Wendy Williams’ Publicist Defends Herself Over Exploitive Documentary
Wendy Williams’ publicist Shawn Zanotti is opening up about her opinion regarding the exploitive Lifetime documentary. She says that she wishes Lifetime never started filming her or Wendy Williams now and feels that she was lied to about the basis of the docuseries. Continue reading to see what else Zanotti has to say about her experience with Wendy and the Lifetime crew.
Shawn Zanotti Says Lifetime Lied To Her About The Doc
Wendy’s publicist started trending on social media over the weekend with viewers sounding off about her behavior in the docuseries. People believe that Shawn Zanotti was complacent about the star’s drinking problem and her declining health condition. However, Shawn doesn’t feel that the documentary painted her in a good light. She also says that the project was supposed to be celebratory of Wendy’s career. Instead, it exploits the former talk show host’s condition.
“It’s horrible they would do something like this to her,” Shawn Zanotti told People. “And for what gain? For what reason?”
“I would never let Wendy put her name and brand on the line like that ever. She’s an icon. It’s not the story we signed up for and I feel lied to,” Wendy’s publicist said. “It’s so difficult for me to even watch. Wendy would be mortified.”
Like many people involved with the Lifetime doc, Shawn says that she has not spoken to or seen Wendy Williams since April 2023. At that time, Wendy was moved to a medical facility for help with cognitive issues. The decision was made by her guardian and her location is not known to any of Wendy’s friends or family.
Wendy Williams’ Publicist Went Unpaid For Nearly A Year
Shawn Zanitti was hired to be Wendy Williams’ publicist two years ago. In May 2022, the star was put under financial guardianship though and, according to Shawn, she was never paid for her services as a publicist again.
“Besides one time I was paid by her manager, Will [Selby], for a website I built for Wendy’s podcast, I worked for free,” she shared with People. On top of that, she also allegedly shelled money out of her own pockets to feed Wendy Williams and take care of her.
She says that Wendy called her at all hours of the day telling her that she was starving. As a result, Shawn Zanotti wound up paying for food to be ordered for Wendy from across the country.
“All I did was help because Wendy asked me to, out of my own pocket,” Shawn explained. “I didn’t make any money off her at all. The whole time I’ve known her, I’ve fed her, helped, advised her, and worked for her endless hours a day for free. So, that’s why I was so hurt and offended when I saw what her family was saying in that documentary about me.”
When it comes to her complacency regarding Wendy’s drinking and exploiting her cognitive decline, Shawn Zanotti says she didn’t know the extent of the star’s problems. Prior to filming, Shawn hadn’t been around Wendy Williams in person. She maintains that she did not know what she was like before because she’d never been around her.
“No one ever told me she couldn’t drink, and she only had those few sips around me,” Shawn said. “Her health should always come first. Had I known, I would have advised her not to do the documentary at all.”
What do you think about what Wendy Williams’ publicist is saying? Sound off in the comments below.
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