Fiona Harvey, the alleged true basis of Martha in Baby Reindeer, sues Netflix for $170 million

Fiona Harvey, the woman who says she was the basis for the character of persistent stalker Martha in Richard Gadd's Netflix series Baby reindeer, the streamer now continued. Harvey, who criticized Gadd and Netflix for spreading “the biggest lie in television history” by opening the show with the phrase “This is a true story,” is reportedly seeking at least $170 million in damages and interests of society. Although Harvey's lawsuit indicates that Gadd Also “destroyed his reputation, his character and his life”, she does not sue the writer, actor and comedian either; Netflix is be hit by charges of “defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, gross negligence, and violations of Harvey's right of publicity.”

Speculation on the real basis of Baby reindeer– which, as Harvey's suit notes, begins by emphasizing the fact that it's based on Gadd's life – started around the time the series came out. (Despite Gadd promptly issue a statement (that this kind of true crime unraveling of the story was both unwanted and contrary to what the series was intended to achieve.) According to the suit, Harvey began receiving messages and calls from people accusing him of being the “real” Martha in a few days. of the show that is coming out. (She specifically cites both the fundamental similarities between the character and herself, as well as the series referencing a Twitter message she sent to Gadd in 2014, which several online sleuths discovered.) The Pursuit of 'Harvey alleges that she has faced extensive harassment and death threats since her birth. an association with the show was discovered.

Harvey's costume covers much of the same topics she talked about in her frankly discouraging interview with Piers Morgan, but focuses on a series of claims: that she, unlike the character Martha, was never convicted of stalking; that she never sexually assaulted Gadd or physically attacked him; that several other negative actions attributed to Martha in the series had nothing to do with her life. (She also includes a fair number of attacks on Gadd, including calling certain things in the show a “psychotic lie” and citing some of the show's more self-effacing moments as a way of painting him in a different light. very negative.)

However, all legal the fire is still being aimed at Netflix, which is accused of failing to do due diligence to fact-check Gadd's show while slapping the “true story” label on it – including going so far as to label the exact events during his speech in the United Kingdom. Communal room. The suit also goes after Netflix for failing to anonymize Martha's character enough to prevent people from forming associations with Harvey, which they undeniably did. extremely quickly once the show is released.

The complaint was filed in California; so far, Netflix has not released a statement in response.

(via Variety)