{"id":122759,"date":"2024-03-02T00:44:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-02T00:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/02\/wendy-williams-documentary-called-exploitative-by-stars-publicist-fans-national\/"},"modified":"2024-03-02T00:44:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T00:44:15","slug":"wendy-williams-documentary-known-as-exploitative-by-stars-publicist-followers-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/showbizztoday.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/02\/wendy-williams-documentary-known-as-exploitative-by-stars-publicist-followers-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendy Williams documentary known as \u2018exploitative\u2019 by star\u2019s publicist, followers – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A brand new documentary specializing in and starring Wendy Williams<\/a> has been the topic of intense criticism from followers \u2014 and even members of the star\u2019s personal PR crew \u2014 who branded the undertaking exploitative and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0two-part docuseries, Where Is Wendy Williams<\/em>, aired Saturday and Sunday on Lifetime.<\/p>\n

Two days forward of the discharge, Williams, 59, and her crew printed a press release that stated the star was recognized in 2023 with major progressive aphasia<\/a> (a language-related dysfunction that impacts dialog and literacy) and frontotemporal dementia (a mind dysfunction that impacts persona and behavior, in addition to reminiscence).<\/p>\n

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The now-public information of Williams\u2019 psychological decline made the documentary a tough watch for a lot of, together with Shawn Zanotti, who started working as Williams\u2019 publicist in 2021.<\/p>\n

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Zanotti, who seems within the documentary, instructed NBC News on Wednesday she felt Williams was \u201cbeing exploited<\/a>\u201d by producers.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe thought we were focusing on the comeback of her career,\u201d Zanotti stated. \u201cShe would be mortified. There\u2019s no way you can convince me that she would be OK with looking and seeing herself in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The episodes, whereas highlighting the cultural affect of Williams\u2019 discuss present profession, present the star in various susceptible moments.<\/p>\n

Throughout the documentary, a lot of Williams\u2019 relations claimed they\u2019d been lower off from contacting Williams, who the household stated was surrounded solely by folks on her payroll. In the second episode, Williams\u2019 supervisor, Will Selby, finds an empty vodka bottle by the star\u2019s mattress and confronts Williams about alleged heavy ingesting.<\/p>\n

In the documentary, Williams is usually agitated, weepy and confused.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OjJDhf5ll70<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Zanotti instructed NBC News that the ultimate product of\u00a0Where is Wendy Williams?<\/em> isn’t what was initially agreed upon.<\/p>\n

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She stated she instructed Williams\u2019 guardian (who was court-appointed in 2022) that she \u201cdid not agree with what was going on with this documentary.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cI made it very clear to the guardian. The production company was aware of that,\u201d Zanotti recalled. \u201cI didn\u2019t agree with the way this was moving and shaking. And instead of them dealing with it with me, they decided to ignore me. They ignored me from that moment, and I never heard from them again.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2022, Williams was appointed a authorized guardian<\/a>, Sabrina Morrissey, who would oversee the star\u2019s funds and well being selections. The guardian was appointed after Wells Fargo froze Williams\u2019 accounts and instructed the courts there was robust purpose to consider that Williams was an \u201cincapacitated person\u201d who’s \u201cthe victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Morrissey sued Lifetime\u2019s mum or dad firm<\/a>, A&E Television Networks, forward of the documentary\u2019s launch in an try to bar it from airing, USA Today reported. The lawsuit was dismissed over First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy concern at this point is: What\u2019s really going on? Who really does have her best interest at heart?\u201d Zanotti questioned.<\/p>\n

Morrissey has not commented publicly in regards to the documentary or being Williams\u2019 guardian.<\/p>\n

\u2018We did not know she had dementia,\u2019 say filmmakers<\/h2>\n

Where is Wendy Williams?<\/em> was filmed between August 2022 and April 2023. Producers on the undertaking stated they have been, on the time of filming, unaware<\/a> of Williams\u2019 cognitive points.<\/p>\n

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In an interview with Today<\/em>, government producers Mark Ford and Erica Hanson, who can be showrunner, stated they perceive why a few of Williams\u2019 followers have moral considerations in regards to the documentary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shaped the documentary, ultimately, in a way that we felt could benefit Wendy, her family and the world at large,\u201d stated Ford. \u201cWhat started as a story about Wendy and her biography turned into something very different. (It became) more about what it is like when your family member, who you care about, is placed under legal guardianship and you don\u2019t have any access to her anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t know that she had dementia,\u201d added Hanson. \u201cSome days, Wendy was on and very Wendy. Other days, she wasn\u2019t. We all felt this was a complex and sensitive story to tell, and we all felt a great responsibility to do it with dignity and sensitivity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair claimed to haven’t spoken to Williams since filming wrapped in 2023.<\/p>\n

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Producers of “Where is Wendy Williams” defend releasing the documentary. The doc debuted two days after her care crew launched a press release saying she has been recognized with major progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. pic.twitter.com\/hvso6uNiZN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) February 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n