“At a certain point,” says Where Is Wendy Williams? producer Mark Ford, “we were more worried about what would happen if we stopped filming than if we continued.”
So, for the higher a part of a 12 months, his cameras stored rolling, documenting the more and more fragile state that the previous speak present host had discovered herself in, as she alternately craved household, her former TV platform and an extreme quantity of alcohol, all whereas struggling to stay coherent. What in the end got here of that footage is a uncooked, devastating, four-plus hour documentary, which aired on Lifetime over two nights final weekend. Williams, her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., and her jeweler-turned-manager, William Selby, are all credited as govt producers.
Nonetheless, the eOne and Creature Movies mission asks extra questions than it solutions, together with what, precisely, was happening with Williams, and why a court-ordered guardian has largely lower her off from her household. Although the latter stays a thriller to the mission’s producers to at the present time, a press launch on behalf of Williams and her present care workforce was despatched out simply forward of the documentary, revealing that the previous shock jock and TV host of 12 years had been recognized with main progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, which impacts language, communication conduct and cognitive perform.
Then, two days earlier than Where Is Wendy Williams? was set to debut, Williams’ guardian, whose id is redacted all through the doc, filed a lawsuit towards Lifetime’s dad or mum firm attempting to dam the community from airing the two-night documentary occasion. A decide dismissed the request, nevertheless, citing the First Modification. So it aired as deliberate, with Selby and key members of Williams’ household screening all 4 hours with producers beforehand. To their information, Williams, who’s stated to be in an undisclosed facility the place her cognitive points are allegedly being handled, has but to see it herself.
Now that the doc has aired in its entirety, Ford together with govt producer Erica Hanson and Lifetime’s Brie Miranda Bryant agreed to hop on a Zoom to debate its rocky highway to completion, together with the occasions they felt have been neither applicable nor secure to maintain filming, and the bigger function they hope that the movie serves, even when it wasn’t their intention getting into.
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Take me again to the start of how, precisely, this documentary got here to be.
MARK FORD It actually started as a dialog between Wendy’s supervisor, Will Selby, and our head of growth, Pat Lambert. I feel Pat reached out to Will about doing one other documentary with Wendy — as a result of we have been the producers of [Lifetime’s 2021 doc] Wendy Williams: What a Mess!, together with Brie and Lifetime. It was alleged to be a documentary that may comply with her journey again into her profession doing a podcast. We thought it was an ideal thought, and we have been hopeful that Wendy’s story can be redeeming and we’d have the ability to doc this journey. However as we filmed, it turned evident that this wasn’t actually going to be a profession comeback story, that this was going to be a deeper story, and that there was one thing in the end disturbing happening in Wendy’s life.
Have been you questioning whether or not she was prepared for this?
FORD 100%. I imply, you may hear my voice within the first 10 minutes of the movie asking each query that you’d ask about this case. The start of the movie was actually the event shoot, the place we went out and simply wished to take a seat with Wendy and see how she was doing. Principally, the story that was given to us after that day is that it was a foul day for Wendy and that alcohol had been concerned, and now she was going away [to a treatment facility] and she or he was going to get that underneath management, however this could by no means inhibit us from transferring ahead. And after we did come again, she was higher. She was sober and on a greater trajectory. And there have been conversations and plans for the podcast, and there have been folks being put in place to supply that podcast, and that was a storyline that we have been following. But it surely was derailed due to what we now know was the state of Wendy’s dementia.
Brie, at what level did Lifetime get entangled and what did these early conversations entail?
