A+E Networks Argued That Wendy Williams’ Guardian Sought To “Unconstitutionally Silence” Criticism Via Effort To Halt Airing Of Documentary

deadline.com:

Newly unsealed documents shed light on A+E Networks‘ successful appeal of a last-minute effort to halt the airing of the Lifetime documentary Where Is Wendy Williams?

last month. A temporary guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, had sought a court order to stop the project, arguing in a lawsuit filed last month that the documentary was a “blatant exploitation of a vulnerable woman with a serious medical condition,” and that the talk host had lacked mental capacity to enter a contract to do the show.

A New York judge initially granted the order to prevent the airing of Where Is Wendy Williams?, but that was quickly reversed on appeal.

In arguing against a temporary restraining order to stop the project, A+E Networks’ attorney Rachel Strom wrote that Morrissey’s effort was an unconstitutional prior restraint, and on a topic that was in the public interest. “At a time when guardianship proceedings are being debated in our own State legislature and through headlines across the nation, the Order impermissibly gags defendants from publishing speech that is unquestionably a matter of public concern, namely [Wendy Williams] own journey through the guardianship process.” A+E’s attorney contended that “only after seeing the Documentary’s trailer and realizing her role in [Wendy Williams ] life may be criticized did Ms.