Wendy Williams is back in the public conversation after a rare New York City appearance brought renewed attention to her long-running fight over guardianship and personal independence. The former daytime television host had largely remained out of public view, making the recent sighting especially significant for fans who have followed her legal and health struggles. During the outing, Williams reportedly delivered a brief but forceful message when asked about her situation: “I want out!”
The moment does not resolve the legal battle surrounding Williams. However, it does put her own wishes back at the center of a story that has involved court proceedings, medical evaluations and competing claims about her ability to manage her affairs. Her case has remained closely watched because the guardianship affects important parts of her personal and financial life.
For Williams, the latest appearance is more than a celebrity sighting. It offers another public glimpse into a woman who spent years building one of television’s most recognizable entertainment brands before health problems and legal complications dramatically changed her life.
Wendy Williams Makes a Rare Public Appearance in August 2026
Williams was seen in New York City in August 2026, marking her first reported public appearance in roughly six months. She was photographed while out in the city and appeared to be accompanied by another person. When a paparazzo asked what she wanted her fans to know about what she was experiencing, Williams reportedly responded with a direct plea for freedom.
The timing matters because Williams has spent much of the past several years away from the spotlight. Her previous public appearances have been limited, while her legal team and representatives have continued to deal with questions surrounding her guardianship and medical status.
The new sighting also comes after earlier attempts to challenge the court arrangement. Williams has repeatedly expressed opposition to remaining under guardianship and has argued publicly that she should have greater control over her life and finances.
Still, a public statement does not automatically change a court-ordered guardianship. Any legal change depends on the relevant court process and the evidence presented about Williams’ circumstances.
What Wendy Williams Said During the Sighting
The most widely reported part of the encounter was Williams’ short response: “I want out!” The statement was made while she was in New York and quickly drew attention because it echoed concerns she has expressed publicly before.
Williams has previously challenged the idea that she should remain under court supervision. In earlier interviews, she described feeling restricted and questioned the circumstances surrounding her care.
Her latest comment should therefore be understood as part of a longer pattern rather than an isolated statement. At the same time, the brief exchange cannot establish her current medical or legal capacity on its own.
Why Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Remains a Major Issue
Williams’ guardianship dates back to 2022, when Wells Fargo raised concerns about her ability to manage her finances. A New York court subsequently appointed attorney Sabrina E. Morrissey as her legal guardian. The arrangement has remained a central point of conflict between Williams and those responsible for overseeing her affairs.
The guardianship became intertwined with growing concerns about Williams’ health and her ability to make financial and personal decisions. Her television career was already under strain after years of health problems, including Graves’ disease and other medical issues.
Williams has not accepted the arrangement quietly. She has spoken publicly about wanting more independence and has disputed claims about her cognitive condition. Her supporters and legal representatives have also pursued ways to reassess her circumstances.
At the same time, the guardian’s side has rejected allegations that Williams has been mistreated. That disagreement makes the case more complicated than a simple dispute between Williams and a single individual.
The legal battle has continued through multiple developments, including efforts to challenge the guardianship and questions surrounding later medical evaluations. As a result, the current situation requires separating Williams’ statements, court decisions, medical information and allegations rather than treating them as interchangeable facts.
Who Is Wendy Williams’ Guardian?
Attorney Sabrina E. Morrissey became Williams’ court-appointed guardian in 2022 after concerns about Williams’ finances and wellbeing reached the courts. The guardianship gives Morrissey authority over areas of Williams’ affairs that fall within the court’s order.
The arrangement has remained controversial because Williams has repeatedly said she wants it ended. Her legal representatives have pursued avenues for challenging the restrictions, while Morrissey’s side has defended the guardianship and disputed accusations concerning Williams’ treatment.
That difference is important when evaluating new reports. Williams can publicly express her wishes, but the legal status of the guardianship remains a matter for the court.
For now, her August 2026 statement has renewed attention on that unresolved question: whether and when Williams can regain greater control over her personal and financial decisions.
Wendy Williams Has Repeatedly Asked for More Independence
Wendy Williams has made it clear that she wants greater control over her life. Her latest August 2026 public appearance continues a pattern that became especially visible in 2025, when she spoke publicly about her guardianship and questioned whether she still needed it. During a March 2025 interview with The View, Williams said she wanted to terminate the guardianship and move forward with her life.
