Netflix has acknowledged that the woman who inspired the character Martha in its “Baby Reindeer” series was never convicted of stalking Richard Gadd. This concession could potentially vindicate the real Martha in her $170 million defamation lawsuit against the streamer.
Market as his “true story,” Gadd created and starred in “Baby Reindeer” as a struggling comedian/daytime bartender who encounters a woman named Martha who eventually becomes his stalker. The series depicts her harassing and assaulting him in various episodes, with Martha being arrested twice for stalking, once involving Gadd.
Following the show’s release, fans identified Fiona Harvey as Gadd’s real-life Martha after uncovering numerous tweets she had sent him. These tweets mirrored the thousands of texts Martha sent Gadd’s character in the series, including one that was nearly identical to a specific tweet.
Last month, Harvey sued Netflix in federal court for allegedly portraying her as the inspiration for Martha without adequate disguise. She claimed Netflix defamed her by falsely stating she had been convicted of a crime, sexually assaulted or attacked Gadd, and engaged in other violent actions depicted in the “true story.”
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In May, Benjamin King, Netflix’s U.K. policy director, stated during a hearing for the British Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee that the series depicted Gadd’s “true story” of abuse by a convicted stalker. However, upon further investigation, no evidence of this conviction could be found.
In response to inquiries, King clarified that the person the show was based on was subject to a court order, not a conviction. This clarification was issued prior to Harvey’s lawsuit, and Netflix maintained its intention to vigorously defend the matter and support Gadd’s right to share his narrative.
Despite ongoing legal issues, “Baby Reindeer” has been well-received since its release in May. Recently, the limited series received 11 Emmy nominations, including nods for Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, and Best Limited Series.
