Wendy Williams Set to Be Deposed in Lifetime Documentary Lawsuit

Last year the court appointed guardian for Wendy Williams filed a sealed lawsuit against the producers of the Lifetime documentary "Where is Wendy Williams [click here if you missed that]." 

The judge rules Wendy must sit for a deposition despite her dementia diagnosis...

From People

A new ruling has been made in the ongoing battle over Lifetime’s documentary about Wendy Williams.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, a judge issued an order on Sept. 15 to extend the stay of the legal proceedings against A&E Television Networks while Williams’ separate guardianship case is reviewed. A joint letter updating the court on the status of that case must be submitted by Nov. 5.

Additionally, the judge granted A&E’s request to depose the former talk show host, 61, which must take place by Nov. 4. This will be a “de bene esse” deposition, which occurs “in anticipation of future need” when a witness’ ability to testify later on might decline due to circumstances such as “age, health, fading memory,” for example.

The ruling cites Williams’ 2023 diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, which has contributed to keeping the television personality under a guardianship despite her many denials that she is “cognitively impaired.”

Her current guardian is Sabrina Morrissey, who filed the lawsuit against A&E and is awaiting a decision from the judge in the guardianship case to determine whether she will remain in her role and if Williams still requires a guardian following a new medical evaluation.

Still, the judge states in the new ruling that Williams’ “condition does not insulate her from providing testimony in this case” because the Federal Rules of Evidence “does not contain any requirement of mental ability” for witnesses.

“It will be up to the jury in this case to decide what weight to give to [Williams’] deposition testimony,” per the docs.