I love vodka, and the problem is with Wanda,
Um, she's my sister.
[Will] You love Wanda, though.
I love Wanda, but she hates that I love alcohol.
You understand?
I've always wanted the best for my mom.
No matter how many times somebody may fall down,
you gotta lift 'em back up.
My son, when I die, everything is for him.
[crying] I've got so much money. I want it for my son.
[crying]
I have no money.
And I'm gonna tell you something.
If it happens to me, it could happen to you.
[Shawn] So, we're confirmed for 3:00.
[Wendy] You know they're gonna say yes. Back on TV.
[Alex] She's being pushed to do too much,
and I'm concerned about her health.
[Shawn] She knows her limits. She knows to stop.
-Okay. Right here. -[Wendy, singsongy] I'm excited.
The stupid little meeting they had was a horrible decision.
Since L.A., she's been a completely different person.
What the [bleep] is this?
[Will] So disheveled and adamant about drinking.
I'm... I'm afraid that she could die.
♪
Wendy, look who flew into New York City just to see you.
Hi!
Let me move this bag out the way.
-[laughs] -Oh, my God!
[laughs, muffled] I love you.
[Will] It's been a while since you've seen each other, right?
-Thank you. -I love you.
-Thank you. -I love you so much.
Thank you.
Mark. Blac Chyna, OTF, take one.
-Okay, we're rolling. Okay. -[crew] And quiet.
So, what's it like to be a Hot Topic of Wendy's?
Chyna comes from the world of the pole.
[audience laughter]
[Blac Chyna] You know, before, like, we had our thing,
but this is before we met.
So, then when I came in, I did her show,
and that was on my first big show,
which was... I was, like, super nervous.
Instantly, like, when I sat on the couch, we instantly clicked.
I have to call you Angela. Can I call you Angela?
-Yes, please. -Yeah.
Because, you know, all of a sudden, it's not Blac Chyna.
It's a young woman trying to explain her... herself.
-Thank you. -[applause]
-Do you mind? You know? -Yeah, no, I love that.
-Yeah. -Thank you.
So, like, right after the show, like, we went, and we got food.
Like, we hung out, we ordered a bunch of food. We love food.
And then ever since then, like, we just been cool.
Whenever she comes to L.A., she'll...
she'll come to the house, see the babies.
Um, we did Pride together, but... yeah.
-I'm-a let y'all catch up. -All right.
And I'm-a step out of here.
By the way...
Mm-hmm.
-Let me help you? -Yeah.
Yup!
So, what did... So, what do they say?
-Is it... Are you in pain? -Non-cure.
-Are you in pain, though? -Nope.
-No pain at all? -Yep, I've got both feet.
And by the way, I wear two makeups.
Mm-hmm.
And real makeup.
Still beautiful.
Right, um, concerned, yes.
And that's what I had to, like, really lay eyes on her
and really see how she's doing and, like, let her know
and feel, like, my love, you know?
That's always been, like, our thing.
-It's good to see you. -It's good to see you too.
We have to see each other just to give each other
like, that energy, that good energy.
Is this your real hair?
I cut off all my hair. I shaved my hair off.
-I don't even need it. -[laughs]
I was like... [imitates buzzing]
Everybody's like, "Yo, are you okay?"
I'm like, "I'm okay. Are you okay? Like, what?"
I hate when somebody says, "Are you going through something?"
"Well, and if I am, are you gonna help me?" [laughs]
I, like, recently been changing my life
since, you know, like, we last spoke.
You've always been, like, honest with me
and, like, put me in my place.
-Yeah. -You know what I mean?
In, like, the most motherly, kind way.
That's why I love you so much.
'Cause even when I was going through my darkest times,
like, you never used that against me.
You know what I mean? And that's how you know that the love
is, like, genuine... -Yeah.
...and it's always gon' be there.
You know, and I'm-a always be it for you, like, straight up.
You could call my phone whenever.
I'm so serious.
And I think I'm-a be back and forth from New York,
so I'm-a be coming to see you more.
Well, my real name is Wendy Hunter.
Hunter.
-Yup! -Mm-hmm.
And I'm divorced.
Yes.
He's got no money.
Yeah.
I love you.
So do I.
-Yeah. -Thank you.
[grunts]
It's gonna be good. Everything is gonna be good.
I know. It's gonna be great.
It's gonna be great.
♪
[horns honking in distance]
[producer] So, when was the last time you were in Miami?
It's been a while, right?
July, it'll make a year.
♪♪
When I was 27,
My mother and father, Shirley and Thomas...
Those are their names. Shirley.
When will you ever find somebody named Shirley? Never.
Shirley and Thomas in Jersey called,
and they said, "We love summer.
We hate winter. It's cold."
I was doing radio at that time, and I said, "Go to Miami.
This is what I have, and not a penny more."
-When I was 27. -Wow.
And wait until you see this delicious, gorgeous apartment.
Mmm.
I care for my family a lot, you know?
I care for my family a lot.
Yes, but Kevin hates that I care for liquor.
He's very...
[cries]
...very important to me.
[horns honking in distance]
♪
[knock on door]
Uh, you have... your car is coming at, uh,
I believe, 2:30, 2:45.
♪
Hey, Wendy, can we come in?
-[Wendy, in distance] Yes. -Okay.
Wendy, you all right? You mad with me today?
-What? -Are you mad with me today?
-No. -Okay, good.
I was like, today's a great day. You're going to Miami.
You get out of the cold. Get out of New York.
[Wendy] Get out of this disgusting apartment.
[Keesha] Yes, get out of this apartment.
It'll be sunshine and warm. You see your family.
-How's it going? -Hi. How you doing?
