Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian orphan whose adoptive parents famously claimed she was an adult “sociopath” posing as a child, is now taking on two media giants. On Friday, March 20, 2026, Natalia filed a defamation and emotional distress lawsuit against Disney and Hulu. The filing targets the 2025 Hulu series Good American Family, starring Ellen Pompeo. Natalia, now 22, filed the lawsuit pro se, meaning she acts as her own attorney.
A Battle For Identity
The lawsuit alleges the Hulu series depicts Natalia as a “dangerous adult” and a “manipulative liar.” While her former adoptive parents, the Barnetts, claimed she was a grown woman, 2023 DNA evidence confirmed she was indeed a child during the ordeal. Natalia argues the show ignores this reality to favor a “horror movie” narrative. She seeks unspecified damages for libel and false light invasion of privacy. She claims the show’s structure intentionally “monster-fied” her for entertainment.
Real World Consequences
The fallout from the series has reportedly impacted Natalia’s attempt at a fresh start. She has severed ties with her former adoptive families and currently lives alone. Natalia is training for a career as a professional photographer. However, she claims the show’s “psycho” label invites constant public harassment. This negative attention reportedly threatens her ability to build a stable professional life. The lawsuit aims to hold the studios accountable for the damage to her personal reputation.
Medical Reality Vs. Fiction
Beyond the legal battle, Natalia faces a critical medical crisis. She suffers from a rare form of dwarfism and mitochondrial myopathy. Natalia is currently raising over $500,000 for a complex spinal surgery. This procedure is necessary to prevent the risk of total paralysis. She feels the series ignored these physical vulnerabilities to favor a sensationalized plot. The contrast between her medical reality and her television portrayal remains a central point of her legal filing.
The Series Context
The series Good American Family stars Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass. It focuses on the Barnetts’ claim that Natalia was an adult masquerading as a six-year-old. Despite the Barnetts’ 2012 petition to legally change her age to 22, the 2023 DNA tests confirmed her birth year as 2003. While the Barnetts were eventually acquitted of neglect charges, Natalia continues to fight for her true history. Disney and Hulu have not yet issued a formal response to the new filing.
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