Her concerns have centered on where she lives, how much freedom she has and who makes important decisions on her behalf. In another 2025 interview, Williams described her experience in the care facility as deeply restrictive and argued that the system had limited her independence.
Those comments matter because they show that her reported “I want out!” statement in August did not emerge without context. Williams has raised similar concerns for more than a year.
However, her wishes and the legal status of the guardianship remain separate issues. A person can challenge a guardianship, but a court must ultimately determine whether the legal arrangement should continue, change or end.
Her Earlier Public Comments About the Guardianship
Williams’ public criticism became particularly prominent in early 2025. She said she believed she could make decisions for herself and questioned why she remained under court supervision.
She also discussed wanting to leave the facility and return to a more independent life. Her comments prompted renewed debate about whether her circumstances matched the public descriptions of her medical condition.
At the same time, her guardian’s representatives maintained that Williams receives appropriate care and disputed allegations of wrongdoing. ABC News reported that the guardian’s attorney said the guardian’s activities remain regulated and supervised by the court.
That disagreement remains central to the story. Williams’ statements provide her perspective, while the guardianship continues under the authority of the court.
Wendy Williams’ Health History and the Disputed Diagnosis
Williams’ guardianship cannot be separated completely from her long history of health problems. She stepped away from The Wendy Williams Show after years of medical issues, including Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism and lymphedema. Her health challenges eventually contributed to the end of her long-running daytime program.
Health-related stories involving public figures require careful attention to confirmed diagnoses, personal statements and verified updates. For another example, see our coverage of Lucy Davis’ stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis and life today.
In 2024, Williams’ care team publicly announced that she had received diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. The announcement added another major dimension to an already complicated situation because both conditions can affect communication and cognitive functioning.
Williams, however, has publicly disputed the diagnosis and questioned whether it accurately reflects her abilities. That disagreement became a major part of her efforts to challenge the guardianship.
The story became even more complicated after later medical evaluations prompted renewed discussion about her diagnosis. Different reports have described those developments in different ways, so the safest conclusion is that questions about Williams’ current cognitive and legal capacity have remained contested.
What the Later Medical Evaluation Found
The question of Williams’ diagnosis became especially important in 2025 after she publicly rejected the idea that she was incapacitated. Her guardian sought another comprehensive medical evaluation, and a judge allowed that process to move forward.
Later reporting produced conflicting accounts about the results. Some reports said an evaluation supported the existing diagnosis, while other reporting cited sources who said Williams no longer had dementia.
That distinction matters. A media report about a medical evaluation does not automatically change a court order. The legal question involves more than a diagnosis alone and can include evidence concerning a person’s ability to manage personal, medical and financial affairs.
As of the latest August 2026 reporting, Williams remains under the court-ordered arrangement despite her continued objections. Her recent public plea has therefore renewed attention on whether another legal or medical review could eventually alter that situation.
What the Wendy Williams Legal Battle Means for Her Future
The guardianship has shaped nearly every major part of Williams’ life since 2022. Wells Fargo raised concerns about her financial affairs, and a New York court ultimately placed her under a court-appointed guardianship. Attorney Sabrina E. Morrissey became her guardian.
For Williams, the issue is not simply about money. Public reports have described restrictions involving her living arrangements, healthcare and personal decisions. Williams has repeatedly argued that she should have more authority over those areas.
Her legal team has pursued efforts to challenge the arrangement, while representatives for the guardian have defended the existing system. Because much of the underlying court record remains private, the public does not have access to every piece of evidence considered by the court.
That makes it especially important to avoid treating either side’s claims as the complete story.
Can Wendy Williams Leave Her Guardianship?
Williams can seek to have a court review or terminate the guardianship, but her public statements alone cannot end it.
The process depends on the applicable court proceedings and evidence concerning her capacity to manage her affairs. Williams’ attorneys have pursued such efforts, including seeking medical evaluations that could support a challenge to the arrangement.
For now, the guardianship remains in place. Her August 2026 statement shows that Williams continues to oppose it, but it does not mean that a court has already granted her request.
That distinction will remain important as the story develops. Any meaningful change would need to come through the legal process rather than through a public appearance alone.