-You need help? -This. [sighs]
Thank you. I am exhausted.
This visit to Florida, I was hoping to really get back
close with my mom and try to come to a solution
to the issues she's been facing lately.
I feel like I can be a huge part in her healing better
and becoming a stronger person.
I feel like her being in Florida is the first step to that
because it worked originally.
It could work again if she lets it.
[Wendy, whispering] Oh, God.
Yeah.
-Thank you. -Mm-hmm.
[Travis] The outcome that we want from this is her
getting healthy and better and be down here with family,
and... and that's our whole thing.
We just want her to come down here and get better.
-[Will] Are we ready? -I'm ready.
[Will] Let's go. Let's do it.
[roaring]
♪
[Will] I was a little nervous about today, to be honest.
But we made it.
She asked for a drink on the plane.
I had to go to the lady,
and I told her to just put apple juice in there.
One, two, three.
[Will] Tell her it's apple-flavored scotch.
♪♪
[Will] Wendy, give me five minutes.
-I'm gonna go get the rooms. -Okay.
♪
What's this?
Ah, look. They did it for me already.
Our rooms are perfect. No liquor.
At the end of the day, I just hope that she could understand
that she has something to live for.
You know, you have a child that, you know,
still loves his mother and wants his mother in his life.
No alcohol at all should be sent to this room.
-I don't care who calls. -[man] Yes.
If the president calls, we ran out.
No alcohol for this room, please.
[man] Yes, sir.
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
So, I'm hoping she could see that.
I'm hoping that the love that she gets from them
can make her wanna do something different.
-We're ready to go? -Yes.
-[cellphone chimes] -Perfect.
♪
Yeah.
-I got it. -Okay.
♪
-So, you ready? -Yes.
And I think, uh, Kevin and Travis are on their way.
They'll be here in five minutes.
-Okay. -Once they get here,
I'll step out and let you guys, you know, have a family moment.
Okay.
So, last time you was here with your family, what happened?
I'd rather not talk about it.
[inhales sharply]
[producer] In the fall of 2021,
why did your mom come to Florida?
Um, my mom came to Florida because we felt as though that
her being close to the family would be a huge help.
And from just taking her to appointments
and things like that, I was able to really learn more
about things going on with my mother internally.
They basically said that because she was drinking so much,
um, it was starting to affect her headspace and her brain.
So, I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia.
Yeah.
♪♪
Do you want a lot in the middle or a little?
Ah, not too much.
[Kevin] When she was staying in Miami,
I helped her heal by one, eliminating all alcohol.
It's good.
Mmm.
Now I'll make some more.
Good job. Thanks.
-I do what I can. -The vegan ice cream.
Try something different, so don't hate me.
Mmm.
Keeping her occupied with just whether it's going to the beach,
working out, which is something that she didn't used to do,
what she does now,
she was able to gain 20, 30 pounds while she was down here.
So, what did you have to eat?
-Oh, today? -Yeah.
Um, well, I started out with a smoothie.
Not like Kevin's.
[Alex] She was doing better.
Her son was at the helm in terms of directing
what was going on with his mother.
The decision to bring her to Florida
was between us and the show. It was a group decision.
The decision to keep her in Florida extended
was a family decision,
and that's where the show and the family
started to disagree, and the financial advisor,
when they saw that she was down here for too long,
and our priority wasn't just to dust her up
and then put her back on stage.
It was to actually focus
on long-term recovery that they started fighting us.
I said, no, she's not coming back up
because she needs to get better.
I made sure that business was always on the back burner
and that, you know, health was the number one priority.
She did not go back up to New York
until she was ordered by the court, until April of 2022.
♪
The reality is, when she went back to New York,
she needed more extensive healing done,
and I feel like her being down here with family
was the best situation for her
because she wasn't able to self-sabotage.
If there should ever be someone who should help her manage that,
it should be the ones around her,
her loved ones, and her family.
♪
Yeah. Kevin's late. Travis is late.
I don't know what they're doing.
♪♪
You know, these young kids, they don't value time.
You think he's even gonna make it?
Okay. All right.
We don't have to talk about it. I'm just...
I really want you guys to have a good relationship.
Yeah.
[sighs]
Right?
I don't wanna cry. I don't wanna cry.
Got to get 'em to New York more.
Look who it is.
What's up, brother?
How are you doing? You can sit here.
-I'm-a step off. How you doing? -How you doing?
Hi. You look great.
[Kevin] So do you.
It's good to see you.
I see you, too.
[Wendy] You guys are so late.
We've already eaten our food-- Hi.
It's good to see you.
See you, too.
Yeah, no, I was late 'cause I was at school, and--
I know. I know. How'd you do?
Oh, I did good.
-Good. -Yeah. Um...
Just taking my time with things, you know?
Good. Good.
-How are you doing, though? -Good.
That's good.
I think--I think we ate here before.
-Didn't we come here before? -Yes.
-We came here, like-- -That's what I was telling--
That's what I was telling Will, that we've eaten here before.
Yeah. I think I was younger, though, when we came.
-Yes, we've eaten here before. -I was younger when I came.
Damn.
Are you still comfortable with podcasts?
-Yeah. -Okay.
Do you still wanna do your podcast?
Yes. This is part of the podcast.
Well, where do you wanna do it?
We're doing it now, and we've done it often.
It's making money for me and Will.
-All right. -[clears throat]
She looked confused, and she looked skinny,
like she needs a break, you know?
I think she looks like she needs a break.
I'm gonna be doing such fun things on my new TV show.
Really?
[ Wendy] I've got a lot of expensive stuff
that I wanna give away.
The person will come up. Give me the cash.
