In the last weeks of Wallis Annenberg’s life, a bitter family feud erupted over her care. Her children, Gregory, Lauren, and Charles, accused Vikki Levine, the sister of Annenberg’s longtime partner, Kris Levine, of isolating and overmedicating their mother, potentially hastening her decline. The children claimed Vikki Levine exerted control over Annenberg in “likely fatal” ways, using excess narcotics, and were distressed by plans to quickly remove Annenberg’s body from her Century City villa after her death.
Vikki Levine, who was Annenberg’s personal assistant and held authority over her medical decisions, denied the allegations, calling them “vicious and false.” She argued that the children were upset over not being informed about their mother’s cancer recurrence and her decision to die “as gently as possible.” Kris Levine, Annenberg’s partner since 2009, also denied the accusations, stating that the children were allowed to visit and that no harm was intended toward Annenberg.
Court records reveal that Annenberg had opted for hospice care in her final weeks, with medication to alleviate pain and anxiety. Despite this, her children remained alarmed about her treatment. The conflict drew in prominent lawyers and triggered legal actions, with the Annenberg children seeking to remove Vikki Levine from overseeing their mother’s care.
Wallis Annenberg, a philanthropist who donated about $1.5 billion to various causes, passed away at age 86. Her death has been marked by public mourning and tributes from figures like former President Biden and Governor Gavin Newsom. The family dispute has not involved financial issues but centers on Annenberg’s healthcare decisions, including an advance directive that gave Vikki Levine authority over her medical care. Annenberg’s children have questioned the legitimacy of this document, noting discrepancies in the signature.
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