Charlamagne Tha God Recently Shared a Different Side of Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams’ story has recently taken another unexpected turn through a private conversation recalled by Charlamagne Tha God and Loren LoRosa. During an August 2026 episode of The Brilliant Idiots, the two discussed a dinner they had with Williams roughly a year and a half earlier. Their conversation offered a more reflective picture of the former talk-show host than the outspoken celebrity commentator audiences knew from radio and television.
According to their account, Williams reflected on the way she had discussed celebrities throughout her career. The conversation reportedly focused on whether the difficulties she was experiencing represented some form of consequence for her past commentary.
That revelation has attracted attention because Williams built her career by making celebrity lives part of the public conversation. She became known for direct opinions, rumors, interviews and observations that often generated strong reactions.
However, the dinner account remains a recollection shared publicly by Charlamagne and LoRosa. It should not be treated as a formal statement from Williams about her legal or medical circumstances.
The timing also gives the story added relevance. Williams has since appeared publicly again and reportedly expressed her desire to leave her guardianship. Together, the two developments show how her relationship with her own public image has changed.
Why Wendy Williams’ “Karma” Comment Matters
The reported dinner conversation stands out because it suggests Williams was thinking about her career from a very different perspective. Rather than discussing another celebrity, she was reportedly reflecting on herself and the consequences of living much of her professional life in the spotlight.
Charlamagne reportedly connected Williams’ comments to his own experiences in media. That connection is notable because both personalities built audiences around outspoken commentary, although their careers developed in different eras and formats.
The story does not prove that Williams believes her current legal or health circumstances are punishment for her past work. Instead, it reveals a personal interpretation reportedly shared during a private dinner.
That distinction matters. Williams’ guardianship and health situation involve legal and medical questions that cannot be explained by a simple idea of “karma.”
Still, the reported conversation adds an emotional dimension to her story. The woman once famous for dissecting other people’s lives was reportedly taking stock of her own public legacy.
Wendy Williams’ Career Before the Guardianship Battle
Long before her guardianship became a major part of her public story, Williams had already established herself as one of America’s most recognizable entertainment personalities.
Wendy Williams’ career also reflects the kind of long-running celebrity influence seen in other major entertainment figures. For another look at a veteran star’s career, health, and lasting impact, see our coverage of Phil Collins in 2026.
Her career began in radio, where she developed the direct and sometimes provocative style that later became her television trademark. She worked at several stations before becoming a major New York radio personality. Her nationally syndicated radio program helped establish her as a celebrity-news commentator with a distinctive voice.
Television eventually expanded her audience dramatically. The Wendy Williams Show premiered nationally in 2009 after an earlier trial run and became a fixture of daytime programming.
The show’s format combined celebrity interviews, entertainment news, audience interaction and Williams’ signature commentary. She could move from a serious discussion to a pop-culture rumor or personal anecdote within the same episode.
That flexibility became part of her appeal. Viewers knew they were getting Williams’ personality as much as they were getting traditional talk-show interviews.
Her success also made her an influential figure in entertainment journalism. Celebrities could become major topics simply because Williams discussed them, while her catchphrases and reactions frequently became part of the broader pop-culture conversation.
How The Wendy Williams Show Changed Celebrity Talk Television
The Wendy Williams Show gave Williams a platform where her personality drove the format. Unlike a conventional interview program built primarily around celebrity guests, the show frequently centered on Williams’ reactions to entertainment news.
That approach reflected her radio background. She was comfortable speaking directly to an audience, expressing strong opinions and turning celebrity gossip into a conversation rather than simply reporting it.
The program also created a recognizable relationship between Williams and her viewers. Her audience became known as “Wendy watchers,” and her ability to speak conversationally helped make the studio format feel personal.
The show’s success lasted more than a decade. It premiered in 2008 and eventually became nationally syndicated, running for 13 seasons before ending in 2022.
Williams’ influence extended beyond ratings. Her style became part of the language of celebrity culture, particularly during a period when daytime television, radio and online entertainment news increasingly overlapped.
That legacy helps explain why her current situation continues to attract significant public interest. Williams was not simply a television host; she had spent decades teaching audiences to pay attention to what happened behind the scenes of celebrity life.
What Happened to The Wendy Williams Show?