-There you go. -Okay.
We're gonna be doing things like that... slowly, slowly.
But the first thing I'm gonna do, as I told you,
take off the wig.
-Okay. -And I'm gonna have, um...
you know, I don't wanna just write it
because it will get off. You know what I'm saying?
So, I have, like, a paint thing. Yeah, just to paint.
-Okay. -All right?
How much does it cost now? [chuckles]
Right.
And I want cash. Here's your wig.
Yeah.
It's clear my aunt needs help, and the biggest concern is
the people around her taking advantage of the situation.
She's running around with people who are constantly putting it
in her head that things that are not in her best interest
are in her best interest because it's in theirs, so...
This is a great...
[voice breaking] This is a great day.
Why are you crying?
It's a great day.
It is.
♪♪
-[motor whirring] -[horn honks]
Good. I slept well.
-Hello! -Hi.
[giggles] Welcome!
Good to see you.
I love you. You look cozy.
-How was the flight? -Good.
-Gorgeous room. -Yeah, it is.
Yeah, and lots of TV.
-Lots of TV. -Mm-hmm.
-So, um... -September.
What about September?
[singsongy] I go back on TV.
♪♪
Mort and Ira--
I've known them from The Wendy Williams Show.
So, you've been saying this for, like, a while, that
September, September, September.
Well, the thing is that when-- Williams is Black,
I was born as being Black.
But when I get back on TV, it's Wendy Hunter.
Okay. So, you want to say Wendy Hunter?
-Yes! -Okay.
I was told the first time of my aunt's diagnosis
in fall of 2022.
Family. Yeah, through family.
All I know is that it was, um, dementia. That's all I know.
You look back at little things, and it's a slow roll, right?
It's little things like,
"When's your birthday again?" You know?
"What's his name again?"
-Hey. -Yeah.
But after seeing my aunt and really spending time
with her in a state where she's in right now,
I quickly realized that things were just not...
they're not normal.
It's heartbreaking. [sighs]
You know?
So, now you're saying September is when you're gonna be,
like, going back, going back?
-According to-- -Yeah, to my apartment.
No, you're saying that-- you said the show.
The show works.
-Okay, I-- -What do--what do you mean?
Because you just said September. You're going back in September.
Mort and Ira.
-Yep. -Okay.
Mm-hmm. And when I get back on TV...
boom.
[singsongy] The winner! Mort and Ira know.
And... do you remember what Mort and Ira said to you
about you have to pass certain checkpoints
-with your bill of health? -Yes.
But health is a continuous journey.
It's not like you-- you pick it up like a dumbbell.
-I know. -Health is not just something
-that you just... -[clears throat]
...skate in, and you skate out, and "I'll get to it later."
-I know. -No one wants to see you win
more than the people that love you.
You can do whatever it is you wanna do.
Mm-hmm.
So long as you're healthy enough to do it.
I'm healthy. You keep saying the same thing.
I don't know what type of niece I would be
if I didn't tap in and really be honest with you.
Mm-hmm.
You can be fake with the rest of the world,
but don't be fake with the people you love.
And nobody knows that more than you.
Mm-hmm.
You've built a career off of being real.
Mm-hmm.
So, I'm-a be real with you.
Of course you are.
Can I turn the TV up, please?
There are people in her life that are gonna be real with her,
and I just don't know if at this point,
if my aunt is really ready to receive that.
She's going, "I'm great, I'm good, I'm good, I'm good,"
but I see certain things that just are not adding up.
Well, can you move so I can watch TV?
Can you guys go so I can watch TV?
And you can go over there and watch TV. How about that?
♪
It does bring me to tears sometimes
when she does check out and not wanna take
the love and the care and concern that's coming her way.
Yeah, it does. It does make me upset.
Okay.
Okay. We could turn TV on.
Okay.
[Wendy] TV, please. Where is it?
♪
[knock on door]
-[Mr. Williams] Ah! -[Wendy] Daddy!
Baby! Hey! Oh! My gosh.
-[chuckles] -So good to see you again, Dad.
It's good to see you, baby.
[crew] "A" and "B" cameras rolling
on Mr. Williams interview, take one.
[producer] When was the last time you saw Wendy?
Uh...it was last...early fall.
-Can't believe that you're here. -You look great, Dad.
Fill me in on everything.
I just love my daughter.
Uh, the feelings are... [chuckles] familial.
I come in with more trips down memory lane.
Take a look at this.
Oh, boy.
[Wendy] Wow.
I remember those early days, Wendy,
when you started off on that microphone.
You were known as the golden girl on the radio there.
My grandparents collected everything.
Legitimately, you and Nana have photos everywhere.
And my aunt obviously loves her dad, my grandfather, dearly,
and I think going through those memories
was really good for her.
Do you remember, Daddy, when I was six years old, I said...
-♪ I want radio, radio, radio ♪ -Yes.
-Remember? -Yes. Yes.
These three words you said long ago. I'll show them.
Mm-hmm.
[laughs]
-I certainly have. -Yes. Yes, you have.
This is something that I wish
we could have more of-- her being around family.
I could spend all day going through these albums.
Is it true that Nana's favorite place
that she visited was Hong Kong?
-Italy. -Italy was her favorite?
-Italy. -Okay.
We were there three different times.
[cries] I miss Shirley.
Oh.
Yes. Well, so do I.
But we talk.
It's a one-way conversation, but the feeling is there, Wendy.
The feeling is there.
[sobs]
[crying]
Yes.
She's in a better place.
There's a whole lot of craziness going on down here.
[chuckles]
Yeah, that's for sure.
[Alex] When it's come to my aunt's dementia,
there's three things that didn't help--her divorce,
the pandemic, and then losing my grandmother.
