Wendy Williams' son confirms TV host has 'alcohol-induced dementia' as tragic documentary shows star burping and believing she's in Miami when she's actually in California

Wendy Williams' son confirmed that his mother is suffering from alcohol-induced dementia for the very first time during Sunday night's Lifetime documentary 'Where is Wendy Williams?'

Kevin Hunter Jr., 23, revealed doctors have told him that alcohol had begun to affect 'her headspace and her brain.'

'I was able to really learn more about things going on with my mother internally. They basically said that because she was drinking so much, it was starting to affect her headspace and her brain. So, I think they said it was alcohol-induced dementia.'

The diagnosis by doctors goes some way in explaining Williams' often unsociable and erratic behavior which, in the intrusive new documentary, has showcased her burping, sleeping the day away in bed with bottles of alcohol by her side and lashing out at over the slightest transgressions. 

Williams was first told of her alcohol-related brain damage diagnosis years earlier in 2019 during her time at a rehab center in Delray Beach although her care team have said her' dementia diagnosis only happened in 2023.

Williams' care team stated the dementia diagnosis occurred in 2023 with the news only being made public last week, just before the documentary aired

Her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., 23, revealed for the first time his mother is grappling with alcohol-induced dementia and was personally told by doctors

Williams' niece Alex Finnie also revealed she was told of her aunts dementia diagnosis in the fall of 2022

During a visit to see her family members in Miami, Williams insisted she would be back on TV

Williams' niece Alex Finnie also revealed she was told of her aunts diagnosis in fall 2022. 

'All I know is that it was dementia. You look back at little things, and it's a slow roll. It's little things like, "When's your birthday again?' You know? 'What's his name again?" -But after seeing my aunt and really spending time with her in a state where she's in right now, I quickly realized that things were just not normal. It's heartbreaking.

'When it's come to my aunt's dementia, there are three things that didn't help her: divorce, the pandemic and then losing my grandmother,' Alex explains. 

In one of the more shocking incidents of the documentary, which details her struggles with alcohol abuse and mental health in recent years, Williams could be dining out with her publicist Shawn Zanotti.

Eating at a restaurant overlooking Los Angeles, Williams could be seen consuming several glasses of vodka with her lunch, before openly burping out loud, on camera. 

Following her lunch, Williams and Zanotti head to Universal Studios in Los Angeles to pitch a new talk show as part of the star's 'bounce back'.

NBC Universal declined to comment on her meeting with the producers. 

Williams seemingly loses all sense of where she is as she can be heard stressing how she doesn't want the show to be filmed 'here in Miami' - despite her being in LA. 

When asked by producers if there was any concern over the amount of alcohol she was consuming, Zanotti replies: 'Wendy knows her limits.' 

Other family members would beg to differ including her son and nephew Travis Finnie who openly declare Williams 'has a drinking problem.'

The devastating diagnosis was made public towards the end of last week, days before the airing of the four-and-a-half hour documentary.

While eating at a restaurant overlooking Los Angeles, Williams could be seen consuming several glasses of vodka with her lunch

Williams devastating dementia diagnosis was made public towards the end of last week, days before the airing of the four-and-a-half hour documentary

At one stage of the documentary, Williams went to visit her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

'As Wendy's fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves' Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health,' her team said in a statement.

'The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances.

'Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she requires.'

Frontotemporal dementia is a rare disease that affects parts of the brain controlling behavior and language. These parts of the brain shrink as the disease gets worse. 

The film had set out to chronicle Williams' comeback in 2022 but had to halt filming in April 2023 due to her entering a facility for cognitive issues

During one stage Williams can be seen in her bedroom with a mimosa by her side

The disease often includes primary progressive aphasia, which means it's causing problems with language skills. A person with this type of FTD may have trouble finding words or understanding speech.

Williams' self-titled daytime talk show ended in 2022 because of her health issues. Sherri Shepherd, who filled in for Williams as a guest host, received her own show.