BRIE MIRANDA BRYANT At Lifetime, we’ve been concerned with Wendy for a very long time. I don’t wish to say that Wendy was a mentor to me, however I used to be one among her greatest followers rising up, listening to her on the radio as a bit of lady. So, I’d reached out to her along with her first administration workforce, which was [her now ex-husband] Kevin [Hunter] Sr., on many events, to do issues for NBCUniversal, after I was there, after which at Lifetime. And I’d stated, “I want to be the one to do your docu,” they usually laughed on the time. Then, when she was going by the divorce and it turned very public, I went and sat along with her and her supervisor on the time [Bernie Young], and I stated, “We want to do your biopic. We want to do your documentary. We want to make it a big Wendy Williams weekend.” So, we struck a deal and we reached out to Mark, and we began the journey with Wendy. And she or he’s the one who insisted on the title of that documentary being, What a Mess!, which is simply so her. So, for us, we’ve all the time wished to be in enterprise with Wendy. And so we have been speaking to Mark, like, “Do we think we’ll ever do this again?” And along with her administration workforce, too.
I preserve studying that this was the third and last installment of a growth deal she had with Lifetime. Is that correct?
BRYANT This was not a part of that, no.
Your cameras started rolling in August 2022. Earlier that spring, Wendy had given a sequence of erratic interviews teasing her subsequent act — there was one with TMZ, and one other with Fats Joe on Instagram Dwell. Presumably, you watched these? I suppose I’m simply attempting to find out the calculation you make that this girl could possibly be prepared for a comeback.
FORD It was powerful each single day, and there have been conversations that we had, all of us, all through the documentary. And there was no assure we’d air this documentary if we weren’t proud of the content material that we in the end bought and the editorial route that we landed upon, which was the household’s perspective and illustrating what can occur when one among your loved ones members is put right into a guardianship outdoors of your management. We simply occurred to be there each day seeing the truth of this case, and we simply put the digital camera on it and captured it. There was no intention. And Brie was very supportive all through, as a result of we wanted to only let this documentary unfold and see the place it went. And also you actually see that within the movie.
I feel we’re very clear about our producers’ confusion. We’re asking all of those questions that everybody has during. We don’t know this supervisor. It’s a brand new supervisor. We don’t know this publicist. It’s a brand new publicist. The guardian gained’t communicate to us. And so we’re consistently simply attempting to push ahead and get the knowledge as filmmakers. Like, what is definitely happening right here? And by the way in which, Wendy liked it when the cameras got here to the door, it gave her a motive to stand up within the morning. I feel you see that.
You do see that.
FORD She loves the digital camera, and she or he turned very shut with our producers. There was an actual emotional connection that the mission gave her, and truthfully, it bought to some extent the place we have been extra frightened about what would occur to Wendy if we stopped filming then if we continued. As a result of we in the end knew that we’ve got the management and we are able to simply not air this if it may’t be moved right into a optimistic, redeeming route for her the place we might help Wendy and hopefully different folks. And that discovery got here a lot later within the course of, how common this story is and what number of hundreds of households in America are going by this very same factor, besides they’re not associated to Wendy Williams, who has this large platform.
So, after all, we’re human beings. There have been extremely dangerous days, and there’s loads of footage we shot that nobody will ever see. However we felt prefer it was essential for instance the tough course of that Wendy and her household have been going by, and albeit what can occur to somebody in the event that they’re underneath the care of a guardian. I feel the household thought, and all of us thought, “Shouldn’t there be somebody here more often? Shouldn’t there be somebody filling a refrigerator and checking in on her on a daily basis?” None of these issues have been taking place.
Did you ever meet the court-appointed guardian?
ERICA HANSON No, no, no. She wouldn’t take my calls.
FORD Pat tried to name her many occasions, too. There have been many makes an attempt earlier than and through. Truthfully, we both bought a terse hang-up or a really transient, disagreeable change. That’s what occurred.
Presumably, the guardian needed to give her permission for Wendy to spend time with you although, no?
FORD Sure. I imply, it was all signed off on. She [the guardian] was speaking with Will Selby, Wendy’s supervisor. Will was the purpose of contact with the guardian all through the method and he must go to her to get paperwork signed, to get location agreements, to e book her journey out of state. All of these items have been issues that needed to be signed off on by the guardian all through. So, it’s our understanding that she was very conscious of every part all through the method.