-Daddy, you know... -Yes.
-...Wednesday. -Yeah?
I'll be back on TV.
Oh, wait, today is Wednesday. You're talking about next--
No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no.
The girl is still ha-- I mean... it's not working.
Uh-huh.
So, I have to wait until that for it to happen.
-All right. Okay. -Mm-hmm.
Patience is a virtue. You can wait.
Wait.
Have the patience of a cobra.
[producer] Did you tell the rest of your family,
-like your grandfather and... -Yeah.
-...about the dementia? -Absolutely.
-Just wait. -The thing is--
The thing is, is that, right.
She doesn't have a mask on, but everybody has masks.
Yeah.
And then some people don't have masks.
-Yeah, yeah. -But four people keep masks.
-Yeah. -Yeah.
Yeah. Okay.
All right.
I'm sure you'll do well.
-Mm-hmm. -I don't doubt it.
Daddy, the first thing I'm gonna do is take off my wig.
[laughs] Good.
And I want all the girls,
and if they're gay, the guys, take off their wig.
-[Mr. Williams laughing] -Yep.
And put it back on.
And I have a long one. I don't want it anymore.
-So... [hums] -Oh.
[singsongy] Who wants this? It'll cost you money.
-Yeah. Yeah. -Mm-hmm.
Yeah. All right.
Yeah.
♪
[Alex] It affects me a lot. Um...
[voice breaking] I think that's always gonna be, like, a...
like, a thing that I will always
have in the back of my head with my aunt, you know?
[sniffles]
How is she truly doing, you know?
I just want her to be happy, and I want her to be healthy,
and I want her to be here.
You, Tommy, and Wanda.
-Mm-hmm. -Tommy's the baby.
-There you are. -And I hate what I'm wearing.
And there's Wanda. Wanda Woo-Woo.
Those were the days.
Mm.
Those were the days, my friend.
Yeah.
And here we are.
Wendy's gonna sit on the end?
She's gonna sit there.
And so I guess I'm gonna be sitting right next--
right next to her.
[producer] How was it growing up with Wendy?
-Great. Best of friends. -Yeah?
Best of friends all the time.
[producer] Are you nervous about seeing Wendy right now?
No, not at all. I'm excited.
Where's my Manhattan that I had? Does anybody know?
You don't need another one, man.
You sipped it enough.
-Now, please, don't stay on-- -I don't need the trauma, man.
-Look, the-- -Some other time. Not tonight.
You're right.
Dad!
-Hi, baby. -But wait.
I wanna sit next to Dad.
Get in that way, and then that way you can sit
-right in the pocket. -No, you have to get out.
-Let her slide over. -No, just get out.
And you're gonna slide down, all the way down? All right.
-You have to get out. -Have a good ride.
-Okay. No problem. -Because of my feet.
I am moving. I got you, I got you.
-Hey, look, look. -Hold on to this.
-Look, look, look. -Hold on to this.
Hold on to this. Okay, perfect.
Yeah. Yeah.
I didn't believe she did. I wasn't aware of that.
-Hi, Dad. -I'm not gonna speak on anything
that I don't see or that I don't know factually.
-You guys enjoy dinner. -Enjoy your dinner.
Come close.
So, Kevin, I'm so glad you're here.
Really. Really.
Yes.
I know you are. I know you are.
I couldn't wait to see you, Wendy.
I know Wendy. I know my Wendy. You know, she needs to heal.
That's what needs to happen 'cause she's--
she's not good right now.
[Mr. Williams] Where's the waiter? Garçon?
Hi.
-Oh! They're here. -Hey!
What's going on there, brother man?
-Hey! -Hey, hey.
-All right. -[laughs]
-Good to see you. -How you doing?
When she was staying here with me,
I always tried to give her an environment
where she could still always be improving
and not have to relapse or, um,
not surrounding her with things that might make it worse.
-By the way, Kevin... -Oh.
-I got this for you. -Oh, what is this?
Expensive.
-A Dior shirt? -Yes, Kev.
-Okay. -Thank you. Appreciate it.
-Yep! -That's nice.
-Thank you. -[Mr. Williams] What is it?
-Dior, darling. -Oh.
And I have Dior on my feet. And that one there.
Everyone saw me in this, though, already. This is old.
-You don't wanna wear that? -No, no, I'm-a take it, but...
-[laughs] -All right, then--then give it--
Thank you. Appreciate it.
I love you, too.
[server] All right.
♪
Here's your food, ma'am. You got two General D's.
and the two caviar-- they're coming.
Who ordered that? Wait, hold on, hold on.
Who ordered that?
Yes. I'm keeping the same...
-Who--who's this one for? -No more black.
Put it--you can put it right there.
-I'll... I'll take it. -Okay.
I want one.
-Yes. -Make it a Coca-Cola.
-Sorry? -Coca-Cola.
Coke? Okay.
[Kevin] Over these past four years, my mom has been
in and out of the hospital a lot for alcohol-related reasons.
You know, I've been in this situation with her,
like, numerous times, where she gets access to alcohol again
or, you know, being able to do what she wants again.
I just feel like my mom needs help.
Promise you. It won't.
Wendy's strong in her stance. I'm strong in my stance,
but my stance is also a protector.
I'm also trying to make sure she's all right,
because my father and my parents have definitely
instilled, you know, "Take care of your sisters."
So, I try to handle them with kid gloves,
but Wendy's not a kid, and she's tough.
So, you know, um,
it's... it's a little difficult.
Exactly.
So, guys, we're gonna wrap up,
and you guys can stay here without the cameras.
-We're just gonna pack it up. -Okay. Thank you.
