Natalia Grace has become a worldwide sensation as true crime fanatics have attempted to figure out her story. She was accused of being an adult who portrayed herself as a minor. Natalia was then adopted, and allegedly tried to harm her family. This was made into a limited series for Hulu, but Natalia wants to clear her name. Keep reading for more details on what her lawsuit states.
Natalia Grace Sues Hulu
True crime fans came to know Natalia Grace as a Ukrainian-born orphan who was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. This is a rare form of dwarfism, and she was perceived to be a young girl when she was adopted by the Barnetts in 2010. Yet, as it turned out, or what people were made to believe, was that she was actually much older. Allegedly, the family felt she was only six, but then signs pointed to her being above the age of eighteen. They changed her legal age to 22 and left her behind in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana.
The Barnetts moved with their other children to Canada and essentially “abandoned” Natalia, left to fend for herself. Claims were made that she tried to kill the Barnetts. Per Michael Barnett, the former adoptive father:
“She threatened to stab my sons, drag their bodies outside and bury them underneath the deck. I promise you within five years someone is dead.”
Natalia vehemently denied the allegations, and there was a widely-watched documentary, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, and The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks. Following that, Hulu came out with Good American Family, a drama series based on the events of Natalia’s life with the Barnetts. Now, she is suing both Hulu and Disney for how they portrayed her in the show, which starred Grey’s Anatomy’s Ellen Pompeo in the role of Kristine Barnett.
A year after Good American Family premiered, Natalia filed a defamation lawsuit against Hulu and Disney. She claimed that the series portrayed her as “deceptive, dangerous [and] manipulative.”
More To The Story
Natalia Grace has amassed a new audience on TikTok, who love and support her. They feel that she has been through a lot and think that she deserves the world.
@natalyah.grace03 Asked if my friend if they had any non chalant pics of me?? This is what they sent me 😭😭😭😭😭#fyp #nonchalantwomen #viral #comedy #embarrassing ♬ Ode to Joy- Symphony No.9 in D Minor ‘choral’ – Lorne Balfe & Russell Emanuel & Steve Kofsky
That being said, it makes sense why she has opted to file the suit against Hulu. Along with feeling that the show made her look “deceptive, dangerous [and] manipulative,” Natalia also claims it brought on “emotional distress.” Furthermore, she stated that Good American Family’s portrayal of her could have caused viewers who watched to see her as:
“deceptive, dangerous, manipulative, dishonest, not truly a child and responsible for acts of abuse, violence or attempted violence.”
It must be noted that the Hulu series always offered a disclaimer prior to the episodes airing. They likely knew that this could happen, so they were trying to stop any suits before they happened. It is unclear what will happen with Natalia and if she can gain anything from the lawsuit.
Did you watch Good American Family, and do you think that Natalia Grace has a case against Hulu? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.