The final years of The Wendy Williams Show unfolded alongside Williams’ worsening health problems. She stopped regularly hosting the program during its 13th season, and guest hosts stepped in while producers waited to see whether she could return.
Williams had hoped to return to her purple chair. However, ongoing health concerns made that increasingly difficult. In February 2022, the show’s distributor announced that the program would end and that Sherri Shepherd would take over the daytime time slot with a new talk show.
The series ultimately aired its final original episode on June 17, 2022. Williams did not appear in person for the finale, which instead included a video tribute celebrating her contribution to the program.
The ending marked a major turning point. For more than a decade, Williams had maintained a regular television presence. Suddenly, audiences no longer had a daily program through which they could hear directly from her.
At the time, Williams indicated that she still wanted to work again. She even discussed the possibility of pursuing a podcast after the television show’s conclusion.
Those plans never developed into the return many viewers expected. Instead, Williams’ public life became increasingly connected to questions about her health, guardianship and ability to make decisions independently.
That shift helps explain why every later public appearance has carried unusual significance. For someone whose career depended on being seen and heard, prolonged absence has become one of the defining features of her recent story.
Wendy Williams’ Recent Public Life Has Been Limited
Wendy Williams has spent much of the past several years away from the public spotlight that once defined her career. Since stepping away from The Wendy Williams Show, her appearances have become increasingly rare, while her guardianship and health have remained the focus of public discussion.
Her decision to remain largely out of the spotlight also connects with a broader trend among celebrities choosing more private lives, including Ariana Grande’s recent step back from public life.
In August 2026, that pattern changed when Williams was seen in New York City. The outing marked her first reported public appearance since February, giving fans a new glimpse of the former daytime television star. During the encounter, she reportedly responded to a question about her situation by saying, “I want out!”
The appearance also showed that Williams can still attract intense attention simply by being seen in public. Her career once depended on frequent television appearances, but her recent life has largely unfolded away from cameras.
Earlier in 2026, Williams also discussed her life inside an assisted-living and memory-care facility. She described a routine that included church visits and occasional trips to the gym, while also speaking about restrictions on her movement. Those comments offered more detail about her daily life than the public had received during much of her absence.
The contrast is striking: Williams once controlled a national television platform, while today her public appearances remain closely connected to questions about her autonomy.
Her February 2026 Public Appearance
Before the August sighting, Williams’ previous widely reported public appearance came in February 2026, when she attended her father’s funeral. That appearance marked an earlier brief return to public view after a period of limited visibility.
The gap between those appearances highlights how unusual Williams’ recent public activity has become. Each sighting attracts attention not simply because she is a familiar celebrity, but because her supporters and critics continue to watch for signs of change in her circumstances.
Her August appearance therefore carried particular weight. It provided another opportunity for Williams to speak for herself, even if only briefly.
What We Know About Wendy Williams Right Now
As of August 2026, Wendy Williams remains involved in an ongoing legal fight over the court-ordered guardianship that began in 2022. Attorney Sabrina E. Morrissey was appointed as her guardian after Wells Fargo raised concerns about Williams’ ability to manage her financial affairs. Williams has repeatedly opposed the arrangement and wants greater control over her life.
Williams also remains associated with a New York assisted-living and memory-care facility where she has lived since 2023. Her own descriptions of life there have emphasized both the amenities and the restrictions she says she faces.
Her health remains another complicated part of the story. Williams’ care team announced diagnoses involving primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, while later reports described conflicting information about her medical status. Because those accounts do not all agree, it is important to distinguish established diagnoses from later claims and reports about subsequent evaluations.
Meanwhile, Williams continues to publicly express a desire for independence. Her latest “I want out!” statement reinforces that position, but it does not itself change the legal arrangement.
Her Legal and Personal Situation Remains Unresolved
The biggest unanswered question is whether Williams can eventually regain control over the areas of her life covered by the guardianship.
Her legal team has pursued efforts connected to her capacity and the continuation of the arrangement. At the same time, the guardian’s side has defended its actions and disputed allegations concerning Williams’ treatment. Public reports do not provide every detail considered by the court, so outside observers cannot fully reconstruct the legal record from interviews and news reports alone.
