Warning: The following article contains mentions of alleged child abuse.
Hulu’s upcoming series, Good American Family, draws inspiration from real-life events involving Ellen Pompeo’s character, Kristine Barnett, and Mark Duplass’s portrayal of Michael Barnett. Set to premiere in 2025, the limited drama series, created by Katie Robbins, explores the troubling story of the Barnetts’ adoption of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan born with diastrophic dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, in 2010. Before adopting Natalia, Kristine and Michael, who already had three biological sons—Jacob, Ethan, and Wesley—began to suspect that their new daughter was not what she claimed to be.
New episodes of Good American Family will be released weekly on Wednesdays, culminating in its finale, “Blood on Her Hands,”scheduled to air on April 30, 2025.
Unraveling the Barnett’s Adoption of Natalia Grace
The limited series dramatizes the Barnetts’ alarming journey, highlighting Kristine and Michael’s increasingly paranoid accusations against Grace. They claimed that Grace exhibited erratic and violent behavior, with Kristine alleging that Grace attempted to harm her. The couple’s severe suspicions led them to conclude that Grace was actually in her twenties rather than an innocent seven-year-old girl. In a controversial move, they successfully petitioned in 2012 to alter Grace’s birth year from 2003 to 1989, thereby legalizing their suspicions.
Relocation to Canada and Subsequent Events
Leaving Natalia Grace Behind
After securing a legal change to Grace’s birth date, the Barnetts moved to Canada in 2013, leaving her in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. They justified this decision by claiming it was essential for Grace to transition into adulthood, based on their belief that she was far older than her reported age.
The couple obtained this birth year alteration through the Marion County Probate Court, substantiated by psychological evaluations and age assessments from healthcare providers. Post their migration, Grace was eventually left under the care of another couple, Cynthia and Antwan Mans, who sought legal guardianship in 2016. They formally adopted her in 2023.
Divorce and Legal Troubles
The Barnetts’ Separation
Within a year of relocating, Michael Barnett initiated divorce proceedings against Kristine in 2014, the finalization of which dragged on until 2018. As depicted by the characters played by Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass in the series, the couple no longer shares a life together.
| Good American Family Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Ellen Pompeo | Kristine Barnett |
| Mark Duplass | Michael Barnett |
| Imogen Faith Reid | Natalia Grace |
| Sarayu Blue | Valika |
| Dulé Hill | Brandon Drysdale |
| Jenny O’Hara | Almeda |
| Kim Shaw | Jennifer |
| Christina Hendricks | Cynthia Mans |
Legal Outcomes Surrounding Natalia Grace
No Prison Time for the Barnetts
The complexities surrounding Grace’s guardianship ignited legal disputes, especially when Michael Barnett objected to the Mans’s guardianship claim, citing Natalia’s supposed maturity. This contention resulted in multiple charges against him, including neglect of a dependent. However, a jury found him not guilty of all charges in October 2022.
Kristine Barnett faced similar accusations, yet those charges were dismissed in March 2023. Notably, forensic documentation from 2010 suggested that Grace’s actual age was closer to eight, a fact that challenges the Barnetts’ initial claims. A subsequent DNA test in 2023 further revealed Grace’s age to be around 22, contradicting the Barnetts’ narrative.
The Current Lives of Kristine and Michael Barnett
Residents of Indiana
Current reports indicate that both Kristine and Michael Barnett reside in Indiana yet their exact marital statuses remain unclear. As of 2023, Michael is known to be living in Indianapolis, while Kristine’s last known residence was in Indiana, with records indicating a previous stay in Ontario.
In light of the controversy surrounding Natalia Grace, Kristine Barnett has publicly denied any wrongdoing. In a now-removed Facebook post from 2024, she asserted:
“Natalia was a very much loved and cared for member of my family. She was not abused by anyone in my family. Let’s get straight to these allegations. Nobody ever took a belt to Natalia and the allegations that she was ‘beaten’ are just plain false.”
In contrast, Michael Barnett has accused Kristine of manipulation, asserting that he faced similar treatment during their marriage. This tension is exposed in ID’s 2023 docuseries, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, where Grace confronts her former adoptive father.
Today, Natalia Grace does not reside with either Barnett. Instead, she is currently living with Nicole and Vincent DePaul, a couple who originally attempted to adopt her back in 2009, preceding the Barnetts’ involvement.