Wendy is an govt producer on the mission …
FORD As a result of that was the precedent with all of her tasks at Lifetime.
BRYANT And it’s her story. It’s her title.
What did that entail, and did she see a completed product earlier than it aired?
FORD We merely have had no strategy to get it to her to see it. No strategy to display screen it along with her, as a result of she’s locked down in a facility and we haven’t been capable of communicate to her since we wrapped filming. The final day that you just see us filming along with her is the final time we spoke to Wendy. However we had many conversations behind the scenes with Wendy and Will about what they wished to movie, and what they wouldn’t wish to seize. As an illustration, Wendy wished to go to Miami to see her household. That wasn’t our thought. Otherwise you see the chapter the place she goes to L.A., we didn’t even know she was going to L.A. However we bought a digital camera crew collectively and, once more, simply pointed the digital camera at what was really taking place in her life. So, the doc may be very observational in its nature and simply captured the reality of what was taking place to Wendy and what the folks round her have been doing or not doing.
HANSON And a few days have been higher than others. However we all the time talked to Wendy about what we have been doing, and she or he positively had opinions and she or he weighed in.
There have been factors the place you’d get to her condominium and also you wouldn’t have the ability to movie that day, or there’s a scene within the automotive the place you determine to cease filming. How do you make that judgment name? Or, put one other manner, the place is that line for you?
FORD We’ve by no means finished one thing like this, so it’s a sort of an unprecedented territory. And we additionally perceive that it’s a polarizing mission, and folks have wildly totally different opinions about it. We have been consistently having conversations about whether or not that is worthwhile, whether or not this serves Wendy’s story and helps her transfer ahead. However at a sure level, the story was additionally concerning the actuality of the scenario that this girl finds herself in. And it’s not a fairly actuality. It’s not a pleasant factor to look at. And so we have been very cautious in how we depicted it and after we depicted it. And consider me, as I stated, there have been many issues that we filmed that can by no means see the sunshine of day. However Erica, it is best to reply on the way you made these judgement calls on the each day.
HANSON You simply comply with your intuition, and it was a delicate, complicated scenario of what felt proper and what felt mistaken. After which there have been occasions the place Wendy made it clear when she was finished for the day. For instance, this case within the automotive, we actually thought we have been simply going to go doc Wendy and [her publicist] Shawn [Zanotti] going to purchase vapes. That’s what we got down to do, after which as you noticed it fully spiraled and there turned a transparent level the place it was, “OK, we need to stop and make sure that she’s OK and that she goes home,” and it wasn’t applicable to proceed filming. However we have been consistently combating that, as a result of there have been moments that have been painful and really emotional. And I’d additionally level out that lots of people on our little workforce had been touched in their very own worlds by dementia and dependancy, so everybody from the sector to publish had this deep sense of caring and an ideal sense of ethical accountability. And there have been occasions the place we actually felt like if we stopped, what would occur? Would she simply proceed? And would she fall down the steps?
The day earlier than the sequence launched, Wendy’s guardian (who has now been recognized as Sabrina Morrissey) sued Lifetime’s dad or mum firm to attempt to cease this doc from airing. How involved you have been that she’d achieve success and that you just wouldn’t have the ability to air?
BRYANT It was loads of drama on the finish! All I can say is, it took us all unexpectedly. However we have been relieved that our authorized groups have been capable of come to phrases and simply grateful that we made it to air.
FORD Finally, it’s a First Modification problem. No person ought to have the ability to quash Wendy’s voice, and her household’s voice. And fortunately the courts understood that that was crucial factor, and the free press gained out right here.
The household may be very vocal about their frustration with the guardianship. Do you could have a way for why the household hasn’t formally contested it?
