Wendy Williams is an “incapacitated person” who needs a guardianship, her bank has claimed.
According to Page Six, Wells Fargo sent a letter to New York Supreme Court Judge Arlene Bluth requesting a hearing to determine whether Williams, who has not hosted her daytime talk show since July 2021 due to ongoing health issues, needs a professional to intervene in her affairs.
“We are concerned about [Williams’] situation,” attorney David H. Pikus wrote on behalf of the bank in the letter, which Page Six obtained.
“It is our hope that the Guardianship Part [of the court] will imminently appoint a temporary guardian or evaluator to review the situation and ensure that [Williams’] affairs are being properly handled.”
The move came after Williams’ attorney Celeste N. McCaw filed an emergency petition last Friday claiming Wells Fargo had “for more than two weeks” denied the TV host, 57, access to her “accounts, assets and statements” after her former financial adviser Lori Schiller alleged Williams was “of unsound mind
McCaw said in court documents obtained by us that Williams had fired Schiller as her adviser due to alleged “malfeasance” involving her accounts as well as “improper conduct in relation to their professional relationship.” However, the lawyer acknowledged Williams “continues to rely on Schiller’s advisement.”
Pikus argued in a separate letter sent to the judge Wednesday that Wells Fargo “has strong reason to believe” Williams is a “victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.” He requested to keep the case “under seal” to “preserve the confidential nature.”
Pikus claimed Schiller had “recently witnessed signs of exploitation, including [Williams’] own expressed apprehensions” about the people around her. He wrote that “other independent third parties who know [Williams] well … share these concerns.”
But McCaw wrote in response to Wednesday’s letter that Williams “denies that she is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.”
McCaw has requested a temporary restraining order against Wells Fargo to restrain the bank “from freezing [Williams’] accounts and interfering with her right to access her financial assets and statements.”
A spokesperson for Wells Fargo said in a statement to Page Six Thursday, “We deny any allegations of improper actions with respect to Ms. Williams’ accounts and are fully participating in a court process to reach a resolution that is in her best interest. The financial well-being of our clients is at the heart of everything we do.”
Williams hasn’t been seen in the public in recent months while guest hosts keep “The Wendy Williams Show” on the air. Page Six confirmed Wednesday that Sherri Shepherd is set to regularly host the series beginning in September.
Williams, who has been open about her struggles with Graves’ disease and addiction, made a rare public appearance in November when she told a photographer in Miami that she was “doing fabulous” despite an onslaught of reports about her health.
