Wendy Williams' legal battle with A&E Television Networks over Lifetime documentary explained as former talk show host to be deposed

Former host Wendy Williams is reportedly expected to stand in her ongoing case with A&E Television Networks over her 2024 documentary. The case was filed by her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, against the network.

However, according to a September 15 exclusive report by People Magazine, the legal proceedings against the network have been postponed for now, as a separate case, whether Williams needs a guardian or not, is under review.

A&E requested that Williams be deposed, and the judge approved this request. The deposition must occur by November 4. The documentary, titled "Where Is Wendy Williams?" focuses on Williams’ life under guardianship. Morrissey filed legal action against the company on February 22, 2024, just days before the series was released. At that time, People Magazine was told:

“The new lawsuit appears to be filed as an attempt to prohibit the airing of the upcoming documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?”

At the time, the legal action was filed under seal, followed by a hearing to decide whether the documents should remain confidential. Additionally, the documentary’s executive producer, Mark Ford, said Williams’ legal representative and guardian were aware of the documentary and had given their consent. He said:

“The film was signed off on by Wendy, her management, her attorneys, the guardianship. They were aware of the filming all the way through. So, we did go by the book and get all the permissions that we needed to get."

He added:

"We went into this film thinking it was one thing, and the truth turned out to be another. Once we started seeing the truth of the situation, we couldn't ignore it. And the film had to go in the direction of the truth.”

What did the judge say about Wendy Williams’ deposition?

The judge clarified in the new ruling that Williams’ health condition did not exempt her from testifying, as the law did not specify that witnesses must have a certain mental capacity. It was the jury's decision how much weight to give her statements. Speaking to the magazine, a source said:

“The attorneys suing A&E said at a Sept. 5 hearing that the docuseries was so horrific that it could no longer be found on the air anywhere. Attorneys for A&E later admitted that they had taken the series down, claiming it was out of respect for the legal proceedings.”

Furthermore, there will be certain conditions in place for Wendy Williams. For instance, the hearing can last up to three hours. She can also make her statements without being physically present in court.

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Also, the number of legal representatives in the case will be limited. The date and time of the deposition will be fixed depending on Williams’s convenience. It reportedly cannot continue for more than three days.

According to Deadline, in September 2024, Sabrina Morrissey filed a revised lawsuit against A&E alleging that Wendy Williams was used in the documentary in exchange for $82,000.

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