Another recent development illustrates how complicated the situation has become. In July 2026, Williams’ guardian and A&E Networks reached a private settlement ending litigation connected to the documentary Where Is Wendy Williams? The settlement resolved that dispute, but it did not end the separate guardianship case.
For now, the clearest fact is that Williams continues to seek more independence while the legal framework surrounding her remains in place. Her August appearance has brought that conflict back into the spotlight, but it has not provided a final resolution.
What Has Not Been Confirmed About Wendy Williams
The public conversation surrounding Wendy Williams often moves faster than the available evidence. Her health, living arrangements and legal status have generated conflicting reports, making it important to separate confirmed developments from claims that remain disputed.
That distinction is especially important when covering celebrities whose personal circumstances attract intense public attention. CLIMAX Magazine also examines sensitive celebrity stories by separating confirmed developments from speculation, including Jared Leto’s allegations and public response.
One example involves her medical condition. Williams’ care team previously announced diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Later reporting, however, cited sources who said a subsequent neurological evaluation produced a different conclusion. Entertainment Tonight currently lists reporting that Williams does not have dementia according to a source familiar with a later evaluation.
Those conflicting accounts should not be reduced to a simple declaration that one side has definitively won the medical debate. A reported evaluation and a public statement do not automatically determine the legal status of a guardianship.
Similarly, Williams’ statement that she wants out does not mean that her guardianship has ended. Current reporting continues to describe the court-ordered arrangement as active.
Separating Confirmed Facts From Speculation
Several points are clear: Williams remains under the court-ordered arrangement, she has publicly objected to it, and she recently appeared in New York after months away from public view.
Other claims require more caution. Reports about her exact medical condition, future legal outcome and ability to leave her current living arrangement have varied. Likewise, predictions about a specific date when the guardianship might end should not be presented as settled unless a court or her legal representatives formally confirm them.
That distinction matters because Williams’ situation involves deeply personal medical and legal issues. A short public appearance cannot answer every question surrounding her capacity or care.
The most responsible approach is therefore to focus on what Williams has said, what court-related developments have been reported and what remains unresolved. Her latest appearance clearly shows that she wants her situation to change. What happens next will depend on the legal process and the evidence presented within it.
What Could Happen Next for Wendy Williams?
Wendy Williams’ next chapter will likely depend on the continuing legal process rather than a single public appearance. Her August 2026 plea for freedom has renewed attention on the guardianship, but current reporting still describes the court-ordered arrangement as active. Williams has repeatedly sought greater control over her life, while her legal representatives have pursued questions surrounding her capacity and the continuation of the guardianship.
A future change could involve another court review, additional medical evidence or a decision concerning Williams’ ability to manage the areas of her life currently covered by the guardianship. However, the public does not have access to every detail of the underlying proceedings, so it would be premature to predict when or whether the arrangement will end.
Her medical situation also remains an important factor. Reports have described conflicting accounts about later evaluations and Williams’ diagnosis. Because those reports do not establish a simple, universally accepted conclusion, the safest approach is to wait for verified legal or medical developments rather than assume that a particular outcome is imminent.
There is also renewed interest in Williams’ professional future. She has expressed a desire to work again, but no verified announcement currently confirms a television comeback, new talk show or regular broadcasting role.
Questions about whether established stars can return to the spotlight also appear in our coverage of Sandra Bullock’s return to Hollywood after Bryan Randall’s death.
Could Wendy Williams Return to Television?
A television return remains possible in principle, but there is no confirmed comeback project at this time. Williams has previously spoken about wanting to work again, and reports in 2026 have continued to discuss her enduring interest in returning to the entertainment world.
Any return would require more than audience demand. Williams’ health, communication abilities, legal circumstances and day-to-day independence would all affect whether she could take on a regular production.
There is also renewed industry interest in telling her story. Reports in August 2026 said Peacock and Netflix were developing separate Wendy Williams documentary projects, although those reports did not establish that Williams herself would participate on camera.
For now, therefore, a comeback should be viewed as a possibility rather than an announced plan.
Wendy Williams’ Legacy Beyond the Headlines
It is easy to view Williams primarily through the lens of her recent legal and health struggles. Yet her career was far larger than the circumstances that followed the end of her daytime show.
