The world of entertainment is no stranger to controversies, and the recent legal battle surrounding the Netflix hit series “Baby Reindeer” is no exception.
Fiona Harvey, a Scottish woman who claims to be the inspiration behind the character of Martha in the show, has filed a staggering $170 million lawsuit against the streaming giant. She alleges a litany of offenses, including defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of her right to publicity.
According to Harvey’s lawsuit, the “Baby Reindeer” series, based on creator Richard Gadd’s one-man Edinburgh Festival play, is rife with “brutal lies” about her.
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The complaint claims that Netflix and Gadd falsely portrayed Harvey as a “twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison” and alleged that she “sexually assaulted Gadd.” These allegations, the lawsuit argues, have irreparably damaged Harvey’s reputation and ruined her life.
The lawsuit further asserts that despite Gadd’s request for viewers not to seek out the inspiration behind the character of Martha, internet sleuths were able to quickly identify Harvey as the “real Martha.”
The lawsuit cites specific details, such as Harvey’s social media interactions with Gadd during the period the show is set, as well as the use of a similar innuendo-laden phrase, “hang my curtains,” which was used both in the show and in one of Harvey’s tweets to Gadd.
Harvey’s lawsuit alleges that Netflix, as a “multinational billion-dollar entertainment streaming company,” failed to adequately protect her identity and did not “confirm the ‘true story’ that Gadd told.”
The lawsuit claims that this negligence led to Harvey being subjected to “extreme levels” of hatred and even death threats on various online forums.
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The lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of the emotional toll the “Baby Reindeer” series has had on Harvey’s life. It states that since being identified as the “real Martha,” Harvey has suffered from anxiety, nightmares, panic attacks, depression, and physical symptoms such as weakness, stomach pains, and loss of appetite.
The lawsuit further alleges that Harvey has become “extremely secluded and isolated, in fear of the public, going days without leaving her home,” while Netflix and Gadd have continued to promote the show and receive accolades.
The crux of Harvey’s lawsuit lies in the $170 million in damages she is seeking from Netflix.
The lawsuit argues that this figure, which equates to $1 for each of the 50 million people the streamer claims have watched “Baby Reindeer,” is justified given the magnitude of the alleged “lies” and the irreparable harm done to Harvey’s life.
Notably, the lawsuit does not name Richard Gadd, the creator of “Baby Reindeer” and the basis for the show’s “Donny Dunn” character, as a defendant. This has raised questions about the legal strategy behind the lawsuit and the potential dynamics at play.
The lawsuit’s central claim that “Baby Reindeer” is not a “true story” as Netflix and Gadd have claimed, but rather a “lie created by Gadd and distributed by Netflix,” raises broader questions about the boundaries of artistic license and the responsibility of storytellers to accurately represent reality.
Netflix has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.
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