Wendy Williams has shared her “immense gratitude” for the support she received after announcing her dementia diagnosis.
The former talk show host, 59, expressed her gratitude for her fans in a statement on February 23, shared with People. “I want to say that I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Their response has been overwhelming,” she said. “The messages shared with me have moved me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion.”
She then described her hope “that other people with FTD can benefit” from her story, before asking her fans to respect her privacy at this time.
“I also want to thank the Frontotemporal Degeneration Association for their kind words of support and their extraordinary efforts to raise awareness about FTD,” Williams added. “I still need personal space and peace to thrive. Please know that we deeply appreciate your positivity and encouragement.”
Williams' comments came a day after his team announced that he was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, while “undergoing a series of medical tests” in 2023.
“Aphasia, a condition that affects language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder that affects behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant obstacles in Wendy's life,” a news release said. of Williams representatives.
The statement also responded to speculation about Williams' health, with her care team noting that they were sharing “this very personal update” to “correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors” about her.
After outlining some of the medical issues Williams has discussed in the past, including struggles with Graves' disease and lymphedema, his team further addressed recent questions about his cognitive abilities.
“In recent years, questions have sometimes been raised about Wendy's ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy's condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding words. financial transactions,” the press reported. added release.
On February 21, Williams' sister Wanda said for the first time People that Wendy was in a center where she was being treated for her cognitive problems. “She, from what I understand, is in an environment of well-being and healing… We can't get close to her, but she can get close to us,” Wanda said. “And she is in a place of emotional healing. “She's not the person you see in this movie.”
Williams' latest update also comes ahead of the premiere of her two-part Lifetime documentary, Where is Wendy Williams? The documentary, which sheds light on William's story and his health challenges, will be available to watch on the Lifetime channel on February 24 and 25 at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET both days.
Additionally, his health announcement came a year after Bruce Willis revealed that he had been diagnosed with FTD. In a statement to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Willis' family revealed that his health had progressed, writing: “We now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia. Unfortunately, communication problems are just a symptom of the illness Bruce faces. “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
In March 2022, the die hard The star's family first announced that he was “stepping away” from acting after he was diagnosed with aphasia, which was “affecting his cognitive abilities.”
Since then, Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, has kept her fans updated on her husband's condition on social media. She has also raised awareness about living with dementia and shared her experiences caring for a loved one with this condition. She will publish a book in 2025, which is a caregiving guide that is based on her experiences caring for Willis.
