Wendy Williams spotted leaving NYC restaurant days after she was placed on financial guardianship

Embattled talk show host Wendy Williams was spotted leaving a trendy Manhattan eatery Wednesday night – days after it was revealed she was put under financial guardianship by her bank.

Williams, who has been at war with Wells Fargo for months over access to her accounts after members of her team raised concerns she was of her ‘unsound mind,’ was seen smiling outside Brooklyn Chop House in the Financial District Wednesday after finishing dinner at the posh restaurant.

The Five-time Daytime Emmy nominee, who stepped back from hosting her eponymous daytime show in July due to what she called health concerns over her Graves’ disease and lymphedema, was photographed smiling as she was escorted by an employee out of the eatery, which serves as a popular hangout for celebrities.

The embattled presenter looked touched as fans stationed outside the steakhouse greeted her as she exited, showing their support amid her ongoing and well-documented legal battle.

Embattled talk show host Wendy Williams was spotted leaving trendy Manhattan eatery The Brooklyn Chophouse late Wednesday night – days after it was revealed she was put under financial guardianship by her bank

The Five-time Daytime Emmy nominee, who stepped back from hosting her eponymous daytime show in July amid health concerns brought on by her Graves’ disease and lymphedema, was photographed smiling as she was escorted by an employee out of the eatery, which serves as a popular hangout for celebrities

Williams, who has been at war with Wells Fargo for months over access to her accounts after since-nixed members of her team raised concerns she was of her ‘unsound mind,’ was seen smiling outside the Financial District restaurant after finishing dinner

After fawning over her fans and joking with onlookers and staff, Williams, 57, entered a black SUV that had been awaiting her arrival, and was quickly carted off.

The appearance was as the first time the star was photographed in public in nearly a month, when she attended the Met Gala on May 2, and came days after it was revealed that her finances would be controlled by a court-appointed guardian due to mental health concerns raised by several of the presenter’s former staff.

Williams, who has been a fixture in the Big Apple for decades but has been seen less and less in recent months, has been at war with Wells Fargo since January, after staffers raised concerns that she was of ‘unsound mind.’

In January, Williams’ former financial adviser Lori Schiller, accused the star of being of unsound mind.  

The accusation spurred the bank to block Williams – who has a reported net worth of $20million – from accessing her accounts in mid-January as they assessed the situation.

The action led Williams to fire Schiller, as well as longtime manager Bernie Young and crisis manager Howard Bragman – both of whom have since spoken out about the presenters’ inability to manage her finances.

‘Bernie and Howard are out,’ a source close to Williams told The Sun at the time. ‘They don’t even have a way to get in contact with her.’   

The insider further revealed that ‘no one has no way to get in contact with Wendy,’ and that she doesn’t even have her own phone anymore’ – hinting at the star’s mental state.

The embattled presenter looked touched as fans stationed outside the steakhouse greeted her as she exited, showing their support for the five-time Daytime Emmy nominee, amid her ongoing and well-documented legal battle to regain control of her finances

The appearance was the first time the star was photographed in public in nearly a month, when she attended the Met Gala on May 2, and came days after it was revealed that her finances would be controlled by a court-appointed guardian

Lawyers for Williams responded by filing a motion that month demanding the bank unfreeze her accounts.  

In March, Young, a well known New York producer who’s worked on shows such as The Rose O’Donnell Show and The Martha Stewart Show, filed documents to become Williams’ legal guardian in a bid to gain control over her finances, saying he had the host’s ‘best interests’ at heart.  

Young, meanwhile, filed the petition in New York court arguing he should have access to Wendy’s millions because she ‘suffers serious health problems.’

The bank however, ruled the hold be upgraded to a temporary guardianship, further denying Williams access to her assets and statements – as well as her millions of dollars. At the time, Wells Fargo said the media personality was facing ‘undue influence and financial exploitation,’ citing accounts from former adviser Schiller.

The bank ‘has strong reason to believe’ Williams is ‘the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,’ it claimed at the time.  

‘I want my money, this is not fair’: Wells Fargo fire froze Wendy’s account temporarily back in March after her ex-manager Bernie Young reportedly raised concerns over her mental health. It was revealed over the weekend that a New York judge has since made that ruling permanent at least until July, when Williams’ situation will be reportedly reassessed 

Legal filings subsequently revealed that Schiller had alleged to the bank that Williams was ‘of unsound mind’ and claimed that she ‘witnessed signs of exploitation, including Wendy Williams’ own expressed apprehension’ about her close acquaintances and team.

Later that month, in three-and-a-half-minute video shared to Instagram, Williams aired her grievances against Wells Fargo, Schiller, Young and the New York court system, accusing them all of unjust treatment. 

Williams’ lawyer LaShawn Thomas says they disagree with the ruling, and that Williams will not accept a longterm guardianship. 

‘My thing is that I’ve been asking questions about my money and suddenly Lori Schiller has got no response regarding my money,’ Williams said in an impassioned plea.

‘I want my money. It’s not fair, and Wells Fargo has no questions and answers with regarding my money. This is not fair, and Lori Schiller and Wells Fargo have this guardianship petition about keeping me away from my money. This is not right!’ 

The video saw Williams further fire at former manager Young, noting that he was ‘no good,’ and that the entire ordeal was ‘not fair at all.’ 

Then, this weekend, it was revealed that the financial guardianship had been made permanent, with the order stating that a New York judge would appoint someone to look over the talking head’s finances at least until July, when the order will be reassessed.

Williams, meanwhile, maintains she is capable of hiring her own financial advisors. She alleges the claims were put forth in an attempt to lessen the public outcry and regulatory scrutiny mounting around Wells Fargo due to their actions – which she calls overly aggressive and wrong.

Williams’ lawyer LaShawn Thomas says they disagree with the ruling, and that Williams will not accept a longterm guardianship. 

‘Wendy doesn’t agree with a financial guardian being appointed,’ Thomas explained in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. ‘If it’s the court’s intention to have one appointed over her affairs for the long haul, she definitely isn’t going to accept that.’  

Thomas said the recent ruling concerning the guardianship stemmed from a request Williams made to check her bank statements. 

The bank didn’t let her, the attorney said, citing that the host was an ‘incapacitated person.’

The guardianship will be reassessed in July.

Williams, pictured here in April, maintains she is capable of hiring her own financial advisors. She alleges the claims were put forth in an attempt to lessen the public outcry and regulatory scrutiny mounting around Wells Fargo due to their actions