Wendy Williams's niece Alex Finnie denies her family are 'benefitting' from new Lifetime documentary and opens up about host's 'unhealthy habits' - as it's confirmed the TV star has been diagnosed with dementia and aphasia

Wendy Williams's family have insisted they have not been taking advantage of the TV star ahead of the release of a new two-part documentary, which exposes her heartbreaking 'mental and physical decline.'

Where Is Wendy Williams? highlights the 59-year-old's struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, and her niece, Alex Finnie, has warned viewers that they are going to witness 'a broken woman' in the two-part film - which sees Wendy have a tearful reunion with Blac Chyna.

During an exclusive interview with Deborah Roberts for ABC's Nightline, Alex claimed that Wendy's relatives were not 'benefitting from this' and were 'shut out' when they initially tried to help the mother-of-one, who she said had 'unhealthy habits.'

Dismissing claims that Wendy has been 'exploited' by her family, Alex told Deborah in the segment that aired on Thursday's Good Morning America: 'I will say this, first and foremost, my aunt is the executive producer of this documentary and she said, "Now is the perfect time because I want to take ownership of my story."'

Wendy Williams's heartbreaking 'physical and mental decline' will be played out in a new Lifetime documentary

Wendy's niece Alex Finnie told ABC that the family had not been taking advantage or 'benefitting' from the TV star

Alex spoke to Nightline's Deborah Roberts about her aunt's 'unhealthy habits' and her hopes to 'resume a career'

When asked about Wendy's drinking, Alex said: 'In terms of being an alcoholic, I don't want to categorize her because I'm not a medical professional, but what I can say is that my aunt has had some unhealthy habits when it's come to alcohol.

'I said I wasn't going to cry because I feel like I have cried enough over the last year and a half, but what people are going to see is a broken woman who has had the world on her shoulders for so long and just cracked.'

Alex explained that when filming first began, she knew 'right off the bat' that something wasn't right with Wendy: 'She didn't have to say one thing, I knew that every cylinder was not firing the way it should.'

Her comments came before Wendy's team announced later Thursday that the former radio DJ has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) as well as aphasia - which is a disorder that affects how someone communicates.

FTD is a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. FTD can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement. 

During a pre-recorded interview that aired on Thursday's The View, Alex confirmed to the panel that 'there is more happening' with Wendy's health, and later on in the show, moderator Whoopi Goldberg announced the news of Wendy's diagnosis.

'We wanted to update you on some news that has just broke concerning Wendy Williams,' the Sister Act star said. 'Wendy and her care team just released a statement that she's been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontal temporal dementia. Our hearts go straight out to her.'

Wendy's diagnosis came in 2023, but a year prior to that in early 2022, Wells Fargo froze her bank accounts and denied her access to her funds, assets, and claimed to the court that she was being unduly influenced and a victim of financial exploitation.

Wendy is seen breaking down in the new Lifetime documentary and Alex said that she knew 'right off the bat' that something wasn't right with her aunt

The 59-year-old is currently staying in a 'treatment facility,' but her family have no idea where she actually is

The TV star's sister Wanda claimed that the 'people who love Wendy cannot see her'

This resulted in a New York judge appointing a guardian to manage her life and finances, and when the topic of Wendy's finances was broached by Deborah, Alex quickly replied: 'I personally have not seen family taking advantage of my aunt's money, I haven't.'

And when Deborah asked if it would be Wendy's family or managers who 'benefit' from the new documentary, Alex said: 'I think that's a question I can't even answer. I will say this, family benefitting from this, no, no.

'I just hope that the person that comes out of this victorious is my aunt. I know that, in talking with her, she does hope to resume a career. And my hope for her is that she does whatever she wants to do that makes her happy and that stays in the bounds of keeping her healthy.'

Deborah ended the segment by confirming that Wendy was currently 'in a treatment facility,' but her family had no idea where she was and were 'feeling exasperated' with the situation, but claim the TV star 'sounds much better'.

Speaking to People magazine recently, Wendy's family confirmed that they can only speak with her if she chooses to call them.

'The people who love her cannot see her,' Wendy's sister Wanda said. 'I think the big [question] is: How the hell did we get here?'

Wendy's guardian was instituted in May 2023, but her family members say they don't know what sparked the legal action, and the guardian's identity has not been announced, while documents related to their appointment have been sealed.

'All I know is that Wendy and her team walked into the courtroom one way, and they walked out, and the family is completely excluded,' Alex's mom Wanda continued.

Wendy's son, Kevin Hunter Jr. — whom she shares with her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter — comes under suspicion for allegedly stealing some of her money in the documentary, though he denies it on camera.

'I've never taken [money] without her consent,' he says in the the film, though Wendy's sister Wanda claims he is still financially supported by his mother.