Natalia Grace's fans criticize Good American Family as trailer causes outrage

“I don’t like the way they are portraying the adoption of a disabled child… this is horrible, especially now that we are aware of the truth and how much she was abused and taken advantage of. Why did they make her face like that, almost like mocking her… the adoptive mom was a psycho.”

One user on YouTube shared the above comment after Hulu officially released the trailer for Good American Family on February 19, 2025. The comment reflects the outrage surrounding the dramatization of Natalia Grace’s story. Fans of Natalia are criticizing the series for its portrayal of her tragic life.

The trailer dramatizes the true crime story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan who was adopted in 2010 by Michael and Kristine Barnett. The Barnetts later accused Natalia of being an adult posing as a child, a claim that fueled a media frenzy.

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A case compared to the movie Orphan

Natalia’s story has often been likened to the horror film Orphan, which follows a similar plot of an adult pretending to be a child. Many viewers have questioned whether Hulu’s new show draws unfair parallels to the fictional movie.

“This is literally Orphan in a TV series format,” one viewer commented.

Another added, “Wow, the orphan girl is actually an adult. What an original idea.”

In 2010, the Barnetts adopted Natalia, who was believed to be eight years old at the time. Just two years later, the Barnetts had her legal age changed to 22 and moved her to a separate apartment, claiming she was dangerous and manipulative.

The trailer for Good American Family has been met with fierce criticism for its portrayal of Natalia. Fans have expressed concerns that the show is distorting the facts and painting Natalia as a villain rather than a victim.

“I don’t expect everyone to be knowledgeable about true crime, but it’s truly saddening to see people connecting this to a fictional made-up story (Orphan)...They turned her into the perpetrator when she was the real victim that endured horrific treatment by her adoptive parents.”

The Barnetts’ treatment of Natalia has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Critics argue that Good American Family is glossing over the abuse she faced.

One viewer commented, “The Barnetts are horrible people, and I can tell by the tone of this preview that these producers didn’t give a flying F about presenting this truthfully.”

One person summed it up: “They turned her into the bad guy to sell a show, but she was the one who was abused.”

Despite the controversy surrounding her adoption, Natalia has gained a strong support network of advocates who are determined to see her story told accurately. The outrage over the Hulu series highlights a broader issue of how true crime stories are dramatized for entertainment at the expense of real victims.