Lies Unveiled: Inside the 'Grey's Anatomy' Scandal—The Fake Cancer Hoax Explained & How to Watch
With over 20 seasons under its belt, Grey’s Anatomy has made the careers of its creatives, writers, and stars. The creator of Grey’s Anatomy , Shonda Rhimes, has been at the helm of her own production company, Shondaland, which has produced many other successful TV programs. Other notable creatives who got their start on the medical drama include Krista Vernoff, who also served as an executive producer and writer on the hit comedy Shameless. The writing on Grey’s Anatomy Has also received numerous Emmy awards.
But one writer on the Grey’s Anatomy team made headlines, not for her creative accomplishments but for a massive controversy. Anatomy of Lies is a documentary series that explores one Grey’s Anatomy writer’s lies and fall from grace. Specifically, the three-part documentary delves into the impact of one writer's lies on Hollywood and her co-workers, and how one of television’s brightest hopefuls spun a web of fiction that blurred the line between storytelling and self-destruction.
Who Is Elisabeth Finch?
She's A Television Writer Who Got Her Start On True Blood

The writer at the center of Anatomy of Lies is Elisabeth Finch, sometimes professionally billed as Elisabeth R. Finch. She was born in 1978 and grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ with her mom, dad, and older brother. In high school, Finch wrote a play about a father molesting his daughter, which allegedly brought her mother to tears (via Time ). Finch graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in creative writing. Then Finch attended USC to study filmmaking, where she wrote and produced her own short film titled Looking for my Brother.
In 2008, Finch was hired as a writer on the HBO series True Blood, where she worked up the ranks from writer’s assistant to junior writer to finally a main writer. She also wrote two episodes of the short-lived series, No Ordinary Family . Finch had an affinity for vampires, as she also served as both a writer and story editor on The Vampire Diaries .
Finch's Cancer Lies, Explained
She Lied About More Than Having Cancer

Finch was always interested in Grey’s Anatomy However, she didn't get invited into the writers' room until 2014. This occurred following Finch's publication of an article. Elle where she elaborated on her experience with a uncommon type of bone cancer known as chondrosarcoma. She also penned an episode about it. Grey’s detailing her illness.
In the writer’s room, she became the go-to writer for any plot lines involving cancer. She wrote 13 episodes and produced 172 of the medical drama. In order to maintain the charade, Finch altered her appearance to look sick and gain accommodation while working on the show. She used her fake diagnosis to extend deadlines and take leaves of absence.
But Finch's lies didn't stop with her cancer diagnosis. She claimed she became pregnant while undergoing chemotherapy and had to make the life-altering decision to have an abortion. Finch also claimed that actress Anna Paquin , with whom Finch had become close while writing True Blood , donated a kidney to her. Additionally, Finch claimed that in 2019, her brother passed away due to suicide. However, he is actually alive and resides in Florida.
Allegedly, Finch tampered with the work of her fellow writers. Grey’s Anatomy In private, author Kiley Donovan revealed to Finch that her father was sexually abusing her mother. Following this disclosure, Finch proceeded to pen one of the most famous Grey’s Anatomy episodes The fifteenth season’s installment titled “After All These Years,” which tackled the issue of sexual assault, drew inspiration from Donovan's experience. Finch also had a cameo in this episode as Nurse Elisabeth. After reportedly experiencing significant psychological strain during the creation of this episode, Finch admitted herself to a mental health center in Arizona for some care. Time ).
How Finch Got Caught
Her Partner Became Suspicious

At the behavioral health center in Arizona, Finch encountered and grew close to Jen Beyer, a Kansas-based nurse and parent recuperating from an abusive relationship. This bond evolved into romance, leading to their marriage in February 2020. However, it was not until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that Finch’s deceptions came to light.
Later, when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, Finch would not allow Beyer's teenage daughter to return to school, claiming that the teen could catch COVID at school and inadvertently kill her. This began to pique Beyer's suspicions about her partner.
On top of Finch's COVID fears, she claimed to have PTSD from cleaning up a friend’s remains after the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue Massacre in Pittsburgh. After doing some online sleuthing, Beyer found that Finch was lying about this incident. In fact, Beyer discovered, through Finch’s Facebook page, that she wasn’t in Pittsburgh at the time of the mass shooting but was out partying.
But the clincher came when Beyer saw Finch in a photo where she had a bandage over her chest from where a chemotherapy port had been As Beyer was aware that Finch did not have any marks left over from chemotherapy. Beyer called out Finch regarding her false cancer claim, and Finch confessed to fabricating her illness. Additionally, she acknowledged that she didn’t know anybody who perished in the Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting.
Beyer then emailed Grey’s Anatomy Creator and writer Shonda Rhimes revealed the truth regarding Finch. Initially, she was placed on administrative leave as Disney Television Studios, the production company, investigated the situation. Grey’s Anatomy , looked into her case. Finch ultimately stepped down from the writing team in March 2022.
Where Finch Is Now
She's Not in TV Anymore

In 2022, Finch returned to the mental health facility in Arizona where he initially encountered Beyer. Half a year afterward, during an interview with The Ankler , Finch publicly confessed that she lied about her cancer diagnosis and other health issues. In the interview, Finch said:
"I know it’s absolutely wrong what I did. I lied and there’s no excuse for it. But there’s context for it. The best way I can explain it is when you experience a level of trauma a lot of people adopt a maladaptive coping mechanism. Some people drink to hide or forget things. Drug addicts try to alter their reality. Some people cut. I lied. That was my coping and my way to feel safe and seen and heard."
Although Finch hasn't returned to television writing as of yet, she stays hopeful about reconstructing her personal life and reviving her writing career. She chose not to participate in any appearances. Anatomy of Lies, and shared an official statement regarding her absence from the documentary on her private Instagram account (as of this writing) (via People ).
Where to Stream Anatomy of Lies
It Can Be Streamed on Peacock

The three-part docuseries, Anatomy of Lies, The show is inspired by Evgenia Peretz’s 2022 Vanity Fair expose about Finch. Although Peretz acts as a producer, her spouse, director and producer David Schisgall, helmed the series. Anatomy of Lies It is now available on Peacock. Although Finch isn't interviewed directly, she is represented via archived video clips and audio recordings. This production will appeal particularly to enthusiasts of candid documentary-style films. Grey’s Anatomy alike, Anatomy of Lies will leave viewers doubting everything.
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