INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — The story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan, don turn into latest saga wey dey unfold in the eye of public as she don accuse multiple families of abuse. After dramatic series of events, we go look wetin she dey do now and how her life dey change since she come out from the Barnetts and the Mans family.
Natalia wey don feature for Hulu’s new crime drama, Good American Family, find herself at center of controversy after being adopted from Ukraine in 2010. The series, wey star actors like Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass, dey tell di story through multiple angles, highlighting wetin really happen for Barnett home.
Wetin make di story worse na di claims wey follow her adoption. Natalia, wey dey suffer from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, claim say she escape abuse from di Barnett family. Dem go on to say say when she later move to di Mans family, wahala still follow her dey catch as dem adopt am in 2023.
Di Barnetts — Kristine, 45, and Michael, 43 — adopt her believing say she dey around six or seven years old. As time go, dem be claim say her behavior dey dangerous and unusual as she show signs wey dey suggest say she fit don dey grow. Dem even petition di court to change her age to 22 after two years of adopting her. Di accusations of neglect saw dem charge to court, but Michael dey not guilty of di charges in 2022.
Nobody fit forget how di Barnetts move leave Natalia alone for apartment in Lafayette, onde she dey alone for over one month before she meet Cynthia Mans, wey later bring her into her home. Di Mans family adopted Natalia in 2023, but not long after, both sides started to face accusations of abuse.
Witnesses and neighbors allege say dey fit see di Mans couple dey whip and lock Natalia, raising serious questions about wetin really dey go on for dat environment. But di Mans say dem try to help Natalia to embrace di faith and take care of her younger siblings, creating tension when di family discover say she dey chat with a boyfriend for di UK.
Since early 2023, Natalia don move in with di DePaul family, after dem help rescue her from di Mans family. Nicole and Vincent DePaul, wey also get dwarfism, previously wanted to adopt Natalia in 2009 before financial issues stop dem. Di DePauls provide a more stable environment as Natalia dey pursue her dreams.
“Di last thing I told my sisters was, ‘You guys go ahead to di church sanctuary and I love you,'” Natalia recall di moment she left di Mans to di DePauls. “When I saw dem pull up, my heart start to pound. I was terrified,” she said. She now dey study for her GED and hope to become teacher while she dey learn how to drive. She also dey plan for upcoming surgeries wey related to her condition.
“I wan take control of my life and stop letting other people control am,” Natalia declared as she dey share her journey. Her relationship with her boyfriend Neil dey add more joy to her life as she continues to navigate di challenges of living with dwarfism. “This new version feel amazing—feel free,” she added.
Despite all di drama wey follow her, Natalia wan use her voice to inspire others, proving say she fit overcome her past as she plan for a bright future ahead.
