Wendy Williams Celebrates 60th Birthday Amid Family Support

As Wendy Williams turns 60, her family and fans are rallying around her, offering support during her ongoing legal and health challenges. Wendy, who is under a court-ordered guardianship due to her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, remains in the hearts and minds of those who love her.

A source close to the situation exclusively tells PEOPLE that the media personality’s family is “rooting” for her as she marks her milestone birthday on Thursday, July 18. The family, despite being largely denied contact, is sending their well wishes. 

“Wendy Williams’s family is unable to speak on her current condition and location due to ongoing litigation and the fact that they have largely been denied contact. But they are all rooting and praying for Wendy and want to express their well wishes as she celebrates her 60th birthday,” the source said.

“She was, is and always will be an icon,” the insider added.

Tributes have been pouring in for the talk show legend. Television network Fox Soul shared a heartfelt message on social media: “Happy birthday to talk show legend⁠, Wendy Williams 💜 We love you!” 

Cultural commentator Evan Ross Katz also honored her on Instagram with two throwback photos from her talk show, writing, “Happy 60th birthday to the unyielding queen of daytime, the icon, the legend, the moment: Wendy Williams. We love you. We miss you. Pop culture just isn’t the same without your commentary. Wishing you health and happiness always.”

Williams’ family members have struggled to keep in touch with her since her court-ordered guardianship began in April 2022. In February, her sister Wanda Finnie told PEOPLE that the family was not informed of her diagnosis when she was placed in a facility for cognitive issues. 

Finnie expressed frustration over the lack of communication, saying the family hadn’t received any updates since the fall of 2021, when Wendy spent time in Florida with them.

“When she was in Florida, there were a number of people involved. Even beyond family, there were doctors involved, people in Wendy’s professional world that were involved. She had a health team in place, nurses in place and she had family in place. She was getting healthier,” Finnie explained.

The family alleges that Sabrina Morrissey, Wendy’s court-ordered guardian, is the only person who currently has unfettered access to her. “How did she go from this aunt or sister that we love and is healthy one minute to this person who’s in and out of the hospital?” Finnie asked. “How is that system better than the system the family could put in place? I don’t know. I do know that this system is broken. I hope that at some point, Wendy becomes strong enough where she can speak on her own behalf.”

Amid the announcement of her diagnosis, Wendy thanked her fans for their “overwhelming” support in a statement shared by her care team and exclusively obtained by PEOPLE. “I want to say I have immense gratitude for the love and kind words I have received after sharing my diagnosis of Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Let me say, wow! Your response has been overwhelming. The messages shared with me have touched me, reminding me of the power of unity and the need for compassion,” the statement read.