Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian woman with dwarfism at the centre of the 'Good American Family' series, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Disney and Hulu. The legal action stems from the dramatisation of her life story, which she claims contains false and damaging portrayals.
Grace was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010, who later accused her of lying about her age and being a threat. The Barnetts successfully petitioned a court to legally re-age her from 2003 to 1989. However, a DNA test in 2023 indicated she was actually 22 at the time, suggesting she was nine when adopted.
The series, starring Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass, explores the case from multiple perspectives. Grace denies all allegations of threatening or harming the Barnetts. The Barnetts were charged with neglect, with Michael found not guilty and Kristine's charges dropped in 2023.
After the Barnetts, Grace lived with Antwon and Cynthia Mans, who initially supported her. However, later accusations of controlling behaviour emerged, though Grace has not commented. The lawsuit argues that the series defames her by repeating the Barnetts' discredited claims.
