Lifetime’s Wendy Williams Documentary Can Be Aired As Planned, New York Appeals Court Justice Rules

Ted Johnson
·3 min read

UPDATED: A documentary on Wendy Williams can be aired as planned by Lifetime, a New York appeals court justice ruled today.

A guardian for the talk show host sought a temporary restraining order to block A+E Networks-owned Lifetime from airing the project, scheduled for this weekend.

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Appellate Justice Peter Moulton wrote that a temporary restraining order would be an “impermissible prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment of the Constitution.” His decision vacated an order signed ex parte.

Read the decision.

A spokesperson for Lifetime said, “Lifetime appeared in court today, and the documentary Where is Wendy Williams? will air this weekend as planned.”

Moulton declined to vacate an order keeping the case under temporary seal, with a hearing scheduled for Feb. 27.

The lawsuit was filed against A+E Networks on Thursday by Sabrina Morrissey, guardian for Williams. Williams’ representatives disclosed on Thursday that she has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

PREVIOUSLY: The guardian for Wendy Williams filed a sealed lawsuit against A+E Networks just days before subsidiary Lifetime is set to debut a documentary on the talk show host.

Williams’ representatives disclosed on Thursday that she has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

Where Is Wendy Williams? is scheduled to air on Saturday and Sunday. Lifetime said that she granted access “to film with her and her family for nearly two years, what was captured was not what anyone expected.”

Earlier this month, Lifetime announced that it would debut a 4 1/2-hour two night documentary, Where Is Wendy Williams? It is scheduled to air on Saturday and Sunday.

The lawsuit was filed in New York Supreme Court on Thursday by Sabrina Morrissey, “acting in her capacity as Temporary Guardian of W.W.H.” Also named in the complaint is Entertainment One Reality Productions.

The lawsuit sought injunctive relief, and records showed that A+E Networks filed an appeal this morning. Attorneys for Morrissey and A+E did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for A+E also did not immediately comment, but Lifetime has continued to promote the documentary throughout the day today on social media. The filings remain under seal.

When the documentary was announced, a Lifetime release said, “After Wendy Williams was placed under a financial guardianship and her hit talk show was unexpectedly canceled, she was determined to make a career comeback. Opening the doors to her private life like never before, cameras chronicled her comeback journey to reclaim her life and legacy despite facing health issues and personal turbulence. With unparalleled access granted by Wendy to film with her and her family for nearly two years, what was captured was not what anyone expected.”

“The documentary provides a raw, honest and unfiltered reality of Wendy’s life after she was placed under financial guardianship, shedding light on the vulnerabilities that has turned Wendy into the Hot Topic herself. Suffering mental and physical issues, Wendy’s delicate state of mind, erratic behavior and declining health were all captured by the cameras.”

Williams herself says in the documentary, “I’m gonna tell you something, if it happens to me, it could happen to you.” She also is an executive producer on the project.

Lifetime also has had plans to provide information on mental health and other resources, in addition to messaging on social media. A link to the site was not active as of today, but Lifetime continues to promote the project and a trailer on its website.

TMZ first reported on the lawsuit.

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