FORD That’s an excellent query and we simply don’t know. We did ask it. What I do know is that it’s tough to contest a guardianship. The entire proceedings are masked, to allow them to’t even pull the paperwork to see why they have been excluded or not allowed to be the guardians to start with. So, due to the shadowy manner by which the courts shield these guardianships, it’s very tough for them to assemble the knowledge. Additionally, this isn’t a wealthy household that has a ton of assets. They’re like everybody else, attempting to get by the day, with folks to handle and issues that they’re coping with, and so it’s like, “How do we even start the process to know how to do this?” Truthfully, I feel the movie was their first step in telling this story, and getting it on the market. I hope the folks that instituted this guardianship will watch the movie and see for themselves what Wendy’s scenario was, and maybe this can be a cautionary story transferring ahead about learn how to stop this from taking place to different folks.
When it got here to interview topics, what was the method of getting folks snug with sitting down with you? I consider her sister, Wanda, took a 12 months or so to be satisfied. Candidly, it took me some time, too. I used to be very nervous that it might be exploitative … [Editor’s note: Rose was a participant in the doc, having covered the final days inside the Wendy Williams Show.]
HANSON I feel we actually progressively constructed belief with the household. And it began with Alex [Finnie, Wendy’s niece] after which with Wendy’s son [Kevin Hunter Jr.]. With Wanda, it did take some time, however I feel she lastly felt that she did know info that was essential. And she or he felt that it was essential for her to fill in some blanks and for the household to be united. All of them acknowledged that they’re not the right household, and that they’ve been fractured. However I really feel like they realized they wanted to return collectively and to determine this out with Wendy. And hear, I knew little or no about guardianships however, how is it doable {that a} baby can’t name their mom? How is it doable that she will be able to name him, however then what if the decision will get missed? I simply don’t perceive. And the way is it doable that the household doesn’t know her well being care scenario or the place she is?
Who did you not get that you just wished?
HANSON We did attain out to the [producers at the Wendy Williams] present. That’s one of many the reason why we talked to you, since you might inform that a part of the story as a result of the producers of the present didn’t wish to take part. And clearly, the guardian didn’t wish to do an interview. These have been the 2 primary ones.
What about her ex-husband and former supervisor, Kevin Hunter Sr.?
FORD It was by no means a dialog to have her ex-husband be part of it, and that was on Wendy’s behalf. It wasn’t actually his story to inform.
Her niece, Alex, who performs a giant function within the doc, was alleged to be a part of right this moment’s interview. Have you learnt why she isn’t right here?
FORD We don’t know, however you may think about how overwhelmed this household is true now being on the middle of all of this. And Alex had been doing loads of press final week. So, I don’t know why she’s not right here right this moment, however I can perceive why as a result of it’s very overwhelming.
HANSON I’d simply add that we watched the movie with the household, and in subsequent conversations after it’s aired, they’ve been very supportive. They actually had no notes in any respect. All of them are very supportive of it.
FORD I feel we are able to say that we additionally screened the movie for Wendy’s supervisor, Will, too.
Is Shawn Zanotti, the publicist, nonetheless a part of the workforce? It was laborious to look at the doc and never ponder whether she had Wendy’s greatest pursuits in thoughts …
FORD No, it’s our understanding that she is not a part of the workforce and hasn’t been for fairly a while. [THR has reached out to Zanotti for comment.]
The movie is titled Where Is Wendy Williams? At this level, do the three of you understand the place she is?
FORD We don’t.
BRYANT I want I did.
HANSON So far as we all know, she’s in a facility being handled however no, we don’t know.
When’s the final you’ve spoken to her?
HANSON It could’ve been in April, after we completed filming.
FORD What you see within the documentary is the final time we ever spoke with Wendy. The workforce did return and test on her a pair occasions after filming stopped, however we couldn’t get into the condominium. After which we’ve been checking in along with her by her supervisor Will, who has spoken to her many occasions within the ensuing months. And he echoes what you see within the documentary that she is sounding and doing higher, and she or he is getting the precise care. In order that’s one factor that we’re very relieved about, that we left her in a greater place than we discovered her. And though we documented a really tough chapter in Wendy’s life, illustrating how tough that was in probably the most respectful manner was essential to share along with her public. It additionally illustrates, truthfully, what the household’s predicament is right here. They’re ready now to see what was happening with their mom/aunt/sister, and their suspicions about her care have been nicely based and the footage speaks its personal story. Would you need your member of the family who’s underneath the care of a guardian in this sort of a scenario?