By the way, tomorrow we're all going on a boat, okay?
[Tommy] Okay.
-With podcast the whole way. -Nice.
-Yes, perfect. -Nice.
[Travis] Thank you.
♪
[birds chirping]
[horns honking]
[Kevin] I feel like every time my mom comes down here,
it's always a concern of how long she's gonna stay down here
and how soon she's gonna go back to New York
and her regular habits.
And away we go.
Unhealthy eating, drinking.
As long as she has people around who are "yes" people,
I know that she's not getting the help that she needs
or getting better.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
I don't do that. I can't do that.
Make it closer. Pull! Pull! Pull!
No! Pull more!
But this... this is in the way.
[man] The floatie's there.
-Wendy, I'm-a hold you. -One...
[both] ...two, three.
-Yes! -Good.
Oh, my God.
-[panting] Oh, God. -You got it.
-That was a lot, right? -Yes.
-We did it. [laughs] -Oh, God.
♪♪
Now, what is it that you would like to have,
-that you intend to get one day? -I've already told you.
-Tell me again.
I wanna be back on TV.
Yeah, I know that. Any objects? I'm talking about objects today.
-No. -Uh-huh.
Hmm.
-I found the new apartment. -You found the new--
-I found the new apartment. -Yes.
-It's a flat floor for my feet. -First floor, yeah.
You're gonna have space enough
to do some artwork that you might--
No, I'm not doing artwork, Dad. I've done it a thousand times.
-I'm not doing it again. -Okay.
Nope.
I've done hobbies. I don't wanna do them anymore.
[Kevin] I still see glimpses of my mom very often.
Like, she still has a chance to live a good and healthy life,
but she needs to want to live that.
But I feel like if you don't slow her down,
she's not gonna slow down for anybody.
Live in Miami?
Well, I mean, you know, I think that she's just...
right now she's weak and vulnerable,
and she needs to be around people
who aren't gonna take advantage of that.
[Kevin] I think that my mother
should have family surrounding her.
I've talked to her a lot about her staying in Florida
and how much it would benefit her
where she can't harm herself.
When she's in New York, I think in the back of her mind,
she knows she would be able to still drink up there
and do things that she shouldn't.
I feel like my mom should never be by herself or alone.
♪♪
[producer] It was good seeing Kevin.
-Yes. -He did voice some concerns.
-Yes. -He wanted to be with--
be with you more, you know?
-Go next, please. -Okay. Go next.
How has it been having us in your home
for the past few months?
-Fine. -Just fine?
Yes. Because no one's here.
[producer] Right.
So, I like people here. I'm very...
♪
Yes.
♪
Sound speed.
Ready.
[producer] Wendy?
-[Wendy] Yes? -Can I come in?
[Wendy] Yeah.
Looks different.
-I'm moving. -I know.
-Obviously. -When are you moving?
-Today. -Today?
Not today.
-Oh, okay. -Okay.
What'd you have for breakfast? Did you eat today?
[Wendy] Yes. Look at that.
-[producer] A coffee? -There's more than coffee.
[producer] Oh. So, you had a mimosa this morning?
That's a big mimosa, Wendy.
[Wendy] Relax.
[producer] So, were you excited to see Kevin?
[sighs] Hmm.
Yes.
[producer] You were down there in Florida before,
a couple years ago,
and you stayed with him for a while.
Mm-hmm.
-[producer] Did you like that? -Correct.
[producer] You were, like, healing, you know?
It was good to be away from things.
-No healing. -Not healing like physical.
Like, healing from the heart?
-Yes. -Yeah.
Do you think that that-- if you were with him again,
that would help you heal or...
Mm-hmm.
[crying]
[continues crying]
-No! -Okay. I'll stay here.
[Wendy, crying] I miss my family.
[sobbing]
[Will] What's going on?
-[Wendy continues crying] -[Will] What happened?
[Wendy continues crying]
[exhales deeply, sniffles]
[Will] We can't keep going on like this.
This is just not working out.
[sobbing]
She can't do it by herself.
[crying]
All right, you gonna get you something to eat,
take a moment, and then, um,
we'll talk in about an hour or so.
All right. Go to sleep. Relax.
♪♪
[producer] She's drunk?
Unfortunately.
I think that they just need to have somebody here 24/7.
That's really the only option.
[female producer] This is the third time for sure
that we've come to do the interview,
and she's... can't do it 'cause she's--
I've already told Michael we're gonna take a different approach.
[female producer] I feel like you, Will,
now are, like, accepting, really seeing
that this is a serious-- it's not even about planning--
I never said it wasn't serious. I always felt it was serious.
[male producer] That's true. He didn't--
It just wasn't... It just wasn't so consistent.
That's the difference.
[male producer] And it got worse when she got back from L.A.
-Yeah. -[female producer] Definitely.
That whole L.A. trip, she stumbled,
and she can't figure it out, you know?
And it's--it's hard for someone who's addicted to something
to figure it out on their own.
-[female producer] Yeah. -So, just...
We're just gonna have to rectify it and fix it. That's it.
[female producer] How are you gonna do that?
Can you do it? I mean, can you really do it on your own?
I think we can do it. Me, the guardianship,
whoever else is gonna be involved, her family.
We're gonna have to all come together and figure it out.
♪♪
[Will] Yesterday, I went to the apartment around 6:00.
I knocked on the door. Wendy did respond to me.
She did tell me that, you know, give her a second.
I gave her a couple minutes.
She still didn't come to the door,
so I eventually just pushed the door in, and I went in,
and she was hiding in the bathroom.
I found a big bottle of... like a party bottle,
in her bed that was empty.
