‘Good American Household’ True Story: What to Know About Natalia Grace Barnett

• The primary teaser for “Good American Household” was launched this week.
• The brand new Hulu present relies on the true story of Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace Barnett.
• Ellen Pompeo performs Kristine Barnett, Natalia Grace’s adoptive mom, who stated the lady was actually an grownup.

The true story behind the upcoming Hulu present “Good American Household” proves that actuality might be stranger than fiction.

The streamer launched the primary trailer for the collection this week, which shortly gathered over 2.5 million views on YouTube.

The clip facilities on Kristine Barnett (Ellen Pompeo), a mother and spouse residing a seemingly idyllic life who receives a name from an adoption company {that a} Ukrainian orphan wants a house — a little bit lady named Natalia Grace.

Mark Duplass performs Kristine’s husband, Michael Barnett, and Imogen Religion Reid performs Natalia Grace.

This is what you might want to find out about the true folks the present relies on and the difficult true story behind it.

Natalia Grace’s adoptive mother and father stated she was an grownup posing as a baby

Natalia Grace’s story was first publicized in 2019 after her adoptive mother and father have been charged with neglect, which they denied.

Kristine and Michael Barnett, an Indiana couple who’ve since divorced, adopted Natalia in 2010. On the time, they have been advised that the lady, who has a type of dwarfism, was 6 years outdated.

The Barnetts stated they got here to consider that Natalia, who they stated had menstrual durations and pubic hair, was actually a grown girl with a psychological sickness. Kristine Barnett stated that Natalia terrorized their household, attempting to kill them and pouring bleach into her espresso.

The Barnetts efficiently petitioned the courtroom to vary Natalia’s authorized age from 8 to 22 in 2012, making her a authorized grownup. They then put Natalia up in an house in Lafayette, Indiana, in 2013 and moved their household to Canada.

Natalia, who has all the time maintained she was a baby, was left to fend for herself for years. She ended up within the care of Cynthia and Antwon Mans, one other couple with a number of adopted kids.

After a yearslong investigation, the Barnetts have been charged with neglect. Michael was acquitted of the costs in October 2022, and the costs in opposition to Kristine have been dismissed in March 2023.

Natalia Grace’s story was advised in a multi-season docuseries

The outline for “Good American Household” notes that the fictionalized drama is “impressed by a number of tales, views, threats, interpretations, and accusations.”

The convoluted saga was beforehand unpacked in a docuseries, “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” which aired for 3 seasons on Investigation Discovery from 2023 to 2025. The collection centered on the views of a number of key folks concerned within the story.

The primary installment advised the backstory of the case and largely centered on Michael Barnett’s perspective and the Barnetts’ argument that Natalia was an grownup. Natalia did not take part in that installment however was the central focus of a follow-up, dubbed “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks,” in 2024.

“Natalia Speaks” offered the story from her perspective, saying Kristine Barnett had been abusive to her and had concocted the story (which had eerie similarities to the plot of the 2009 horror film “Orphan”) with a view to eliminate her. It even featured a confrontation between Natalia and Michael, who apologized to his former adoptive daughter for his actions and stated he’d additionally been abused by Kristine.

The second installment appeared to finish fortunately, with Natalia getting closure from Michael Barnett, taking a DNA take a look at to find out her true age, and being formally adopted by the Mans household. Nonetheless, the surprising ending of “Natalia Speaks” included a cellphone name that implied Natalia was at odds with the Mans household as nicely.

The “Closing Chapter,” a further 4 episodes launched in January 2025, adopted Natalia’s friction with Cynthia and Antwon Mans. She left them to reside with Nicole and Vince DePaul, a pair with dwarfism who’d beforehand tried to undertake Natalia earlier than the Barnetts did. Nicole DePaul accused Cynthia and Antwon Mans of stealing Natalia’s cash, which the Mans household has denied.

In the present day, Natalia remains to be residing with the DePaul household, has a long-distance boyfriend within the UK named Neil, and apparently is estranged from the Manses, who stay her authorized mother and father.

Kristine Barnett has maintained in public social media posts that Natalia was an grownup all alongside, calling her former adoptive daughter a “sociopath,” and has denied abuse allegations.

“Good American Household” will premiere on March 19 on Hulu.