Grey's Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch apologizes for faking cancer diagnosis
"I told a lie when I was 34 years old and it was the biggest mistake of my life"
Grey's Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch has apologized for the biggest mistake of her life.
The television writer told The Ankler publication that she faked her cancer diagnoses.
In 2014, the 44-year-old writer wrote to Elle Magazine, claiming to be suffering from chondrosarcoma- a rare type of bone cancer.
Following her letter to Elle, she was hired by Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes to work on the show. She penned 13 episodes and produced 172 episodes for the show. Her battle with cancer was even incorporated into a storyline.
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Years later, the wri says she had fabricated her medical condition. Her confession came after a March 17 report by The Ankler newsletter that she may have fabricated her cancer.
"I told a lie when I was 34 years old and it was the biggest mistake of my life. It just got bigger and bigger and bigger and got buried deeper and deeper inside me," she told the publication.
She also added that she has "never had any form of cancer."
The famous writer says she regrets her decision to lie.
"What I did was wrong. Not okay. F--ked up. All the words."
The writer resigned from the medical drama in March. This is after she was placed on administrative leave so Disney could investigate.
The cancer lie was not the only lie the writer told. She reportedly also lied about her brother committing suicide. Her brother is reportedly alive, and currently works as a doctor in Florida.
Elisabeth says she used lying as a form of coping mechanism.
"The best way I can explain it is when you experience a level of trauma a lot of people adopt a maladaptive coping mechanism. Some people drink to hide or forget things. Drug addicts try to alter their reality. Some people cut. I lied. That was my coping and my way to feel safe and seen and heard," she told the publication.
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