- New drama Good American Family is streaming on Hulu
- Tells the mysterious case of an adoption that goes wrong
- Story involves a web of claims and counterclaims
Good American Family is currently streaming on Hulu, but while the story is incredible it is nevertheless based on a true story that has unravelled over years.
In Good American Family, a couple, Kristine and Michael Barnett (played by Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass), adopt a child with a rare form of dwarfism, Natalia Grace (Imogen Faith Reid). However, it quickly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems, and the family’s life begins to break down. The show is told from various perspectives, which reflects the differing versions of events that the characters have.
The official synopsis of Good American Family from Hulu says: “As they [the Barnetts] begin to raise her alongside their three biological children, mystery emerges around her age and background, and they slowly start to suspect she may not be who she says she is. As they defend their family from the daughter they’ve grown to believe is a threat, she fights her own battle to confront her past and what her future holds, in a showdown that ultimately plays out in the tabloids and the courtroom.”
Warning: spoilers ahead.
Good American Family – true story
While this is a drama, it is inspired by the true story of Natalia Grace, who has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita.
Natalia Grace’s story in the US started in 2008, when she was adopted from Ukraine by a couple in New Hampshire. But by 2010, she was listed for adoption again. it was then that the Barnetts adopted her.
At the time, Natalia was thought to be six or seven. But doubts were soon raised – including the allegation that Kristine discovered full public hair when bathing Natalia.
Within months, it is alleged that Natalia would bully her siblings and, more concerningly, hide knives in her bedroom. The Barnetts also allege that Natalia threatened to kill them in their sleep.
Another allegation – covered in Good American Family – is that Natalia tried to poison Kristine’s coffee.
But Natalia counterclaimed that Kristine staged the poisoning incident, and that her adoptive mother was physically abusive to her.
Matters continued to spiral, with the Barnetts legally changing Natalia’s age – meaning she was now classed as an adult – before moving to Canada without her, leaving her in an apartment.
Natalia was later taken in by a Christian pastor and his family, where she lived for 10 years.
Court case in Good American Family
After years of allegations, the Barnetts were charged with neglecting a dependent. However, after an investigation that ran for several years, Michael was found not guilty on three charges of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent. Later, all charges against Kristine were dismissed.
Is this the first time Natalia Grace’s story has been on TV?
The story has already been the subject of a documentary series, entitled The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which ran for three seasons from 2023-25. The series initially aired on ID, with the third season premiering on Max.
That series included interviews with Michael Barnett and Natalia. Kristine – who was divorced by Michael in 2014 – was not part of the series.
However, Kristine has previously taken to social media to refute the allegations that she abused Natalia at any time, noting that they had been “investigated” and “dismissed as unfounded”. She also reiterated claims that Natalia had displayed hurtful and sexual behaviour towards others.
Was Natalia Grace an adult?
One of the central contentions of the Barnetts was that Natalia was years older than she was claimed. However, DNA testing conducted by TruDiagnostic as part of the documentary series found that she was 22 years old at the time – meaning she would have been about nine when the Barnetts adopted her.
