Netflix has been silent following the controversy surrounding the release of Baby Reindeer. The scandal ensued after the ‘Real Martha’ sued the streaming service and criticised how she was depicted throughout the popular series.
On June 6th, it was revealed that the Scottish law graduate Fiona Harvey, who believes she is the inspiration behind Baby Reindeer’s antagonist Martha, played by Jessica Gunning, would be filing a lawsuit against Netflix for $50million (which equates to roughly £39million).
This development comes following Harvey’s relatively controversial interview with Piers Morgan. Nevertheless, Netflix has come under intense scrutiny, as many people are questioning how much the program safeguards Harvey’s identity and whether or not all of the allegedly “true” details in the program are true.
As soon as the series was made, viewers were keen on trying to find out who the people depicted in the drama were. It didn’t take long for people to identify Harvey as the inspiration for the character Martha, given the show used her actual tweets and hired an actor who looks and sounds exactly like her. A lot of people are now asking whether there could have been more safeguarding measures enacted to prevent viewers from being able to make these links.
Baby Reindeer follows Donny Dunn, a struggling comic who has been relentlessly harassed and stalked by Martha Scott, played by Jessica Gunning, for over four years. Since the drama’s premiere, it has become a word-of-mouth sensation, with one of the main selling points being that it is a completely true story.
Netflix has remained relatively silent on the subject; however, it has recently commented on the lawsuit being filed. “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story,” the streaming platform confirmed.
The platform also released Jessica Gunning’s audition tape, seeming to double down on its stance that it stands by the story. The situation remains a developing one as Harvey’s lawsuit begins. More updates will soon follow.
