Real-life ‘Baby Reindeer’ sues Netflix for $170 mn.
A British woman, Fiona Harvey, has filed a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix, asserting that she was falsely portrayed as a delusional and abusive stalker in the hit series ‘Baby Reindeer’.
Harvey claims to be the real-life inspiration behind the character “Martha” in Richard Gadd’s series, which the show labels as “a true story” in its opening episode.
Allegations of Fabrication:
Harvey’s lawsuit, filed in California, contends that the portrayal of Martha is “the biggest lie in television history”.
She accuses Netflix and Richard Gadd of concocting the story to gain fame and profit, at the expense of her reputation and well-being.
Also read: Baby Reindeer success comes amid jump in subscription spending – Barclays
Harvey disputes the show’s depiction, denying allegations that she harassed Gadd with thousands of emails, texts, and voice messages, and rejecting claims that she sexually assaulted him.
Netflix’s Response:
In response to the lawsuit, a Netflix spokesperson stated, “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
The seven-episode series, which premiered on Netflix in April and quickly became a major hit, is based on Gadd’s one-man play.
Baby Reindeer (2024) pic.twitter.com/NVSpkU0Ti6
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) June 5, 2024
It dramatizes his experiences with a woman he met while working at a pub, portraying a years-long ordeal involving harassment of Gadd, his girlfriend, and his family.
The character Martha is depicted as having a prior conviction for stalking and sexually assaulting Gadd.
Harvey’s Public Denial:
Following her identification by viewers, Harvey appeared on British television to deny the allegations made in ‘Baby Reindeer’.
Her lawsuit accuses Netflix of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
The suit claims that Netflix failed to verify the story’s accuracy, leading to widespread dissemination of falsehoods that have severely damaged her reputation and emotional well-being.
As Real-life ‘Baby Reindeer’ sues Netflix for $170 mn, the legal battle ahead will determine whether Netflix and Richard Gadd’s storytelling crossed the line into defamation and inflicted undue harm on Fiona Harvey.
The case raises important questions about the responsibilities of content creators and streaming platforms in portraying real-life events and individuals.
