Wendy Williams and Britney Spears aren’t typically seen as close companions. Their social environments and public interactions rarely, if ever, overlap. However, the beloved TV personality and the iconic pop singer share a unique bond that has captured public attention.
Interestingly, Williams often critiqued the singer harshly throughout her tenure on “The Wendy Williams Show.” She boldly made sensational comments about Spears, ranging from trivializing allegations of crystal meth addiction to labeling her as unstable. Williams also sided with Jamie Spears, Britney’s father, amid the intense scrutiny over Britney’s conservatorship.
Williams never extended an apology to Spears, yet she eventually altered her viewpoint, becoming a fervent supporter of the #FreeBritney movement. “How dare you, Mr. Spears. You had me fooled. And you too, Mrs. Spears. Death to all of them!” she exclaimed on her program. Unbeknownst to Williams at the time, she would later face a similar challenge, being placed under a guardianship that restricted her control over her own finances. After years of commenting on Spears’ circumstances, Williams encountered a parallel ordeal.
They both faced the imposition of legal conservatorships and guardianships
Britney Spears and Wendy Williams experienced significant loss of personal autonomy in their lives through legal arrangements.
Spears was placed into a conservatorship in 2008 following a series of public incidents, including an altercation with a paparazzo and shaving her head. This conservatorship, initiated by her family for her protection, granted her father, Jamie Spears, extensive control over her finances and personal decisions. This arrangement persisted until 2021, during which Spears reported a $36 million financial loss and accused her father of misappropriating her earnings. She later reflected on the dehumanizing nature of her conservatorship in her memoir “Woman in Me,” lamenting how it diminished her sense of personhood and femininity.
Similarly, Wendy Williams found herself under guardianship in May 2022, declared by Wells Fargo as an “incapacitated person” subject to financial exploitation. While labeled differently, her situation mirrors Spears’s conservatorship in effect. Overseen by attorney Sabrina Morrissey without prior personal connections, Williams’s arrangement differs from Spears’s in that it wasn’t initiated by family.
Reports suggest Williams is receiving treatment for medical issues, including dementia, and her lawyer has stated her opposition to this guardianship, highlighting her reluctance to have her affairs managed over the long term.
Wendy’s Freedom Movement Fueled by Britney’s Fans
Upon discovering the circumstances surrounding Wendy Williams, a wave of solidarity emerged among fans, including those who previously rallied behind Britney Spears. Despite Williams’ past critiques of Spears, the shared challenge of navigating life under a conservatorship sparked a collective effort to support Williams’ fight for freedom.
Advocates utilized social media to emphasize the importance of public awareness and intervention, drawing parallels to the successful #FreeBritney campaign.
While the future of Williams’ conservatorship remains uncertain, her gratitude for the community’s support has been evident. In a February 2024 statement to the Associated Press, Williams expressed heartfelt thanks for the encouragement and compassion shown to her, especially following her revelation of her dementia diagnosis.