[Gondring]

I don't understand what happened. Did they ever make a commitment to her? Was any contract signed?

Alleged, as I understand it:
They encouraged family members and friends to make nasty comments about her, to create promotional material, implying she would be transformed. The promos actually ran on television, but the night before she was to receive the surgery, ABC backed out evidently. Her sister was so upset having said the things she did, she committed suicide.

I don't know all the details, but it seems plausible, from what we know of the TV production business, IMHO.

My favorite is the plastic surgeon's doubletalk:

"It's a true, honest-to-God doctor-patient relationship," [plastic surgeon Dr. Harvey Zarem] said. He added that he does not remember working with Williams specifically.

As I said on the other thread.... AH! a Hollywood "relationship"...

[blurb]

The promos actually ran on television, but the night before she was to receive the surgery, ABC backed out evidently.

If they actually ran promos then it sounds like she has a case. I'm sure they'll settle out; the publicity debacle isn't worth it for them.

[M-cubed]

The promos actually ran on television, but the night before she was to receive the surgery, ABC backed out evidently. Her sister was so upset having said the things she did, she committed suicide.""<<

Hence the first episode of ABC's new reality TV series "Suicide Watch" was born....