Fiona Harvey, the alleged real-life Martha from the series Baby Reindeer, is suing Netflix for $170 million in damages.
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A lawsuit filed last Thursday (6th) in a California court argues that Netflix spread “brutal lies” about Harvey, who alleges defamation, negligence, and violation of her right to publicity.
Harvey is seeking $170 million in compensation and argues that the show Baby Reindeer portrays her as a criminal who was convicted of stalking and spent time in prison.
Baby Reindeer tells the story of comedian Richard Gadd, who plays Donny, a fictionalized version of himself. While working at a local pub, things take a sinister turn when he is stalked by a woman named Martha.
The series depicts Donny receiving thousands of emails, his parents being targeted, and his girlfriend being physically attacked. Launched on Netflix, the production was met with great acclaim and was watched by millions of people worldwide.
A scene in Baby Reindeer shows Martha confronting Donny on the way to a canal and assaulting him. Court documents show that Harvey denies assaulting Gadd, claiming that Netflix “spread these lies (…) because it was a better story than the truth.”
However, a disclaimer in the series credits emphasizes that the story “is based on real events: however, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and dialogues have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.”
“As a result of the lies (…) and the utterly reckless conduct of the defendants, Harvey’s life has been ruined. Simply put, Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character, and her life. They never investigated whether Harvey was convicted, a very serious distortion of the facts,” the lawsuit states.
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