Elisabeth R. Finch: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American television writer}} |
{{short description|American television writer}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} |
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{{redirect|Elisabeth Finch|other people with a similar name|Elizabeth Finch (disambiguation){{!}}Elizabeth Finch}} |
{{redirect|Elisabeth Finch|other people with a similar name|Elizabeth Finch (disambiguation){{!}}Elizabeth Finch}} |
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'''Elisabeth R. Finch''' ( |
'''Elisabeth R. Finch''' (born March 1978)<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Katie |last=Mannion |url=https://people.com/where-is-former-greys-anatomy-writer-elisabeth-finch-now-8725472 |title=Where Is Grey’s Anatomy Writer Elisabeth Finch Now? Revisiting Her Shocking Cancer Hoax — and Where Her Career Stands Today |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=October 16, 2024}}</ref> is an American [[television writer]] best known for her work on the series ''[[True Blood]]'' and ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''. |
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Finch gained public notoriety for her abrupt resignation from ''Grey's Anatomy'', which was prompted by an investigation into a series of lies that she told about her personal and medical history.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=2022-04-01 |title=Embattled 'Grey's Anatomy' Writer Takes Leave of Absence From ABC Medical Drama |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greys-anatomy-writer-elisabeth-finch-leave-of-absence-1235123286/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== Early career == |
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| ⚫ | Finch began her career by writing a [[short film]] entitled ''Looking for My Brother''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842013/|title=Looking for My Brother (2006)|work=IMDb|accessdate=September 3, 2010}}</ref> She was then hired as |
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== Career == |
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== Leaving from ''Grey's Anatomy'' == |
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| ⚫ | Finch began her career by writing a [[short film]] entitled ''Looking for My Brother'', released in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842013/|title=Looking for My Brother (2006)|work=IMDb|accessdate=September 3, 2010}}</ref> She was then hired as a [[writers' assistant]] on ''True Blood'' in 2008. She worked on ''True Blood'' until 2010 and was credited as a [[writers' assistant]] on 17 episodes, as an assistant to writers on five episodes, and as a writer on three episodes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2353156/|title=Elisabeth Finch|work=IMDb|accessdate=September 3, 2010}}</ref> |
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In March 2022, it was reported that Finch had taken on a personal leave from ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rice |first1=Lynette|title=Consulting Producer Elisabeth Finch Takes Personal Leave from 'Grey's Anatomy'|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/elisabeth-finch-greys-anatomy-personal-leave-1234992287/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Shafer|first1=Ellise|title='Grey's Anatomy' Writer Takes Leave of Absence After Claims of Exaggerated Medical History|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/greys-anatomy-writer-elisabeth-finch-leave-of-absence-medical-history-1235220751/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref> |
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She wrote two episodes for the first and only season of ''[[No Ordinary Family]]'', which aired on ABC from 2010 to 2011. In 2012 she began working on ''[[The Vampire Diaries]]'' and was credited as a story writer on six episodes, story editor on two episodes, and executive story editor on 15 episodes.<ref name=":0" /> Coworkers reportedly gave her the nickname "Vampire Girl" as a joke referencing the niche she had established working on ''True Blood'' and ''The Vampire Diaries'' during her early career.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |first=Evgenia |last=Peretz |date=2022-05-02 |title=Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 1 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-truth-lies |access-date=2022-07-06 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== ''True Blood'' episodes == |
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*2.10 ''New World in My View'' |
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In 2015, Finch began working on ''Grey's Anatomy'' as a writer and producer. She wrote 13 episodes and produced a total of 172 episodes before her departure from the series.<ref name=":0" /> Finch was also a guest actor in the ''Grey's Anatomy'' [[Grey's Anatomy (season 15)|season 15]] episode "Silent All These Years", in which she played the role of Nurse Elisabeth.<ref name=":0" /> Finch was offered a position in the writer's room at ''Grey's Anatomy'' following the publication of a piece that she had written for ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'' in 2014 about her diagnosis with [[chondrosarcoma]] and her experience working as a television writer while undergoing cancer treatments.<ref name=":1" /> It has been reported that the chondrosarcoma diagnosis and subsequent [[story arc]] of the character Dr. Catherine Avery, played by [[Debbie Allen]], was inspired by Finch's supposed medical history.<ref name=":1" /> |