Looking beyond recent headlines can provide a fuller picture of a celebrity’s career and cultural impact. A similar approach appears in our profile of John Wayne’s career, best movies and Western legacy.
Williams built a distinctive identity through radio before becoming a major television personality. Her approach to celebrity news combined strong opinions, humor, interviews and an unusually direct relationship with her audience.
The Wendy Williams Show ran for 13 seasons and became one of the most recognizable daytime entertainment programs of its era. Williams’ signature reactions became part of popular culture, while her coverage could quickly turn an entertainment story into a national conversation.
Her influence also extended beyond television. Williams helped demonstrate how a personality-driven format could bridge radio, daytime television and celebrity media. She became a reference point for later entertainment commentators who adopted similarly conversational and opinionated approaches.
That legacy makes the current story particularly poignant. Williams spent decades asking celebrities difficult questions and discussing the private details of public figures. Now, the public has intense interest in her own private life.
The challenge is to remember that Williams’ legacy should not be reduced to her current circumstances. Her career helped shape modern celebrity commentary, and her contribution to daytime television remains significant even as questions about her future continue.
Why Wendy Williams Still Matters to Pop Culture
Williams still matters because her broadcasting style created a recognizable cultural voice. She was not simply delivering entertainment headlines; she turned her reactions into the event itself.
That formula made her especially influential during an era when celebrity news moved rapidly between radio, television, magazines and social media.
Her legacy also survives through the audience she built. Even after the end of The Wendy Williams Show, new reports about her life generate significant interest because viewers remember the personality who once occupied their screens every weekday.
The continuing attention also demonstrates how deeply Williams connected with her audience. Her supporters remain interested in her wellbeing, independence and potential return to public life.
For that reason, her current story should be approached with both journalistic care and historical perspective. Wendy Williams remains an important entertainment figure, even though her career has entered a very different phase.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wendy Williams
What is Wendy Williams doing now?
As of August 2026, Wendy Williams is not hosting a regular television program. Current reporting describes her as living in a New York care setting while remaining under court-ordered guardianship. She has continued to express a desire for greater independence and recently appeared publicly in New York.
Is Wendy Williams still under guardianship?
Yes. The latest reporting available in August 2026 continues to describe Williams as being under a court-ordered guardianship. Her recent public statement calling for freedom did not itself terminate the arrangement.
What happened to Wendy Williams’ health?
Williams has faced several health problems over the years, including Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism and lymphedema. Her care team publicly announced diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in 2024, while later reporting has raised questions about her subsequent medical evaluations. The conflicting accounts mean her current medical status should be described cautiously.
When was Wendy Williams last seen publicly?
Williams was seen in New York in August 2026, marking her first reported public appearance in about six months. She had previously appeared publicly at her father’s funeral in February 2026.
Why does Wendy Williams want to leave her guardianship?
Williams has repeatedly said that she wants greater control over her life, finances and personal decisions. During her latest public appearance, she reportedly summarized that desire by saying, “I want out!”
Who is Wendy Williams’ guardian?
Attorney Sabrina E. Morrissey was appointed as Williams’ court-appointed guardian in 2022 after concerns were raised about Williams’ ability to manage her financial affairs. The guardianship remains a subject of ongoing dispute.
Final Takeaway on Wendy Williams in 2026
Wendy Williams’ latest public appearance has reopened a question that has followed her for years: when will she regain control over her own life?
Her reported August 2026 plea for freedom is significant because it gives Williams another opportunity to communicate her wishes directly. Yet it does not resolve the legal or medical questions surrounding her guardianship. Those issues remain tied to court proceedings, medical evidence and competing accounts from people involved in her care.
For now, the clearest picture is that Williams remains under guardianship, continues to seek greater independence and has not announced a confirmed return to regular television. Her recent appearance may become another important moment in the ongoing legal battle, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.
At the same time, the conversation around Wendy Williams should extend beyond her current struggles. She built a remarkable career in radio and television, transformed celebrity commentary into a personality-driven form of entertainment and created a daytime show that remained part of pop culture for more than a decade.
Her story in 2026 is therefore about more than whether Wendy Williams returns to television. It is about autonomy, public identity and what happens when a person who spent decades controlling the conversation becomes the subject of one. For now, her future remains unsettled—but Williams’ own voice continues to be an important part of the story.