The Grey’s Anatomy writer who wrote episodes of the popular show based on her own medical injuries is now being accused of making it all up to her ex-wife.
It is now known that 44-year-old writer Elizabeth Finch is on administrative leave during the investigation.
According to The Ankler, her 40-year-old wife, Jennifer Beyer, called Shondaland – Shonda Rhimes’ production company that makes the show – and Disney to report Finch’s lies.
The alleged lie began to come to light when Finch abruptly left the show, citing marital status. Worried colleagues called Beyer for the latest news, and the details of the story Finch told them were similar to those experienced by Beyer, not her wife.
Finch has since been placed on administrative leave.
Among the stories she came up with are an abortion during chemo and how her doctors “missed” her diagnosis.
It is now believed that 44-year-old writer Elizabeth Finch (right in her bathrobe) is on administrative leave due to the show pending investigation. She wrote episodes of the show that she claimed were based on her experiences, including one titled Silent All These Years (shown).
Finch’s wife Jennifer (right) reported the alleged lies to Shondaland and Disney. The couple is shown on their 2020 wedding day. Now they are divorced
Finch has written several essays and articles for publications such as ELLE and The Hollywood Reporter detailing her battle with bone cancer.
She has written 13 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, is a regular contributor to the press for the show, and has written essays for ELLE and The Hollywood Reporter about her medical background and bisexuality.
She also claims to have been sexually assaulted, which inspired Grey’s “Silence All These Years” series.
Beyer and Finch are divorcing. The couple got married in the summer of 2020.
Prior to this, Finch had been single, but Beyer had five children from a previous relationship. It is known that the couple lived with his family in Kansas.
Finch is a successful screenwriter who has worked on Gray for over eight seasons. In articles for ELLE and The Hollywood Reporter, she proudly wrote about using her medical injuries to create episodes of the hit show.
Finch, Beyer, and Beyer’s five children from a previous marriage. They were featured in Shondaland’s profile for PRIDE.
Finch has also stated in the past that she was the victim of abuse and harassment on The Vampire Diaries, a show she previously produced.
Now 44-year-old Finch is under investigation. Her lawyer said she would not comment on the allegations or the upcoming divorce.
One article from 2018 was headlined: “Catherine Avery’s cancer storyline in Grey’s Anatomy is based on my life.” That’s why I finally wrote about it.”
In the article, she wrote: “When my job at Grey’s Anatomy asked me if I would not only write about cancer, but acknowledge that this is my life, I wanted to say no. No showrunner for a show I’ve been working on for five years. A big, fat, over-decided, but always polite “No.”
“My boss, Krista Vernoff, suggested that I use my perspective of a person with cancer to write a storyline that also diagnosed one of our favorite characters,” she said.
In an earlier piece in 2016, she described how she “bumped into a doctor who missed” her diagnosis.
According to her, at the age of 34 she was diagnosed with bone cancer.
According to The Ankler, Finch’s ex-wife recently called bosses to claim she was lying.
Finch on the set of Grey’s Anatomy with co-executive producer Linda Klein.
Finch with co-star Sarah Drew on an episode titled “Who Is He and What Is He to You?”
Colleagues told The Hollywood Reporter they were stunned by the suggestion that she could have made it all up, and many aren’t convinced.
“You believe this poor woman has gone through a terrible thing and you want to support her,” one of them said.
Another, however, told The Ankler that some people are suspicious of the opacity of her story.
“There was so much craziness in her life, and she was so mysterious and closed off, and it was always like what happens here? It often felt like gingerbread, but I just thought we were dealing with someone who was wildly insecure, but not some kind of inspiration,” they said.
Finch’s lawyer told The Ankler: “Ms. Finch is not going to discuss his personal health issues with you or any other journalist.
He did not immediately respond to inquiries on Friday morning.
When asked if she was sent on vacation, a Shondaland rep told The Ankler, “Only Elizabeth can tell her personal story.”