Whether she's here or not, I just don't think she cares.
She's locked herself in her apartment,
surrounded herself with alcohol,
and decided, "This is going to be my fate."
♪
[horns honking]
♪♪
Um, this morning was kind of basically the same thing
that I've been dealing with this week.
I've been coordinating with the guardianship,
just trying to press the button on this
and kind of get some type of result,
whereas I wanted Wendy to get out of her apartment,
I wanted Wendy to go to some type of facility
where she can get some help, and today was the day.
♪
The guardianship stepped in today.
They really did their part.
Um, they went down there, checked on her for me,
and they got her some help.
And I'm just hoping that we're gonna have
some different results this time around.
♪♪
[Alex] So, Will did inform me
that she was in a facility being treated.
As he explained to me,
she's being treated for some of her mental deficiencies,
some of the cognitive issues.
They're getting to the root of the problem
in terms of what causes
maybe some of the drinking and other irrational decisions.
I haven't seen her in the treatment center, no.
Um, not... not that I know of, no.
In terms of getting to be able to know information,
there's been a block.
We've been blocked.
♪
[doorbell rings]
It's almost time to change the wreath.
No, just took the spring wreath off.
-Hello. -Hi, Pops!
[Mr. Williams] Hi! How are you doing, baby?
♪♪
-Hey. -Hi.
-All right. -Here we are.
[sighs, strained voice] Oh, my goodness.
Put it in the usual spot around the corner.
-How are you doing, Pops? -Okay, babe.
-So, he's good on meals. -What's this?
[Wanda] Change it up a little bit so--
-Every day he has something new? -Put the lunch ones, yeah.
-Okay. -Put the lunch ones, like,
under here, and, uh, I'll just take him
to the grocery store on Monday.
-We're good. -[Alex] Okay.
Where's the, uh, walker or the cane?
[Alex] Nine minutes and--
[Mr. Williams] Back there where it's supposed to be.
Did you take something out for dinner?
-No, I didn't. -Okay.
-All right. Well... -I didn't.
He has the plates. He has, like, five plates.
-Five--five of your plates. -You know what I made?
You know what I made this weekend?
-What? -Lasagna. I'll bring you some.
-Oh, okay. -I made a pan of lasagna. Mmm.
[crew] Marker.
Oh, Lord, have mercy.
♪♪
It has been a long journey in terms of experience
for our family, um, for Wendy.
And I hope to come out of this
letting people see the love that we have as a family,
together for each other,
as well as the love we have for Wendy
and to understand the journey we've been through
that has not always been perfect.
Everyone wanted the same thing. We want Wendy healthy and happy.
♪♪
[producer] When was the last time you spoke with your sister?
Um, the last time I spoke with her before this week
was probably... around her birthday...
-Okay. -...in July. Yeah.
I know it was July because I wanted to talk to her
-on her birthday. -[Alex] Birthday, right.
And I wasn't able to. Remember the cards?
We all did the cards, and we put it in a package
and took it to the post office, and then I let them know
up there that the package would be at her house.
-Yeah. -And, you know, to try to get
-them to her for her birthday. -Mm-hmm.
[Alex] And by her birthday, no one was able
-to talk to her. -[Wanda] Right.
So, we're in October now, so three months. Yeah.
[producer] So, you can't call her, then?
-You know, Wendy calls us. -[producer] Uh-huh.
-So, we're not calling her. -Right.
[Wanda] Mm-hmm.
I did have a conversation with her
about being involved in this.
-[Alex] Mm-hmm. -And she was thrilled.
I said, "Wendy..." I said, "I just wanna let you know
that I'm gonna do the documentary."
She said, "Oh, my gosh, Wanda, I'm so happy."
-That was her reaction. -[chuckles]
And I said, "There are some things now
that only I can talk about."
We have to button up some things.
-Yeah. -Yes.
-[Mr. Williams] Mm-hmm. -[Wanda] But she sounded good.
She asked a lot about family.
She wanted to know about everybody.
She talked about little Kevin. And the one thing I told her,
I said, look, I said, "I'm-a tell you right now."
-I said, "You are you." -[Mr. Williams] Mm-hmm.
[Wanda] "But your resilience factor is in your son."
[Mr. Williams] Mm-hmm.
To go through what he has gone through
takes a special person and strength.
-[Mr. Williams] Mm-hmm. -You look back,
and everything played out in the media.
-[Alex] Yeah. -[Wanda] Yeah.
You know, if I was sitting on the outside,
I would be saying, well, wait a minute now.
She has a whole family,
and she has all this money and all this fame,
and this is where we are?
Well, what the heck happened?
How did she get to this point?
-Is that real ice cream, though? -Yes, it's real ice cream.
-Oh. -No, you can't have any.
It's actually fake ice cream, but it tastes real.
[Wanda] When Kevin brought Wendy down to Miami,
she was going to the doctors.
She was eating. Kevin is a vegan.
Maybe you need a little bit of sugar in there.
Yeah, Kevin is her heart. That's her honey bun.
And he would make sure that he--
she got to her doctor's appointments.
You know, at the--at the end of the day, this was her son,
and he was looking for a way to save his mother.
♪♪
My power of attorney was taken away from me
once the court proceedings started.
And they tried to say that, like, while the court case
was going on and everything that no one could bring her Florida
because that'd be considered kidnapping.
I've never--I've never taken it without her consent.
I've always, like, spoken to her,
and she's always wanted me to, like, you know,
spend her-- let's spend her money.
She's always, like, told me, like, "Kevin, if you ever,
like, need something or whatever, just ask me,
and, like, you know, it could happen."
And she would always, like, communicate with me.
