TV - Movies
The Reason
Netflix Got An
Eye-Popping
Lawsuit Over
Inventing Anna
By CAMERON ROY HALL
The Netflix docudrama series “Inventing Anna” has come under legal fire for playing fast and loose with its depiction of one Rachel Williams. Specifically, it seems that Netflix tinkered with the actions and intents of Williams, played by Katie Lowes, and the suit claims the streaming site erroneously framed her as a villain.
The original complaint reads, "Netflix made a deliberate decision for dramatic purposes to show Williams doing or saying things in the Series which portray her as a greedy, snobbish, disloyal, dishonest, cowardly, manipulative and opportunistic person." The basis for this claim stems from two individual points. Firstly, showrunner Shonda Rhimes has gone on record to state that certain aspects were entirely fictionalized leaving the door open for legal speculation.
Secondly, Williams's representation has publicly suggested that Netflix is intentionally damaging her credibility because she sold the rights to her Vanity Fair article, along with her book "My Friend Anna" to HBO, Netflix's competitor. The case is ongoing and, as of this writing, neither Netflix nor Rhimes has released a statement in their defense.