Natalia Grace is a striking, true story that was reenacted on Hulu.
The Natalia Grace story has been a source of interest for years. It rose in fame again recently due to the new Hulu show, “Good American Family.” This series has been stirring up controversy, and many people see her as the villain. Natalia said, “That’s not who I am. But that seems to be the only thing people know—and that’s why it hurts me a lot.”
According to People Magazine, Natalia was born in Ukraine in 2003. Her mother had relinquished her rights because Natalia was born with a rare type of dwarfism. She spent most of her time in an orphanage and was adopted by a couple in New Hampshire in 2008. They, too, relinquished their parental rights because of her behavior. It wasn’t until she was later adopted in 2010 by a couple in Indiana, Kristine and Mark Barnett, that her story took a dark turn.
The Barnetts believed she was a 7-year-old girl until they discovered she had pubic hair, was menstruating, and had many adult teeth. It wasn’t until 2012 that the family decided to re-age her, changing her birth year from 2003 to 1989.
“Good American Family” is making people believe the rumors that Natalia is 22, and she is the evil one. However, the show “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks” is showing the “real” side of the story, with interviews and clips from some of the people involved.
“Good American Family” shows more of the Barnetts’ side, from when they adopt Natalia, to when they drop her off in an apartment to live alone. Kristine believes she is lying to her and demands information about her true self. She claims that Natalia tried to poison and kill her, and is an adult, not a child. They would punish Natalia for not telling them information, even though it was a closed adoption, and information wasn’t provided. After she and Mark moved Natalia to her apartment, Kristine told her to tell people, “I’m 22 years old, I just look young for my age,” whenever someone asked why she was by herself with no parental supervision around. They left her alone to feed, clothe, clean, and protect herself.
The Barnetts were the only ones who truly believed she was not her claimed age, and convinced neighbors, friends, and anyone Natalia talked to that she was an adult, a killer, and a liar. People began to fear Natalia and keep their distance to keep themselves safe because they didn’t know whom to believe.
“The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks” shows a different side. While Mark is not innocent of his actions, the jurors determined him “not guilty” for four acts of child neglect. He speaks about how Kristine is the “devil” and manipulates him into participating in everything they do. In some of the interviews, he almost lashes out from his anger and guilt over what they did. Natalia still does not see them as her parents and believes Mark could’ve stopped Kristine from committing more acts of child abuse, instead of just submitting to her.
Natalia is now 21 years old and living with the DePaul family. Prosecutors went to find Natalia’s biological mother, who lived in Ukraine, who stated she was born in 1979, out-ruling the court’s order for her birth date to be false, but Natalia still had to abide by it, saying “I’m legally 33, but I’m biologically 19” when people asked for her age.
The story of Natalia Grace is disgusting. The lies, facades, and abuse that were presented were inhumane to do to anyone, whether she was an adult or a child. Natalia was robbed of having a childhood. One only gets one family, and one only gets one chance to live out their youth, and this was hers.