Equestrian's Victim Slams Netflix Over 'Biased' Documentary

The family of Lauren Kanarek, a woman shot in the chest by Olympian equestrian Michael Barisone in 2019, has voiced strong objections to the Netflix documentary "Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill." They argue the 73-minute episode is unfairly biased against Lauren and detrimental to her recovery.

Lauren's father, Jonathan Kanarek, expressed that Netflix appears to suggest his daughter drove Barisone to commit the act, rather than presenting the actual events. He believes the documentary actively hinders his daughter's healing process.

Steven Beer, the Kanarek family's attorney, characterized the production as a "classic and regrettable true crime documentary." He further stated that companies like Netflix should prioritize compassion over commerce, especially when dealing with the stories of victimized women.

Barisone, a dressage Olympian, shot Kanarek at his farm in Long Valley, New Jersey, in August 2019. He was subsequently found not guilty by reason of insanity and was released from a psychiatric facility in 2023.

The Kanarek family claims the documentary omitted crucial evidence and spent significantly more time interviewing Barisone. They also noted a disclaimer stating that additional documentation provided by both sides was not used in the final episode.

Lauren Kanarek was compensated an unspecified amount for her participation, while Barisone reportedly received no payment, according to his fiancée. The documentary series "Untold" typically covers true crime stories and scandals within the sports world.