The judge has the authority
to undo a power of attorney that you signed
if the judge determines based on the evidence presented
that you didn't have the capacity to sign that
when you signed it.
The second way is if the person you appointed
is not doing right by you.
♪
When the whole process started,
all members of this family were contacted
about Wendy and what we needed for her.
You know, my feeling as her sister, um,
was Wendy needs to have somebody with her 24 hours a day
for the next few months.
♪
I was asked, would I consider being guardian.
I said, I don't know what being a guardian involves.
Um, I was told that it involved taking some kind of class.
You know, I said, yeah, I'll do it.
I said, whatever I gotta do, and you know,
I'll be focused on Wendy's health.
And then all of a sudden,
the wall came down, and there was nothing.
Now, why that happened, I don't know.
♪♪
I had opened my heart, and you sucked that information,
and then you shut it down, and you tell me
that I'm not capable of taking care of my sister.
♪
When she went back to New York...
Could I have your hand? Please, could I have your hand?
[man] Oh.
[Wanda] Things took a turn for the worse.
♪♪
I flew up to New York.
When I got there, she had... she would sit in bed all day
with bottles of vodka
and send people to the store for roast beef sandwiches.
♪
Everybody's flown up, taking turns going up, talking,
trying to figure out what's going on with Wendy.
Talked to her, and I tried.
"Wendy, what's happening? I'm concerned."
The state of mind was different.
You know, it was sad, and I really felt sorry.
And I never felt sorry for Wendy,
and I never thought I would feel sorry for her.
♪
[Wanda] I communicated certain things,
certain observations I had made when I would be there,
whether it's the lymphedema
or whether it's, you know, cognitive fog
or whatever the case may be,
the things that people have observed publicly.
Many people don't remember Allen...
-Allen... -Steve Allen.
-[Wendy] Steve Allen.
We knew that there was some kind of memory issues going on.
There's something going on, and it's not alcohol.
It's not just alcohol. There's something more
that, in my opinion, required continued medical care.
Clearly, health-wise, she was spiraling,
and everybody knew it. Everybody saw it.
As her family,
we were all sitting on the sidelines watching,
and she was crying out for help.
I'm shopping for kitty litter
because I have a wax museum in Paris
and one in California,
and so I'm gonna spend a week in Paris
and then three weeks in California.
You know, who are these people that think that it's okay
to have her out there doing an interview
where she's throwing her foot up in front of the camera
talking about her lymphedema?
Do you see this right here? Look.
-[man] Okay. -Do you--No. Look closely.
I think that the guardianship system is broken.
If this is how it works, then it's broken.
Anything up here? Do I need anything up...
Uh, no. I don't know the exact location
of where she is, but I know that she is
in an environment that is helping her to heal emotionally,
psychologically, and physically.
That's what I hope happens when she gets home.
Oh, I don't know. I don't know.
I don't know what's going on with the apartment in New York.
I don't know.
[horns honking in distance]
♪♪
[producer] Wow.
Empty.
It's empty.
Years and years of elegance, just gone.
Wow. There was lines and lines of coats here
and bags everywhere. You see all the hooks.
It feels like the life was sucked out of these rooms.
You know what I mean? Like, it was so much life here
when she was here, and to see it empty like this,
it just feels like they just ripped Disney World apart,
and it's just, you know, nothing.
[Will] Plan is to get Wendy in a space
that is just more conducive for her.
You know, I really feel like this space
kind of put her in a... a triggering department
and the steps are not good for her,
and we're selling the apartment.
Um, no. I didn't know that all of this was gonna be happening
while she was in a facility.
But hearing you say that was like,
oh, okay, well, I guess we're moving.
I have not spoken with the guardian in over a year.
I communicated with Wendy in July.
She would call me, and then all of a sudden
there was no communication.
[crew] Mark A, B.
I have investigated this system
and written about it for eight years,
and I found that more and more,
judges are not appointing family members
to be the guardian.
They are appointing professional guardians,
total strangers, to take over someone else's life.
This happened to Wendy Williams, but I found it happened
to hundreds and thousands of other Americans
across the country over the years.
♪
[producer] So, in the press, it was made to sound like
you guys weren't capable of taking care of her.
Mm-hmm.
Set the record straight with me. Is that the case?
I don't know what "not capable" means.
You had people in the family from the beginning
saying that we would take responsibility
with regard to guardianship and personal needs
to ensure that she was healthy, um, and taken care of.
And I'm not talking about her money.
You put the money over here. I'm... there...
you have people in this family that care more
about the well-being of my sister than anyone.
♪♪
All I want is for my sister to be healthy.
[voice breaking] You know...
You know, I feel myself getting... overwhelmed.
You know, everywhere I go, people are, "How's Wendy?"
What would you do? What should I do?
[cellphone rings]
[Alex] Hello?
It... It's your niece. Hi, Aunt Wen.
I'm with her right now. I answered her phone
'cause I saw that you were calling.
-Okay. Here's... -[Wanda] We need to give her--
-Here--Here's--Here's... -You need to tell her.
Here's... uh, my mom.
Hey, Wen.
Right.
Yes. Yes. Did you get an answer?
[Wendy speaks inaudibly over line]
No. No, no. It should... It should come from you.
She'll call you back. Just wait for her to call you back.
Then you just document it, you know,
and put it in your little notebook.
"Called on this date. No response.
Left a message. No response."
So, love you. Okay, bye.
-No. -Okay.
No. I will just say this, that, you know,
Wendy is at a point where she will call me
to ask questions or ask advice.
Wendy's in a more positive place,
in a stronger place than she was a year ago.
She is...
I mean, it's almost like I'm talking to Wendy from years ago.
