Elisabeth Finch, a former writer and consulting producer for the popular ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy,” and the focus of a new documentary, has confessed in an Instagram post that she “lied about so much.”
The Peacock docuseries, Anatomy of Lies, is inspired by a Vanity Fair article from May 2022, which exposed allegations that Finch had fabricated details about her health and personal life during her time on the show. This included falsely claiming to have a rare bone cancer called chondrosarcoma.
On the day the docuseries premiered, Finch posted a statement on Instagram, admitting that she had given “no one any reason to believe a word I say.” She acknowledged lying about “things so many people have been devastated by in real life.”
“I’m sorry” feels like the smallest thing I can say compared to the damage I’ve caused, but it’s the most honest,” Finch wrote. “I became trapped in a cycle of lies, hurting and betraying those closest to me—my family, friends, and colleagues. I’m working to make amends and express genuine remorse, though I understand some may never be ready to accept it.”
She also revealed that she has been undergoing mental health treatment for nearly three years.
Jennifer Beyer, Finch’s ex-wife, appears in the documentary’s trailer, sharing regret for allowing Finch into her life and her children’s lives. “When you love someone, you’ll ignore red flags until they’re hitting you in the face,” Beyer remarked.
In her Instagram post, Finch reflected on their relationship, saying she “fell deeply, truly in love” with Beyer and came to love her children “as my own … and still do to this day.”
Finch admitted that one of her biggest mistakes, aside from lying about cancer, was accepting Jennifer Beyer’s proposal before being truthful with her. She acknowledged there is no justification for her lies and the trauma they caused, and committed to holding herself accountable and working to repair the damage, while understanding it will take time for others to trust her again.
In December 2022, Finch confessed to fabricating her cancer diagnosis, as well as claiming to have lost a kidney and part of her leg. According to The Ankler, she even used a fake catheter and shaved her head to mimic chemotherapy while working on Grey’s Anatomy. Finch also falsely told colleagues her brother had died by suicide, though he was alive.
She revealed her lies started during the 2007 writers’ strike after a knee injury. When the support she received for knee-replacement surgery faded, she turned to lying for attention. Finch resigned from Grey’s Anatomy and sought in-patient treatment before an investigation into her behavior began.
CNN’s Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.
Elisabeth Finch, a former Grey’s Anatomy writer, admitted to fabricating significant parts of her life, including a fake cancer diagnosis, personal tragedies, and medical treatments. Her lies deeply affected her relationships, including with her ex-wife Jennifer Beyer, and traumatized those around her. Finch has since sought mental health treatment, acknowledging there is no excuse for her actions and vowing to make amends, though she understands regaining trust will take time. Her admissions reflect a struggle for attention and support, which she now works to overcome while taking full accountability for the harm caused.
