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Lauren Kanarek is speaking out days after Netflix premiered its controversial documentary about surviving gunshot wounds from her trainer. The equestrian says she’s suffered three times: when shot, when her shooter was acquitted, and now through the streaming series. She claims the production distorted her trauma for ratings.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Documentary Released: April 21, 2026 on Netflix as part of “Untold” series
- Incident Date: August 7, 2019 at Hawthorne Hill farm in Long Valley, New Jersey
- Shooter: Michael Barisone, Olympic dressage trainer, was acquitted by reason of insanity
- Kanarek’s Response: Published open letter titled “Systems Failed Me, But I Will Not Let Them Silence Me”
Survivor Speaks Out: Lauren Kanarek’s Written Statement
Lauren Kanarek released a powerful open letter on April 8, 2026, confronting Netflix and production company Propagate directly. She wrote that Michael Barisone pulled a gun and shot her twice in the chest at point-blank range on that August afternoon.
In her statement, Kanarek says she suffered three distinct traumas: the physical shooting, his acquittal by reason of insanity, and now being portrayed unfairly in the documentary. She claims the production crew distorted the truth in pursuit of higher ratings.
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The 2019 Shooting at Hawthorne Hill Farm
Kanarek was living and training at Michael Barisone’s equestrian facility in Long Valley, New Jersey, when tensions escalated between them. According to her account in the documentary, Barisone appeared emotionally unstable before drawing his weapon. “There was just something not right,” she recalls. “Michael pulls out a gun, shoots at me, bang, bang.”
After being shot twice in the chest, Kanarek was placed in a medically induced coma. She experienced multiple complications during recovery, including flatlining twice in the ambulance to the hospital. Doctors had to repair her left lung from the gunshot wounds.
Trial Verdict and Legal Aftermath
| Detail | Information |
| Charges Filed | 2 counts first-degree attempted murder, 2 counts weapon charges |
| Trial Verdict | Not guilty by reason of insanity (April 14, 2022) |
| Prison Time Served | 2.5 years until acquittal |
| Current Status | Released from psychiatric hospital in 2023, banned by SafeSport in 2025 |
Barisone’s legal team argued he was experiencing a delusional break during the shooting. Prosecutors countered that retrieving and loading the gun showed premeditation. A jury ultimately sided with the insanity defense, much to Kanarek’s devastation.
“I was the victim. I am the survivor. Lies will not erase the truth.”
Lauren Kanarek, shooting survivor and subject of Netflix documentary
Netflix Documentary Sparks Family Controversy
Kanarek’s father, Jonathan Kanarek, told NJ.com the 73-minute episode was biased against his daughter. He stated that Netflix prioritized making the story sensational over telling the truth. The family claims the production company spent significantly more time interviewing Barisone than Kanarek herself.
Netflix reportedly denied the family an advance screening before release. The Kanarek family’s attorney, Steven Beer, called the documentary “a classic and regrettable true crime documentary” that choosees “commerce over compassion.”
Why Is Revisiting This Case So Important to Survivors Today?
Kanarek and her supporters believe the documentary represents a larger problem: female victims being revictimized by entertainment media. She emphasizes that women who’ve been victimized should never become “fodder for true crime commerce.” Her message extends beyond her own case to protect other female athletes from similar media exploitation.
The Untold series continues to spark debate about how documentaries balance storytelling with responsibility to survivors. Propagate Content and Netflix have not publicly responded to the family’s criticisms about editorial choices.
Sources
- TODAY.com – Comprehensive coverage of Michael Barisone trial, acquittal, and Netflix documentary release
- TMZ – Lauren Kanarek’s open letter and response to Netflix’s portrayal of the shooting
- NJ.com – Family statements criticizing the documentary’s bias and editorial decisions
