Wendy Williams (left) and Britney Spears.Photo:Manny Carabel/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Manny Carabel/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Producers of Lifetime’sWhere Is Wendy Williams?invokedBritney Spearsand her 13-year conservatorship while defending the “public importance” of sharingWendy Williams' story.
In response to Morrissey’s claims that the documentary would"shamelessly" exploit the staramid her challenges, Ford stated that he and his team “collaborated closely” with Williams, 59, who was “at all times eager to participate in the documentary.”
Wendy Williams.Calvin Gayle
Calvin Gayle
As a longtime public figure, the producer went on to claim Williams, who also held an executive producer title, appeared to “feel most a home” when she was able to continue sharing her life. Ford also noted that hermedical diagnosis of dementiawasn’t revealed until filming was nearly complete and became a “part of the story she wanted to tell.”
According to the documents, the series explored not only Williams' life out of the spotlight and her mental and physical health, but also her experience of having a court-appointed guardian and herfamily’s criticisms of the guardianship.
Ford stated that he and his team considered that aspect of Williams' story to be “a matter of particular public importance” with recent headlines and national conversations around conservatorships and guardianships “in limiting the autonomy of those under their aegis.”
Britney Spears in April 2017.Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty
Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty
He also noted that the series showrunner, Erica Hanson, made multiple attempts to contact Morrissey for her participation but she allegedly declined.
In Morrissey’s original filing, the guardian claimed that the completed documentary would portray Williams in a “humiliating and demeaning manner” as well as “unconscionably” exploit her condition for perceived “entertainment value” and “interest” of viewers.
She also claimed that that Lifetime failed to gain any approval from her or the courts and was “horrified” upon viewing the contents ofthe trailerafter being told that the doc would portray Williams in a positive light.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE earlier this month, Lifetime responded to Morrissey’s allegations, noting, “We look forward to the unsealing of our papers as well, as they tell a very different story.”
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Filmed between August 2022 and April 2023, Lifetime’sWhere Is Wendy Williams?captureda dark period in the former host’s life as she spiraled following the cancellation of her synonymous talk show due to alcohol addiction and several health issues, includingGraves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that can cause bulging eyes, and lymphedema, a condition that causes swelling in her feet.
The docuseries premiered on the network on Feb. 24 with the second installment of episodes airing the next day.
source: people.com
