A woman who says that Netflix’s hit series “Baby Reindeer” is based on her has filed a defamation lawsuit against the streaming giant, alleging that the show has had a slew of negative effects on her life and mental health.
Fiona Harvey, a Scottish lawyer in England, alleges in her suit that she received death threats following the debut of the show and that it has destroyed her reputation.
“Since being identified as the real ‘Martha’ in Baby Reindeer, Harvey has experienced among other things intense panic, fear, anxiety, sleeplessness, and despair,” the lawsuit read. “Harvey is reluctant to go outside, watch the news, and has become inhumanly isolated.”
According to the lawsuit, fans of the show quickly identified Harvey as the real-life Martha after its debut on Netflix by searching online for a phrase the character used on the show. The character Martha is portrayed as a woman who becomes preoccupied with the protagonist, a stand-up comedian named Donny, and stalks and harasses him. Actor Richard Gadd, who also created the series, portrays Donny.
The show’s first episode frames it as a “true story,” although the end credits include the caveat that “certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.” Gadd has characterized the show to the media as “emotionally true.” He had previously urged fans not to speculate on the identity of Martha, and he told GQ that the show had gone to “such great lengths to disguise her to the point that I don’t think she would recognize herself.”
Harvey filed her suit in a federal court in California, seeking $170 million in damages from Netflix. The lawsuit accuses the streaming service of breaching its duty of care by “lying repeatedly” about her behavior, including that she had a criminal record, and for insufficiently disguising her identity. A Netflix spokesperson told NBC News, “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story” (Gadd, who is not named as a defendant, did not return NBC News’ request for comment).
Harvey did patronize the pub where Gadd worked in 2014, according to the complaint, but she contends that the portrayal of Martha’s relationship with Donny on the show departs from her relationship with Gadd in other respects. In an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan in May, Harvey said that she had only met Gadd a handful of times and sent him only a few emails.
