‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Writer Elisabeth Finch Apologizes for Faking Cancer: ‘I Became Addicted to Lies’.
Elisabeth Finch, a former writer for “Grey’s Anatomy,” has publicly apologized for lying about having cancer. Her apology comes on the day of the premiere of Peacock’s docuseries “Anatomy of Lies,” which explores her extensive deception.
In an Instagram post, Finch expressed deep remorse for her actions, stating, “I’ve given no one any reason to believe a word I say. I lied about so much; things so many people have been devastated by in real life. ‘I’m sorry’ feels like the smallest words compared to what I’ve done, yet they are the truest.”
Finch’s lies were exposed in 2022 by reports from The Ankler and Vanity Fair. She had claimed to have chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, which helped her secure her position on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Since then, she has been undergoing mental health treatment for nearly three years. In her apology, she acknowledged the harm she caused to her family, friends, and colleagues.
She recounted meeting Jennifer Beyer while both were in treatment at a mental health facility in Arizona. Finch described falling deeply in love with Beyer and expressed regret for accepting her marriage proposal before being honest about her past. “The biggest mistake of my life (alongside lying about cancer) was saying ‘yes’ to Jennifer’s proposal before I was honest with her,” she wrote.
The docuseries “Anatomy of Lies,” directed by Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall, details Finch’s fabrications, including faking chemotherapy treatments and claiming to have been sexually harassed while working on “The Vampire Diaries.” It also covers her false claims about being involved in tragic events, such as cleaning up after a friend’s murder during the Tree of Life massacre in 2018.
In an interview with Variety, Peretz noted that Finch has continued to reach out to industry contacts regarding job opportunities. Finch concluded her post by acknowledging that there is no justification for her actions and that she will work to repair the damage caused by her lies. “I recognize all of this will take time for people to believe,” she stated.
The docuseries “Anatomy of Lies” is now available for streaming on Peacock.
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