Simply previous to air, a press launch revealed that Wendy had main progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Did the analysis come as a shock to you? I don’t know if that was a workforce of individuals you have been even in contact with or conversant in.
FORD We weren’t conversant in any of the folks on these press releases apart from the guardian herself. Did it shock us? I don’t suppose it shocked us. In fact, we’re not medical professionals. However anybody watching the movie can see that there are indicators that have been there after which progressed quickly.
The household’s efforts and issues over Wendy’s guardianship play a much bigger function in night time two. However for those who solely watch night time one, you would possibly come away questioning if it’s too unsettling or exploitative. Have been these discussions or issues for you getting into?
FORD In fact, we had many, many conversations about what to maintain within the movie, what to go away out, learn how to inform the story, learn how to flash again into the previous and reply questions, when to disclose sure info. However in the end, we caught to the reality of our journey as filmmakers. And once you watch the movie, it’s nearly such as you’re on the journey of discovery with us. And look, our accountability as filmmakers, one, is to verify our topic is secure and leads to a secure place. However past that, it’s the reality. Now we have to indicate the reality, even when that reality is painful to look at. As a result of, what if we didn’t present it? What if Wendy was nonetheless in that condominium? What would’ve occurred if the movie didn’t come alongside when it did, to be a bit of little bit of a spark plug and an engine to push these folks round her to get her to vital care?
And in addition, dementia is an insidious illness, proper? It’s tough. You’re probably not positive what’s happening. So, you’re capable of see this journey of discovery throughout these 4 hours and I do hope folks keep it up to the top, as a result of you then’ll see what the intention in the end turned, which was that Wendy’s struggling and the household’s struggling is just not in useless. That there’s a message right here that’s common, and it’s essential for folks to listen to and, once more, that echoes the expertise of hundreds of different households underneath this guardianship system. And documentary filmmaking is all the time a tough factor. Like, for those who look again at Gray Gardens, was that exploitative? This mission by no means would’ve aired if we couldn’t steer it towards the hopeful ending or the ending that we’ve got right here with the household participating and telling their story. I don’t wish to communicate for Brie, however we by no means would’ve aired one thing that didn’t have Wendy’s greatest pursuits and her household’s greatest pursuits at coronary heart.
BRYANT No, and simply to piggyback on what Mark simply stated, as soon as Wendy went away, we have been cameras down. There have been some check-ins to see how she was doing, but it surely was cameras down. And I feel the hope is that it might be an analogous scenario to what all of us skilled early on, which is she went to go get assist, she goes to get assist, she comes again and we are able to full the mission. But it surely was months that glided by, and my bosses have been very affected person with me as a result of we have been alleged to air this loads sooner than we did, however we have been within the enterprise of doing it proper. So we simply gave these guys [the producers] the house that they wanted to determine it out. And the analysis that was introduced was not the knowledge that any of us had going into it. So, folks have been watching the journey with info that we didn’t have in these first two hours, and I feel that’s a part of the confusion and the upset and outrage.
FORD We tried to be as clear as doable, and the making of the movie is as a lot a narrative in some methods as Wendy’s story itself. And that’s why we deliberately left loads of the questions in — we wished folks to know the journey of the filmmakers and the way upsetting it was for all of us in sure cases and in addition how outrageous in some methods the conditions have been. Like, Wendy can be left alone with out meals, fully on her personal in that condominium with stairs that she might simply fall down. There was nobody there 24/7. So, these are simply all of the questions we had all through. However, after all, if we had recognized that Wendy had dementia going into it, nobody would’ve rolled a digital camera.
