Netflix has acknowledged that the woman who served as the inspiration for the character Martha in the “Baby Reindeer” series was never convicted of stalking Richard Gadd. This admission could potentially support the real Martha’s $170 million defamation lawsuit against the streamer.
Market as his “true story,” Gadd conceptualized and starred in “Baby Reindeer” as a struggling comedian/daytime bartender who encounters a woman named Martha, portrayed as his stalker. The series depicts her harassing and assaulting him in various episodes, with two arrests for stalking, one involving Gadd.
Following the show’s debut, fans identified Fiona Harvey as the actual Martha after uncovering numerous tweets she had sent to Gadd. These tweets mirrored the thousands of texts Martha sends to Gadd’s character in the series, including one that closely resembled a specific tweet.
Last month, Harvey filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, alleging that the show poorly disguised her as the inspiration for Martha and falsely depicted her as a criminal convicted of stalking, sexually assaulting, or attacking Gadd. These violent elements were presented as part of the “true story.”
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In May, during a hearing at the British Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Netflix’s U.K. policy director Benjamin King asserted that the series recounted Gadd’s abuse “by a convicted stalker.” Subsequently, the committee requested proof of the conviction after failing to locate any records.
In response, King clarified on May 23 that the person who inspired the show was subjected to a court order, not a conviction. This correspondence took place prior to Harvey’s lawsuit, and Netflix maintains its stance despite this development.
Gadd, not named as a defendant in Harvey’s lawsuit, submitted a statement supporting Netflix’s motion to dismiss her complaint. In the document, he emphasizes that while “Baby Reindeer” draws from his real trauma, the characters and scenarios are tailored to support a fictionalized narrative rather than serving as a documentary-like account.
He asserts that the series does not aim to portray actual individuals, including Fiona Harvey, and delves into his and others’ encounters with her as a stalker, some of which served as inspiration for “Baby Reindeer.” Gadd also discourages speculation about the real-life figures prior to identifying Harvey.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, “Baby Reindeer” has garnered acclaim since its release in May. The limited series recently secured 11 Emmy nominations, including nods for Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, and Best Limited Series.
