However, eyebrows are now being raised over the efforts of a specific individual — disgraced Grey’s Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch — who announced on social media that she was collecting funds directly to her Venmo account.
Finch’s post was flagged by Jamie Denbo, a veteran actress, TV writer and co-executive producer for Grey’s Anatomy.
“It is well documented in the Peacock series Anatomy of Lies.
Keep it up, Finch!” The entire Finch situation sent shockwaves through the Grey’s Anatomy family, devoted fanbase and beyond as it became one of the most jaw-dropping Hollywood scandals in recent memory.
High-profile writer Evgenia Peretz published a two-part investigation about Finch in Vanity Fair, for which Beyer helped expose Finch’s years of false claims.
Hollywood’s leading studios, streamers, businesses, nonprofits, and celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria, and Taylor Swift have all contributed millions of dollars to relief efforts as a result of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. There have also been hundreds, if not thousands, of GoFundMe campaigns and a number of new donation centers.
However, a particular person’s actions are now drawing attention. Elisabeth Finch, the disgraced writer of Grey’s Anatomy, posted on social media that she was collecting money straight to her Venmo account. This is me alone. Footsteps on the floor. Even obtaining dog food during the evacuation was difficult, and I was safe. A post that was circulating on Facebook on Thursday and purportedly shared to Finch’s private account reads, “So this is for people who have virtually nothing and have pets with basic needs.”. Finch encouraged people to donate to her directly through Zelle, another banking service, or Venmo “to avoid GoFundMe fees.”.
Jamie Denbo, a seasoned actress, TV writer, and co-executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy, reported Finch’s post. She reshared it, criticized Finch, and exposed some of her dishonest past actions, which were outlined in the recent Anatomy of Lies documentary series on Peacock. Denbo wrote to her more than 4,500 friends on Facebook, “This person is a SCAMMER and a LIAR,” in a public post that The Hollywood Reporter saw. The Peacock television series Anatomy of Lies provides extensive documentation on the subject. Unless you want to give her 69 cents for her “cancer treatment” (she doesn’t have it), or maybe “in memory of her late brother” (he’s still alive), or for anything else she has misrepresented (everything). Donating to Elisabeth Finch is not advised.
A number of Hollywood professionals commented on the post, the majority of whom were incredulous (for example, “NO WAY,” “the AUDACITY,” and “WILD”). Others, however, provided humor. One friend commented, “Perhaps she has finally changed her ways and is giving directly to puppies in need.”.
For more information, THR contacted Denbo and Finch. In her statement, Finch addressed the online community’s suspicions and defended her actions. Given my past, I understand that some people may have doubts about my fundraising efforts. Finch told THR, “I’m doing everything I can to make amends, including giving back to my community, especially during these trying times.”. Because they are overloaded with physical donations, a lot of organizations are requesting gift cards, and I didn’t want people’s pet needs to be overlooked. “.”.
In the meantime, Denbo texted: “Elizabeth keeps coning, lying, and creating amazing content that comedians like me can use and constantly make fun of.”. For just the last thing, I am so grateful to her. Keep going, Finch.
As one of the most shocking Hollywood scandals in recent memory, the Finch situation rocked the Grey’s Anatomy family, loyal fans, and beyond. After eight seasons as a top writer and co-executive producer on Grey’s, Finch was finally exposed for a string of explosive lies. Finch’s estranged wife, Jennifer Beyer, made the revelations via emails to Shonda Rhimes, the creator and boss of Grey. She claimed that Finch had made up a lot of details about her personal life, stories that had served as the basis for innumerable plotlines.
In addition to other made-up trauma stories, some of which were broadcast on the Grey’s writer’s room, Finch claimed she had a rare bone cancer called chondrosarcoma, lost a kidney and had an abortion, and suffered from PTSD due to her close connection to the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
In March 2022, Finch took an indefinite leave of absence from Grey’s after being placed under investigation by Shondaland and Disney. Beyer assisted prominent author Evgenia Peretz in exposing Finch’s years of fabrications for her two-part Vanity Fair investigation. After that, Peretz and David Schisgall collaborated to helm Anatomy of Lies for Peacock.
Since then, Finch has apologized publicly twice: once on her now-private social media on the day Anatomy of Lies was released, and again in an interview with Peter Kiefer for The Ankler in late 2022 to her family and friends. In response to the latter, Beyer said on Facebook that her ex-wife had “shown no meaningful remorse for her actions toward either me or my children.”. “”.
A contributor to this report was Jackie Strause.
