Comedian Richard Gadd, creator of the show “Baby Reindeer,” responded to a defamation lawsuit against Netflix by stating that the characters in his series are not based on real people despite being inspired by true events. The lawsuit was filed by Fiona Harvey, who claims she is the inspiration for the character Martha. Gadd emphasized that Martha and Donny are fictionalized versions of real-life individuals, with altered names, dialogue, and scenes. He denied intending for the show to identify anyone, including Harvey, as Martha. Gadd recounted his personal experiences with Harvey, alleging that she stalked and harassed him over several years. He stated that Harvey’s behavior included unwanted physical contact, explicit communications, and threats, leading him to obtain a harassment warning against her. Netflix submitted declarations supporting Gadd’s claims, including one from a former pub manager who witnessed Harvey’s behavior. Another declaration from a widow alleged that Harvey had harassed her and her husband for years. The network sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, emphasizing that the show was fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Fans of the show had speculated about the real-life inspiration for Martha, leading Gadd to discourage such behavior on social media. Harvey revealed herself publicly after being harassed online by fans of the series. Gadd, a potential witness in the lawsuit, defended the show as a fictionalized portrayal of his experiences, denying any intentional harm towards Harvey or others.
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Richard Gadd, the creator of ‘Baby Reindeer’, supports Netflix in Fiona Harvey’s defamation lawsuit
