A British woman, Fiona Harvey, who alleges she served as the real-life inspiration for the obsessive character in Netflix’s popular series “Baby Reindeer,” has filed a lawsuit against the streaming platform, seeking $170 million in damages.
According to Harvey, the portrayal of her as the unstable and aggressive “Martha” character in Richard Gadd’s acclaimed show is a fabrication designed for profit and publicity. The lawsuit, filed in California, denounces the series’ claim of being a true story as “the biggest lie in television history,” orchestrated by Netflix and Gadd to boost viewership and revenue at Harvey’s expense.
“Baby Reindeer,” adapted from Gadd’s solo performance, chronicles a fictionalized encounter between the author and a woman he meets at a pub. As the narrative unfolds, it depicts a harrowing saga of relentless harassment through thousands of communications, including emails, texts, and voicemails, with Martha even depicted as sexually assaulting Gadd.
Despite Gadd’s attempts to shield Martha’s identity by altering details, she was ultimately identified, leading to public scrutiny and false allegations against her, as claimed in the lawsuit. Harvey refuted accusations of stalking and assault on British television, asserting that the show’s portrayal was grossly exaggerated and damaging to her reputation.
