After nearly four years of legal proceedings, the defamation case between Netflix and Rachel DeLoache Williams, a former Vanity Fair staffer, has come to a close. Williams sued the streaming giant over her portrayal in the hit series "Inventing Anna," which chronicled the story of Anna Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, who conned New York's elite by posing as a wealthy German heiress.

Williams' lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged that "Inventing Anna" deliberately depicted her as "greedy, snobbish, disloyal, dishonest, cowardly, manipulative and opportunistic". She claimed that the series, in which she was played by Katie Lowes, used her real name, background, and personal details to create a false and defamatory characterization. Williams maintained that this portrayal subjected her to a barrage of online abuse, negative in-person interactions, and disparaging comments across various platforms. She sought to hold Netflix accountable for what she argued was a reckless disregard for the truth. Williams was defrauded out of $62,000 because of Anna.

Netflix, on the other hand, defended the series, with Shonda Rhimes, the show's creator, acknowledging that "Inventing Anna" took creative liberties for dramatic effect. Netflix argued that the series portrayed Williams as "sympathetic and relatable". However, Williams' legal team asserted that the show's writers had access to information that contradicted the on-screen portrayal, including her testimony from Sorokin's criminal trial and notes from a Harvard researcher.

On Friday, February 6, 2026, both Netflix and Williams' attorney, Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, confirmed that they had resolved the lawsuit. The case was officially dismissed with prejudice in Delaware district court, meaning that neither party can bring the same case forward again. As part of the settlement, both sides will bear their own legal fees and expenses. The specific terms of the settlement remain confidential.

This resolution marks the end of a contentious legal battle that raised questions about the responsibilities of portraying real-life individuals in fictionalized dramas. While "Inventing Anna" became a popular success for Netflix, the lawsuit underscores the potential legal ramifications of taking liberties with the truth when depicting real people. Netflix has faced similar lawsuits in the past, settling some and successfully defending others.