Struggling talk show host Wendy Williams has sustained yet another public relations blow.
Following reports that she has lost access to her own finances and may not be returning to her show, new reports have just emerged that her own friends might have played a role in her dramatic downfall.
Radar Online has obtained new court documents related to the lawsuit that reveal Williams’ friends were the ones who lobbied her financial advisor, Lori Schiller, to get Wells Fargo to cut her off from her own bank accounts.
Word of Williams’ poor health and dire financial straits emerged earlier this week amid a lawsuit with Wells Fargo. Williams claims the bank, working in tandem with Schiller, have been unjustly blocking her from accessing her own money and, as a result, she cannot pay her bills.
“To summarize without divulging too much on the public record, Wells Fargo has strong reason to believe that [Williams] is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,” Wells Fargo wrote in a letter to the court. “[Williams] is an established client of Wells Fargo and notably, 15 years with the particular financial advisor, a 23-year veteran of the financial services industry with an unblemished record.”
“Wells Fargo is relying not only on reports of the financial advisor, who has recently witnessed telltale signs of exploitation, including the petitioner’s own expressed apprehensions but also upon other independent third-parties who know [Williams] well and share these concerns,” the letter further elaborated.
The bank has also reportedly asked the court to appoint a financial conservator to oversee Williams’ finances.
The lawsuit could not have come at a worse time for Williams.
She’s missed the entirety of her talk show’s 13th season due to vague “medical issues.” Now, word has come that Lionsgate, the studio that produces The Wendy Williams Show, has reached a deal to replace her with former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd.
TMZ reports that Lionsgate has finalized a deal with Shepherd, who will take over as permanent host in September. The possibility for Williams to return in the future remains open, though the likelihood looks less and less promising.
Williams stepped back from hosting duties on The Wendy Williams Show in 2019. She was scheduled to return to the show with the debut of a new season in October 2021, though ultimately did not appear due to unspecified medical woes.
Though Williams has given no official comment on the matter, several sources–including those associated with her lawsuit against Wells Fargo–have alleged that the host is suffering from mental deterioration, possibly due to dementia.
fpcinnyc
I only wish the best for her and all of the people she has employed over the years.
BarryM
I agree wholeheartedly.
frapachino
Queerty and many of their commenters know all about being vultures. Be civil even toward those you disagree with or do not like.
Ronbo
THIS! Open discussion and the freedom to ask stupid questions is a valued part of Queerty providing a safe space for the exchange of ideas.
We’ve had a lot of people come here and post hateful name-calling, insults and lies – directed at both the community and the people who post the nonsense. They come for a reason – perhaps for family and perhaps for personal reasons. Instead of attacking, I’d like to see them treated as if they were here to learn about the community.
In the past, we were not hellbent on making enemies of the community… and it helped build a bigger, more supportive community. Yes there is a time and a place for anger; but, let’s not use that anger to turn people away. Some of my best friendships started in conflict and are now much stronger because of our differences.
Essie
I don’t understand how a BANK can decide that you can’t take care of your own damn money!! If Wendy wants to waste her money then let her waste her money. It’s her money not the bank’s money. This is ridiculous. Where is her grown son in all of this? Who is paying her bills? Is someone actually taking care of HER or do they only care about her money?
This is why anyone with money (even a little bit of money) should make sure they have designated someone to be in charge of their welfare and it should never be a freaking bank.
greg_atlanta
Ummmm…. this is why you don’t keep all your $$$ on one place. “Financial advisors” can be shady and may steer you toward decisions for their own benefit. If you’re moderately well off you have enough assets to get treated like a queen at multiple banks.
Riley
Hopefully someone is looking after her and making sure she has the support and care she needs during what is clearly a very difficult time…
Doug
I’m sure there are plenty of other details to all this that aren’t listed here. She’s been open about having Grave’s disease for years, and that means she has a very high risk of dementia as a result of it. Hopefully things will get better for her.
Inspector 57
Hmmmm… I dunno about that supposed letter from Wells Fargo. It doesn’t read very legalese, professional, or even specific. It uses casual and vague phrases: “without divulging too much,” “other independent third parties.” Sounds similar in wording and structure to articles in Queerty and gossip rags in which all the information comes from “sources,” “a close associate of,” “a long-time friend of,” etc.
And would a letter from a defendant to the presiding court even be a matter of public record?
Gay Thomas
Weird how it appears that she has no one that seems to care about her, except greedy vultures
MISTERJETT
i am in no way a fan of Wendy’s, but i do wish her and all of her fans well. we’ll see how it goes.
winemaker
Banks can not legally freeze your accounts on a rumor or whim without credible and legal reasons and the legal reasons being: a legal court order to satisfy a judgement against you, the IRS coming for unpaid back taxes, past due child support or student loan debt. Hearing that the depositor isn’t of sound mind isn’t legal enough. Time for Wendy Williams to get her attorney involved. One way this can be prevented is have a ‘legal power of attorney’ on file with the bank that can intervene in your behalf to prevent instances like this. A legal power of attorney can be a trusted family member, attorney or friend. Being this is wells fargo with all their unscrupulous practices isn’t surprising at all and after all these years why people still do business with these no good thieves is beyond me and I ‘m sure many others. Bottom line when is all over, Wendy Williams needs to tell wells fargo to shove it and close all accounts with these bastards and move her accounts to one of the many other banks that do business differently and there’s many that would like to have her business
curiobi
I do not believe for ONE second that thid bank has Wendy’s best Interests at heart, and I doubt anyone else does either!