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*3.4 ''9 Crimes'' |
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*3.10 ''I Smell a Rat'' |
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== Controversy == |
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Throughout her time working in the writers' room at ''Grey's Anatomy'', Finch wrote a series of essays about her personal medical struggles in publications including ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'', ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', and [[Shondaland]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Alter |first=Rebecca |date=2022-03-31 |title=Grey's Anatomy Writer Takes Leave After Possibly Lying About Medical History |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/03/greys-anatomy-writer-suspended-medical-history.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> In these articles, she shared stories about her purported diagnosis with [[chondrosarcoma]] (a rare [[bone cancer]]), having an [[abortion]] while undergoing [[chemotherapy]], losing a kidney, and undergoing a [[knee replacement]] due to [[misdiagnosis]].<ref name=":3" /> Finch's medical history was never verified by any of the publications and she confessed to her then-wife Jennifer Beyer that none of these stories were true when Beyer confronted her over some inconsistencies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peretz |first1=Evgenia |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2 |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-jennifer-beyer |access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> |
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Finch had altered her appearance to appear sick while working on ''Grey's Anatomy'' and used stories about her medical diagnoses to gain accommodations at work, including deadline extensions and periods of absence.<ref name=":1" /> Finch also reportedly made allegations that her brother abused her as a child, that he died by suicide, and that she cleaned up the remains of a friend who was killed in the [[Tree of Life Synagogue shooting|Tree of Life synagogue mass shooting]].<ref name=":1" /> |
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In March 2022, it was reported that [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], a Shondaland affiliate at the time, had opened an investigation into Finch's falsehoods.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Min |first=Janice |title=SHOCKER: Disney Investigating 'Grey's Anatomy' Writer |url=https://theankler.com/p/shocker-disney-investigating-greys |access-date=2022-12-09 |date=March 17, 2022 |website=theankler.com |language=en}}</ref> The investigation was prompted when Beyer contacted Disney and Shondaland with information that she had uncovered about Finch's past.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kiefer |first=Peter |title=The 'Grey's Anatomy' Liar Confesses it All |url=https://theankler.com/p/the-greys-anatomy-liar-confesses |access-date=2022-12-09 |date=December 7, 2022 |website=theankler.com |language=en}}</ref> During Disney's investigation, Finch refused to provide medical documentation or undergo an independent medical evaluation to substantiate her claims, and she was subsequently placed on administrative leave on March 17, 2022.<ref name=":2" /> Finch formally resigned shortly after and the investigation ended.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Jessica |date=December 7, 2022 |title=Ousted 'Grey's Anatomy' writer Elisabeth Finch admits to lies about medical, personal history |url=https://ew.com/tv/greys-anatomy-writer-elisabeth-finch-admits-lies-medical-personal-history/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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In December 2022, Finch released a formal statement confessing that she never had cancer.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=2022-12-08 |title=Former 'Grey's Anatomy' writer admits she lied about having cancer |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/entertainment/elisabeth-finch-greys-anatomy/index.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Finch also admitted that her brother had not died by suicide and is currently living in [[Florida]].<ref name=":5" /> |
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{{Anchor|peacock}}In 2024, [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] announced they would stream ''Anatomy of Lies'', a three-part docuseries about Finch's career and controversy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kilkenny |first1=Katie |date=September 17, 2024 |title=“For Years She Fooled Hollywood”: Peacock Reveals Docuseries Based on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Writer Case |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/anatomy-of-lies-elisabeth-finch-docuseries-trailer-revealed-1236005051/ |access-date=September 23, 2024}}</ref> In October 2024, the series was broadcast on Peacock. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Latest revision as of 07:04, 12 December 2024
Elisabeth R. Finch (born March 1978)[1] is an American television writer best known for her work on the series True Blood and Grey's Anatomy.
