the dementia diagnosis, adding another layer of uncertainty to her legal battle. The guardianship was also the focus of a four-part documentary for Lifetime, for which Morrissey sued after her attempts to block its release failed. Both she and A&E settled, although Williams was paid a “paltry” $82,000 for her appearance.

Last year, she called into “The View” to once again dispute the guardianship, telling hosts, “It’s time for my money and my life to get back to status quo.”

Her former husband, Kevin Hunter, has also sought to challenge the guardianship. In 2025, he filed a $250 million lawsuit alleging that the arrangement had become harmful to Williams, claims that Morrissey’s legal team disputed.

Williams has continued to signal that she wants greater autonomy, despite no confirmation of when her guardianship would end. Her latest public statement has once again drawn attention to the unresolved questions surrounding her guardianship and independence.