Grey's Anatomy is teeming with drama and scandal, helping to make it one of the best medical dramas ever made. Whether it's a life-or-death situation or a steamy love triangle, this show does well to draw viewers in with its exaggerated storylines. Alongside its appeal, Grey's Anatomy is often praised for being somewhat accurate, especially when it comes to the logistics surrounding a hospital.
Yet, it seems that Grey's Anatomy's drama goes a lot deeper than fans expect. Elisabeth Finch rose to fame in 2015 for securing a highly-paid position on the show's writing team. But, a new documentary on Peacock is set to reveal Finch's lies and how she fabricated her life so that she could climb her way up the ladder. So, who is Elisabeth Finch, and what does Anatomy of Lies aim to prove about this deeply engrossing story?
How Was Elisabeth Finch Involved in Grey’s Anatomy?
Title | Role | Years Present |
|---|---|---|
True Blood | Writers' Assistant | 2008-2010 |
The Vampire Diaries | Story Writer | 2012 |
No Ordinary Family | Writer | 2010-2011 |
Looking For My Brother | Writer | 2006 |
Elisabeth Finch's initial story was absolutely ground-breaking and showcased a woman who seemed to have battled it all. In 2015, she started working on Grey's Anatomy as an Executive Producer and Writer, a highly coveted position. Before she secured this role, she was well-known for writing features in popular publications like Elle about her battle with Chondrosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in bone cartilage. As such, the rest of the writing team at Grey's Anatomy was keen to get her on board because her story was so inspiring, and they believed that it would give the show a bit more medical accuracy. Alongside her role as a writer, Finch also made a brief appearance on the show as Nurse Elisabeth in Season 15, Episode 19, "Silent All These Years."
Elizabeth Finch's Previous Work
Throughout her time on the show, she was considered a key asset and was also involved in a ton of key decision-making processes. Fans will also note that she worked on a collection of memorable episodes, such as Season 16, Episode 16, and "Leave a Light On," which focuses on the departure of the popular character Alex Karev. To top it all off, Grey's Anatomy also used Finch's medical struggles as the basis of Dr. Catherine Avery's arc in which she battled the same type of cancer as Finch herself. On the surface, Elisabeth Finch appears to be an already accomplished screenwriter who managed to gain an excellent opportunity just by sharing her heartbreaking story.
Finch admitted that she would use makeup to appear more ill, use a fake catheter port, and even pretend to be sick in shared bathrooms.
Yet, certain problems began to arise very early on. During her time at a mental health facility in Kansas, she entered under the pseudonym Jo. This is where she met her ex-partner, Jennifer Beyer, who was in the process of recovering from an abusive relationship. Beyer had recently separated from her abusive husband and claimed that he threatened to come and find her. Alongside this, Finch claimed that her brother, who had apparently abused her as a child, was after her, too. This caused the facility to heighten its security ten-fold. Long-time fans of Grey's Anatomy will recognize that this incident mirrors the story of Jo Wilson, who was also chased and threatened by her husband, Paul Stadler. As such, it seems that Finch used her wife's abuse story as inspiration for a pivotal arc in Grey's Anatomy history.
Why Was She Fired From the Show?
Finch's presence in the Grey's Anatomy writers' room was undeniable, as she often produced essays for international publications that detailed her further medical issues. Over the years, she discussed the horror of having an abortion during chemotherapy, losing a kidney, and even having an unwanted knee replacement due to a misdiagnosis. Admittedly, a handful of publications, such as The Hollywood Reporter, have since deleted Finch's essays as they no longer believe in her credibility.
But, it wasn't just her medical history that was a ruse. Finch also mentioned that she lost a friend in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018, a story that was also added to Grey's Anatomy. She also revealed that she tragically lost her brother via suicide, as well as many other loved ones. It's important to mention that during her time on Grey's Anatomy, Finch was seen as a resource for very popular storylines and her story was expressed through her own words and through the show.
Yet, Elisabeth Finch's immense house of cards promptly fell down in 2022. Finch's estranged wife, Jennifer Beyer, emailed Shonda Rhimes personally, suggesting that she had fabricated her entire medical history. Disney acted on these claims and launched a detailed investigation into Finch's medical history back in March 2022. Apparently, Finch was not happy to collaborate on this investigation and would often deny workers access to her medical notes or doctor's records. In December 2022, Elisabeth Finch dramatically revealed that she never had cancer and would be taking a leave of absence from Grey's Anatomy.
But, as soon as she stepped away from Grey's Anatomy, it appeared that Finch lied about more than just her cancer. She previously mentioned that her brother had died but was, in fact, alive and well in Florida. He is even practicing as an acclaimed doctor. Her story about the Tree of Life shooting was allegedly fake, as the synagogue mentioned that no one named Elisabeth Finch had helped to clean up the bodies after the incident. Thus, it seemed that Finch faked her countless PTSD experiences in order to gain access to a mental health treatment facility.
During various interviews, Finch explained that her lies were all part of a maladaptive coping mechanism. In 2007, she hurt her knee and reveled in the attention she received from friends and family. But, as soon as these people went back to their normal lives, Finch was keen to get the same spark of attention, so she started to fake cancer until her story spiraled out of control. A friend of hers used to drive her to all of her cancer appointments, but Finch forced her to wait outside in the car. It was later revealed that the writer would spend hours roaming the halls of the hospital until she went back to the car to see her friend.
How Does Anatomy of Lies Respond to This Scandal?
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There's no denying that Elisabeth Finch's story was incredibly shocking, and many publications were keen to comment on the scandal. Vanity Fair released a couple of lengthy articles detailing all of Finch's claims and exploring just how far this facade went. Since this outburst, Grey's Anatomy, ABC, and Shondaland have refused to comment on the situation. But Peacock is now set to release a three-part documentary surrounding Finch's lies and how they impacted Grey's Anatomy's reputation and lore. Complete with new information, interviews, and images, Anatomy of Lies is determined to bring this shocking story to wider audiences. Alongside this information, the series relies heavily on stories from Finch's ex-wife, Beyer, and other people, all of which explore the shock they felt after learning that Elizabeth had lied about so much.
In a press release from Peacock, the series will display:
The rise and fall of Grey’s Anatomy star writer Elisabeth Finch, whose jaw-dropping lies fooled Hollywood for years.
It should be noted that Grey's Anatomy has not commented on the release of this series, nor has Finch's legal team. As Grey's Anatomy prepares for the release of its 21st season, it seems that this primetime juggernaut has no plans of slowing down soon. But, the scandals surrounding Elisabeth Finch's medical history did rock the show to its core back in 2022, but it could be argued that these lies only made the drama seem more appealing. Anatomy of Lies is set to premiere on Peacock on October 15th, 2024.