It really is. It's...
It's almost like I'm talking to Wendy from the past.
And she said, "Family is very important, Wanda.
I realize that I need to be with my family.
I'm ready to move on."
Her resilience is unparalleled.
It's unmatched.
Um, I know people go through a lot of stuff every day.
Um...
Mm.
♪♪
[voice breaking] You know...
um, she has withstood attack after attack after attack.
She is my hero, because even now,
with what she's going through, um...
to be able to withstand it and still come back,
to still have conversations, um, that takes a special person.
And so she will always be my hero.
You know, she is my sister.
I will do whatever has to be done to help her be healthy.
♪
[cellphone rings]
Hello?
How you doing?
Let me... Let me call you right back.
I'm just filming something right now. Ah.
I saw Wendy about 10 days ago.
Wendy is looking natural.
She's gaining a little bit more weight.
She doesn't have the pink sunglasses.
♪
She's not hiding from anything.
She is as sober as she can be.
She is thinking about her future.
♪
I feel like she's in a space now where she is dropping the work
and understanding what's more important to her,
and that's her family.
♪
She loves her son to death,
and it bothers her that she hasn't seen him in so long.
So, that's her focus, you know?
Resting and family.
She even told me that eventually she wants to move to Miami.
[producer] That would need to be a court decision, right?
Everything with Wendy is a court decision.
Everything. She... She's not making any decisions on her own.
Everything has to be decided by the court and the guardianship.
[grunts]
[crew] Cue. Marker.
Full transparency--
um, yesterday, she did say that, you know,
she will be talking with her guardian to figure out
next steps in terms of plan of action,
"When am I gonna be getting out of here
so I can start the next chapter?"
That seems to be her focus,
and it's not that conversation that she was having...
eight or nine months ago where it was just,
"I gotta break outta here, I gotta get out,"
you know, blah, blah, blah.
No, it's very methodical. She also realizes that, um...
you know, "I know I forget things, Wan, sometimes."
[producer] So this time feels different.
-Absolutely. -Feels really different.
I want the family to become the guardian.
[producer] And you guys are ready to take care of her?
100%.
I think that all of this is gonna end 'cause
we're in a different place than we were at
at the beginning of the guardianship.
We went through a time period of
everybody wants to solve the issue,
but we don't even know what the heck the issue is,
and everybody's in their corner
trying to solve it in their own way.
And I think as a family,
we're in a more wholesome, united place.
Are we perfect? No. Um...
[chuckles]
Are all the relationships in this family perfect?
No.
♪
But there is love for everybody, and I don't think that I can
really doubt that anybody is leading with love.
♪
I hope that when people watch this,
they walk away thinking,
how was it that the court was involved?
She has a guardian
that's supposed to be managing her day to day,
her finances, all of that.
How was all of that happening,
and Wendy's life just fell through the cracks?
♪
You know, when I talk to her now, I mean,
I do feel as though, you know, she's in a much better place.
But it shouldn't have taken two years or a year and a half.
It shouldn't have.
Yeah, there is gonna be a happy ending,
and maybe the happy ending is fueled by the fact
that this is all public, you know?
-It forces us... -Yeah.
...to just fight a little harder.
[producer] Um, the guardianship is up for review
in 2024, I believe?
I think so.
[producer] Okay. What do you think should happen?
Would you like the family to have a bigger role?
-Yes. -Okay.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and what I... what I think should happen,
what I hope can happen, is Wendy can go in there
and speak for herself, and if she is the way she is now,
then she'll go in there and set 'em straight.
[producer] What do you think she'll say?
♪
[Wanda] "I'm ready to move on.
I'm done with you. Thank you for all you've done to help me,
but I'm ready to move on with my life,
and, um, I'm Wendy Williams."
♪
My sister has been a foundation for so many
who have come after her.
I just wanna thank everybody for listening,
because although you might think I sit up here and dis
and everything like that, I'm just a positive person
trying to do a positive thing, trying to have
a little bit of fun and make my mark in the world.
[Wanda] She was able to get out there
and be the catalyst for joy for many people in the audience
and around the world who needed that uplifting.
-[cheers and applause] -[audience] Wendy! Wendy!
[Alex] The fans being a part of her show
and a part of her journey was everything to her,
and it still is.
[cheering]
[Will] She's had an illustrious career.
She's done so many things that are compelling,
so many things that are captivating.
Everything that everyone's doing now,
she's the originator.
She's made her mark.
She's in the Hall of Fame of Radio, TV, you name it.
She's done it all.
[Wanda] I don't care who it is. Nobody can do it like Wendy.
No one.
[Will] You have to understand that she's going through a lot,
and she needs our support,
to just let her know that, "Wendy, we're here for you."
[Alex] The documentary has pulled the veil back
on my aunt's life
and what's really been going on over the last two years.
[sobbing]
It's now or it's never, and we have to do something.
[Kevin] I've always loved my mom,
and I want her to know that people still love her
regardless if she's on TV or not.
I feel like wherever family is,
um, that's where she needs to be at.
[voice breaking] She's my aunt. She's my godmother.
She's, like... She's my second mother, and, um,
the support that my aunt has always given me
through the years,
how could I not be here to support her?
[Wanda] I hope that people walk away from this,
seeing the challenges she's been through and realize we all
go through our challenges, and we all make choices in life,
and she's still a person. That's my sister.
[Wendy] Six years old, Asbury Park.
All I wanted was radio and to be famous.
[cheering]
-Ta-da! -Whoo!
[Wendy] I love being famous.
The more famous the better, but...
family is everything.
-Daddy! -Baby, hello!
So good to see you again, Dad.
It's good to see you.
Everything.
♪