Williams said in 2018 that she had been diagnosed years before with Graves' disease, which leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormones and can cause wide-ranging symptoms that can affect overall health. 

During Sunday night's documentary family members revealed how they don't know where she is and cannot call her themselves, but that she can call them if she wishes.

'I don't know the exact location of where she is, but I know that she is in an environment that is helping her to heal, emotionally, psychologically and physically,' Wanda said when asked by the producers. 'That's what I hope happens when she gets home. 

'Wendy's in a more positive place and in a stronger place than she was a year ago,' Wanda explains. 'It's almost like I'm talking to Wendy from years ago. It really is.' 

During Sunday night's documentary family members, including Wendy's sister Wanda revealed how they don't know where she is and cannot call her themselves, but that she can call them if she wishes

Son, Kevin Hunter Jr., left, and nephew Travis Finnie, right, say they want Williams to move to Miami where she will be cared for by family

'It has been a long journey in terms of the experience for our family and for Wendy,' Wanda Williams, Wendy's sister says in the documentary.

'I hope to come out of this letting people see the love that we have as a family together for each other as well as the love we have for Wendy, and to understand the journey we've been through that has not always been perfect. Everyone wanted the same thing, which is to see Wendy healthy and happy.' 

Wanda could be seen helping family members in their attempt o take back ownership of Williams' care from her court-appointed guardian. 

'When the whole process started, all members of this family were contacted about Wendy and what we needed for her. My feeling as her sister was that Wendy needs to have somebody with her 24 hours a day for the next few months,' Wanda detailed.

'I was told that it involved taking some kind of class, and I said, 'Yeah I'll do it.' I said, 'Whatever I gotta do, I'll be focused on Wendy's health.' And then all of a sudden, the wall came down and there was nothing.'

Family members share their concerns over who has access to Williams and the possibly intentions of those around her.

'I still see glimpses of my mom very often. She still has a chance to live a good and healthy life, but she needs to want to live that. I think that she's just weak and vulnerable and she needs to be around people who aren't gonna take advantage of that,' son, Kevin said. 

'I think that my mother should have family surrounding her. I've talked to her a lot about her staying in Florida and how much it would benefit her where she can't harm herself.'

I think in the back of her mind, she knows she would be able to still drink up there and do things that she shouldn't. I feel like my mom should never be by herself or alone.

Even before Williams was  placed under a court-ordered guardianship, her rights and those of her family began to be stripped away from them.

'My power of attorney was taken away from me when the court proceeding started,' Kevin explained. 'And then they tried to say that while the court case was going on that if we wanted to bring her to Florida, it'd be considered kidnapping.'

The documentary crew set out in 2022 to chronicle Williams' comeback but were forced to stop filming in April 2023 when, her manager 'and jeweler' Will Selby explained how she had to enter a facility to treat 'cognitive issues.' 

Her son, Kevin, says in the documentary that doctors had connected her cognitive issues directly to her excessive alcohol use.

In May of 2022 the New York State court system appointed an independent guardian to manage Williams' finances.

The guardianship started when Williams' bank Wells Fargo froze her accounts after her financial adviser at the time allegedly raised concerns that she was of 'unsound mind,' according to Williams' subsequent court filings.

Wells Fargo then petitioned a New York court to have the talk show host put under a guardianship, which a judge approved later in January 2022.

At the time, the bank claimed it feared that Williams' 'cognitive issues' put her at risk of being exploited financially.

Her son, Kevin, was accused of charging $100,000 to her American Express card, but he defended himself and in the documentary clarified that he had never spent a penny without his mother's consent.

'Do you think your mother should have a guardian?' the show's producer asks Hunter Jr.

'I think that my mother should have family. The family's side of the story hasn't been told, so it's kind of left this gray space of who's really telling the truth or what's really going on. I've always wanted the best for my mom. You know, I just stay strong,' Hunter Jr. stated.