Although creator Richard Gadd urged viewers not to dig into the possible real-life identities of Baby Reindeer‘s semi-fictionalised cast of characters, the comedian and actor severely underestimated just how invested online sleuths can become in their favourite TV shows.
From almost the second the miniseries became one of the most talked-about Netflix originals to premiere in a long time, speculation began running rampant as internet users sought to uncover who may or may not be the inspiration behind the figures who played their part in the experiences Gadd brought first to the stage, and then the small screen.
Lawyer Fiona Harvey came forward to say she was used as the basis for the stalker of Martha, and took her desire to be vindicated to the next level when she appeared on television with Piers Morgan to not only decry the way Gadd had portrayed her, but potentially seek legal action against the streaming service for allowing Baby Reindeer to proceed without having done its due diligence.
Morgan has already been heavily critical of the way those involved with Baby Reindeer have handled the situation both before and after Harvey’s interview, and he reinforced that position in an appearance on the BBC, where he insisted the creative team and production companies responsible for the series now have a potentially major issue on their hands.
“I think it’s a big problem for Netflix and for Richard Gadd and Clerkenwell Films, who made this because they say unequivocally at the start, ‘This is a true story,'” he told Laura Kuenssberg. “And the denouement of the series involves the stalker in court, admitting to her crimes, and being given an eight-month prison sentence.”
Of course, Harvey shared during her own interview with Morgan that she never appeared in court nor was she handed a prison term for any of her actions relating to Gadd, which from the media personality’s position places Gadd, Netflix, and Clerkenwell on an even shakier peg.
“She was emphatic that she’s never been to court over this, let alone pled guilty, and never been to prison,” he said of Harvey. “Nobody can produce any evidence that she has, and if that is the case, and it turns out she hasn’t.” Continuing to further his point, Morgan explained that the company has failed miserably in trying to protect the real-life counterparts of Baby Reindeer‘s cast.
“Then the other part of this is the failure of duty of care by Netflix to not allow to her to be identified,” he continued. “Which she was instantly, because they used literal postings from her Twitter feed in the actual series.” Politicians have been weighing in, too, so even when Baby Reindeer comes down from its spot at the top of the most-watched rankings, the conversation will be far from over.