Finch gained public notoriety for her abrupt resignation from Grey's Anatomy, which was prompted by an investigation into a series of lies that she told about her personal and medical history.[2]
Career
[edit]Finch began her career by writing a short film entitled Looking for My Brother, released in 2006.[3] She was then hired as a writers' assistant on True Blood in 2008. She worked on True Blood until 2010 and was credited as a writers' assistant on 17 episodes, as an assistant to writers on five episodes, and as a writer on three episodes.[4]
She wrote two episodes for the first and only season of No Ordinary Family, which aired on ABC from 2010 to 2011. In 2012 she began working on The Vampire Diaries and was credited as a story writer on six episodes, story editor on two episodes, and executive story editor on 15 episodes.[4] Coworkers reportedly gave her the nickname "Vampire Girl" as a joke referencing the niche she had established working on True Blood and The Vampire Diaries during her early career.[5]
In 2015, Finch began working on Grey's Anatomy as a writer and producer. She wrote 13 episodes and produced a total of 172 episodes before her departure from the series.[4] Finch was also a guest actor in the Grey's Anatomy season 15 episode "Silent All These Years", in which she played the role of Nurse Elisabeth.[4] Finch was offered a position in the writer's room at Grey's Anatomy following the publication of a piece that she had written for Elle in 2014 about her diagnosis with chondrosarcoma and her experience working as a television writer while undergoing cancer treatments.[5] It has been reported that the chondrosarcoma diagnosis and subsequent story arc of the character Dr. Catherine Avery, played by Debbie Allen, was inspired by Finch's supposed medical history.[5]
Controversy
[edit]Throughout her time working in the writers' room at Grey's Anatomy, Finch wrote a series of essays about her personal medical struggles in publications including Elle, The Hollywood Reporter, and Shondaland.[6] In these articles, she shared stories about her purported diagnosis with chondrosarcoma (a rare bone cancer), having an abortion while undergoing chemotherapy, losing a kidney, and undergoing a knee replacement due to misdiagnosis.[6] Finch's medical history was never verified by any of the publications and she confessed to her then-wife Jennifer Beyer that none of these stories were true when Beyer confronted her over some inconsistencies.[7]
Finch had altered her appearance to appear sick while working on Grey's Anatomy and used stories about her medical diagnoses to gain accommodations at work, including deadline extensions and periods of absence.[5] Finch also reportedly made allegations that her brother abused her as a child, that he died by suicide, and that she cleaned up the remains of a friend who was killed in the Tree of Life synagogue mass shooting.[5]
In March 2022, it was reported that Disney, a Shondaland affiliate at the time, had opened an investigation into Finch's falsehoods.[8] The investigation was prompted when Beyer contacted Disney and Shondaland with information that she had uncovered about Finch's past.[9] During Disney's investigation, Finch refused to provide medical documentation or undergo an independent medical evaluation to substantiate her claims, and she was subsequently placed on administrative leave on March 17, 2022.[2] Finch formally resigned shortly after and the investigation ended.[10]
In December 2022, Finch released a formal statement confessing that she never had cancer.[11][9] Finch also admitted that her brother had not died by suicide and is currently living in Florida.[11]
In 2024, Peacock announced they would stream Anatomy of Lies, a three-part docuseries about Finch's career and controversy.[12] In October 2024, the series was broadcast on Peacock.
References
[edit]- ^ Mannion, Katie (October 16, 2024). "Where Is Grey's Anatomy Writer Elisabeth Finch Now? Revisiting Her Shocking Cancer Hoax — and Where Her Career Stands Today". People.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (April 1, 2022). "Embattled 'Grey's Anatomy' Writer Takes Leave of Absence From ABC Medical Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Looking for My Brother (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Elisabeth Finch". IMDb. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Peretz, Evgenia (May 2, 2022). "Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 1". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
- ^ a b Alter, Rebecca (March 31, 2022). "Grey's Anatomy Writer Takes Leave After Possibly Lying About Medical History". Vulture. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ Peretz, Evgenia (May 3, 2022). "Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Min, Janice (March 17, 2022). "SHOCKER: Disney Investigating 'Grey's Anatomy' Writer". theankler.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ a b Kiefer, Peter (December 7, 2022). "The 'Grey's Anatomy' Liar Confesses it All". theankler.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ Wang, Jessica (December 7, 2022). "Ousted 'Grey's Anatomy' writer Elisabeth Finch admits to lies about medical, personal history". EW.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ a b France, Lisa Respers (December 8, 2022). "Former 'Grey's Anatomy' writer admits she lied about having cancer". CNN. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ Kilkenny, Katie (September 17, 2024). ""For Years She Fooled Hollywood": Peacock Reveals Docuseries Based on 'Grey's Anatomy' Writer Case". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 23, 2024.