ABC takes true crime storytelling to new levels with ‘Betrayal: Secrets and Lies’

Double lives. Paternity fraud. Ponzi schemes. Faking death.

These are just some of the storylines you’ll see in “Betrayal: Secrets and Lies.”

The series is based on the popular true-crime podcast, “Betrayal,” hosted by Andrea Gunning.

“‘Betrayal, Secrets, and Lies’ features eight different stories of betrayal, lies, and deception,” Gunning told On The Red Carpet. “Everybody’s story brings a whole new element of what it’s like to experience betrayal.”

The first episode, “Fertility Fraud,” is the story of Tina, Neil and a reckless lie.

“She got embroiled into a whole…paternity fraud-like scheme, basically. Basically, his whole deal was malicious impregnation. So he told her that he couldn’t have kids, that he had cancer, but all the while was totally fertile. And so, you know, she ends up having a baby and the baby gets really sick and he refuses to do anything about it,” Gunning explained. “She said, you know what? I’m not taking this lying down. There’s something wrong with this guy. And she reached out to exes of his and realized that she was not the only one. He had been doing this for a really long time.”

In another episode, a woman named Crystal married her college sweetheart and as they grew their family, something broke in him and she said he abused her.

“She has the wherewithal to record the abuse that’s happening to her because she knows that if there is no evidence, she may not have protections in civil court and family court. And so, she does exactly that. She’s able to record what happens to her. And then she’s able to leave that relationship,” Gunning said.

After her husband was convicted and spent time in jail, Crystal learned that she would owe him spousal support, something that did not sit well with her.

“She’s thinking, ‘this isn’t right. This man… violated me. This man harmed me. I shouldn’t have to pay (money) to this person.’ And so she makes it her mission to help rewrite the law in California.” Gunning continued.

Gunning says watching the people she features on the podcast and in the series turn their pain into purpose is awe-inspiring and she hopes audiences feel the same.

“I hope it resonates with people. You know, the ‘Betrayal’ community is so strong in podcasting and it grows year over year,” she said. “This has been a labor of love and the show is gonna touch so many different people in many different ways. And I’m just really excited that it’s going out into the world and people can see eight different incredible stories. And you know whether you relate to it or not or have walked a similar path, there’s something to learn and experience through each individual episode.”

“Betrayal: Secrets and Lies” premieres Sunday at 10pm EST/ 9pm CST on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this ABC station.