Netflix Faces $170M Lawsuit for Defamation in ‘Baby Reindeer’ Legal Drama
In a legal drama worthy of a Netflix series itself, Fiona Harvey, the Scottish woman who claims the character Martha in Netflix’s hit miniseries “Baby Reindeer” is based on her, has filed a lawsuit against the streaming giant for negligence and defamation, seeking at least $170 million in damages.
Harvey filed her complaint Thursday in a United States district court in California, alleging that Netflix and “Baby Reindeer” creator Richard Gadd told “brutal lies” about her to “attract more viewers,” “make more money,” and “viciously destroy” her life. Despite Netflix and Gadd’s assurances that they altered key details about Martha to conceal Harvey’s identity, their efforts have seemingly backfired.
The series, released in April 2024, dramatizes Gadd’s real-life ordeal with a stalker in his 20s. In “Baby Reindeer,” Gadd stars as a fictionalized version of himself named Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian and bartender, who is stalked by a woman named Martha, played by Jessica Gunning. Their encounter begins innocently when Donny offers Martha a free cup of tea at the bar where he works.
Gadd’s real-life stalker allegedly bombarded him with 41,071 emails, 350 hours’ worth of voicemails, 744 tweets, 46 Facebook messages, 106 pages of letters, and bizarre gifts, including a reindeer toy, sleeping pills, a woolly hat, and boxer shorts. The harassment extended to stalking him outside his home, workplace, and even on stage, targeting his loved ones, including his parents and a woman he dated.
Harvey’s lawsuit claims that the show distorts reality by depicting Martha as a twice-convicted stalker who sexually assaults Gadd’s character and is sentenced to prison. She never faced a trial or was convicted. The lawsuit highlights that the pilot episode opens with the message, “this is a true story,” which Harvey argues misled viewers into believing the brutal portrayal was an accurate depiction of her.
One contentious point is the use of the phrase “hang my curtains” as a euphemism for sex in the show. Harvey’s lawsuit points to a 2014 tweet from her account that tagged Gadd and read, “my curtains need hung badly,” leading to rampant online speculation about her being the real-life Martha.
Harvey alleges Netflix “did nothing” to fact-check Gadd’s production, resulting in significant distress and reputational damage. Netflix has stated it will “defend this matter vigorously and stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
In a world where stories are crafted for maximum impact, the truth often becomes the first casualty.
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In a legal drama worthy of a Netflix series itself, Fiona Harvey, the Scottish woman who claims the character Martha in Netflix’s hit miniseries “Baby Reindeer” is based on her, has filed a lawsuit against the streaming giant for negligence and defamation, seeking at least $170 million in damages.
Harvey filed her complaint Thursday in a United States district court in California, alleging that Netflix and “Baby Reindeer” creator Richard Gadd told “brutal lies” about her to “attract more viewers,” “make more money,” and “viciously destroy” her life. Despite Netflix and Gadd’s assurances that they altered key details about Martha to conceal Harvey’s identity, their efforts have seemingly backfired.
The series, released in April 2024, dramatizes Gadd’s real-life ordeal with a stalker in his 20s. In “Baby Reindeer,” Gadd stars as a fictionalized version of himself named Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian and bartender, who is stalked by a woman named Martha, played by Jessica Gunning. Their encounter begins innocently when Donny offers Martha a free cup of tea at the bar where he works.
Gadd’s real-life stalker allegedly bombarded him with 41,071 emails, 350 hours’ worth of voicemails, 744 tweets, 46 Facebook messages, 106 pages of letters, and bizarre gifts, including a reindeer toy, sleeping pills, a woolly hat, and boxer shorts. The harassment extended to stalking him outside his home, workplace, and even on stage, targeting his loved ones, including his parents and a woman he dated.
Harvey’s lawsuit claims that the show distorts reality by depicting Martha as a twice-convicted stalker who sexually assaults Gadd’s character and is sentenced to prison. She never faced a trial or was convicted. The lawsuit highlights that the pilot episode opens with the message, “this is a true story,” which Harvey argues misled viewers into believing the brutal portrayal was an accurate depiction of her.
One contentious point is the use of the phrase “hang my curtains” as a euphemism for sex in the show. Harvey’s lawsuit points to a 2014 tweet from her account that tagged Gadd and read, “my curtains need hung badly,” leading to rampant online speculation about her being the real-life Martha.
Harvey alleges Netflix “did nothing” to fact-check Gadd’s production, resulting in significant distress and reputational damage. Netflix has stated it will “defend this matter vigorously and stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
In a world where stories are crafted for maximum impact, the truth often becomes the first casualty.
Share:
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