Los Angeles — Richard Gadd, creator of the Netflix series “Baby Reindeer,” has expressed his readiness to stand as a witness for Netflix in a legal battle involving claims of defamation, emotional distress, and negligence, which involve accusations of “brutal lies” portrayed in the show. The lawsuit, seeking $170 million in damages, was filed by Fiona Harvey, who claims to be the real-life counterpart of the series’ character Martha, a portrayal she asserts incorrectly depicts her as a stalker.
Netflix is pushing for a dismissal of the case, with a crucial hearing set for Sept. 3 in Los Angeles, a move that comes just months after the lawsuit’s initiation. “Baby Reindeer” launched on Netflix in April and presents the semi-autobiographical tale of Donny, a comedian whose life is derailed by Martha, a character described as a stalker with two prior convictions.
Gadd’s involvement with the allegations stretches beyond his roles as creator and star of the show. In court documents, he supported Netflix’s move to dismiss, clarifying that the contentious character of Martha is wholly fictional. “Martha Scott is not Fiona Harvey. Like all characters in the series, Martha is a fictional character with fictional traits vastly different from Harvey’s,” Gadd stated in a declaration.
Following the series premiere, Harvey found herself unwillingly thrust into the public eye, attributed to an identification made from a tweet dated back a decade. This link led to heightened scrutiny and severe backlash, including death threats on platforms like Reddit and TikTok. Despite Gadd’s initial pleas to the audience to forgo connecting the characters to real individuals, stating a preference to keep their identities private unless intended for a documentary format, his appeals were disregarded.
Adding complexity to the controversy, Netflix’s marketing strategies, and certain public statements have also come under fire. During a May 2024 session with the House of Commons, Netflix executive Benjamin King stated that “Baby Reindeer” is “obviously a true story,” a comment that has been heavily contested by Harvey’s legal team, reinforcing their stance that such declarations are profoundly defamatory.
In anticipation of the court date, Gadd reinforced his standpoint, detailing numerous alleged harassment incidents from Harvey which he claims span several years. This includes unwanted communications and attempts at personal engagement that he described as deeply troubling. Gadd also expressed surprise at Harvey’s decision to discuss her supposed role as the inspiration for Martha on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” a claim that he vehemently denies.
Further shedding light on the issue, other individuals have reportedly approached Gadd, sharing their own experiences of being harassed by Harvey but remained silent due to fear, as mentioned in his detailed 21-page declaration.
In response to the lawsuit initially filed in June, a Netflix spokesperson asserted the company’s intent to “vigorously defend this matter and stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story,” signaling a potentially contentious legal battle ahead.
This lawsuit emerges amid broader dialogues regarding the representation of individuals in media and the ethical responsibilities of content creators and platforms, especially in works claiming to reflect true events. Legal experts suggest that the outcome could have significant implications for how true crime dramas and similar genres are produced and marketed in the future.