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Lauren Kanarek speaks out against Netflix’s controversial documentary on its premiere day. The equestrian survivor claims Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill distorts her shooting story. She says the film portrays Michael Barisone, her trainer, as sympathetic rather than dangerous.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Documentary: Netflix’s Untold series features the 2019 incident at Hawthorne Hill farm.
- The Incident: Barisone shot Kanarek twice in the chest on August 7, 2019, at his New Jersey facility.
- Verdict: Barisone was acquitted by reason of insanity in April 2022 after serving 2.5 years in jail.
- Kanarek’s Claim: Production company Propagate twisted the truth for ratings, she alleges.
A Tragedy Revisited on Netflix
Kanarek, 44, was shot at point-blank range by former Olympic dressage coach Michael Barisone on August 7, 2019. The bullets pierced her lung, causing her to flatline twice in the ambulance. She was placed in a medically induced coma and underwent emergency lung surgery. The incident occurred at Barisone’s 60-acre Hawthorne Hill farm in Long Valley, New Jersey.
The confrontation stemmed from a housing dispute. Kanarek and her fiancé, Robert Goodwin, were living in an apartment on the property while training horses. Tensions escalated when Barisone demanded they leave after a flood. The situation deteriorated over weeks, with multiple police calls and escalating hostility on both sides before the shooting.
Lauren Kanarek speaks out against Netflix’s Hawthorne Hill documentary on premiere day
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The Acquittal That Shocked Kanarek
In April 2022, a jury found Barisone not guilty by reason of insanity on one count of attempted murder. His defense argued he suffered a mental breakdown triggered by alleged psychological abuse from Kanarek. Psychiatrists diagnosed him with delusional disorder and persistent depressive disorder. He claimed he blacked out and couldn’t remember the shooting at all.
Kanarek says this verdict compounded her trauma. She told The New York Post, “There’s not been one apology.” She maintains that Barisone had made sexist comments and spitting threats before the shooting, which she reported to SafeSport. Her Facebook post five days before the incident read: “I’m being bullied by a 6’3 man. Bullied to the point I’m afraid.”
Inside the Documentary Controversy
| Detail | Information |
| Title | Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Release Date | April 21, 2026 |
| Director | Grace McNally |
| Subjects | Lauren Kanarek and Michael Barisone sharing their perspectives |
Kanarek published an open letter titled “The Systems Failed Me, But I Will Not Let Them Silence Me” in April 2026. She accuses production company Propagate of painting her as the instigator. “They tried to recast a villain as some victim,” she told journalists. She insists Barisone is dangerous and shouldn’t be portrayed sympathetically, even though she admits she hadn’t seen the final cut before the film’s release.
“I was the victim. I am the survivor. Lies will not erase the truth.”
— Lauren Kanarek, Survivor
The Road to Recovery and Continued Struggle
Kanarek says she has suffered three times: when shot, when Barisone was acquitted, and now with the documentary. She flatlined twice during emergency treatment and spent weeks in a medically induced coma. Her left lung was severely damaged and required surgery. Despite the trauma, she has relocated to Florida with Goodwin and resumed her equestrian career, which she values as a source of healing.
Barisone was released from Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in November 2023 under strict conditions including regular psychological treatment and a prohibition on possessing firearms. He was also banned from dressage by the US Center for SafeSport for sexual harassment and emotional misconduct, though he retains the right to appeal.
Watch the Documentary Trailer:
Will the Narrative Ever Reflect What Actually Happened?
Kanarek emphasizes there is no “he said, she said” in this case. She states plainly: “A man tried to kill two people. That’s what happened.” Her concern is that audiences watching Netflix may sympathize with Barisone based on the documentary’s portrayal without understanding the full context. She worries the film reinforces narratives that blame victims for their attackers’ actions, a pattern she says the equestrian community has ignored for too long.
The documentary arrives amid ongoing criticism that Barisone should face accountability rather than sympathy. Kanarek‘s legal team and the survivor herself have questioned how someone acquitted by reason of insanity can still maintain his story while she bears the psychological scars of survival.
Sources
- TMZ – Lauren Kanarek’s open letter rejecting the Netflix documentary
- New York Post – Exclusive interview with Kanarek discussing her trauma and documentary concerns
- Netflix/NJ.com – Documentary premiere details and family response to the film’s portrayal
