Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd finally responds to real-life Martha suing Netflix

nme.com:

Baby Reindeer‘s Richard Gadd has finally responded to a lawsuit from the woman who the Netflix show is reportedly based on.Fiona Harvey, the woman believed to be the inspiration behind Martha in Baby Reindeer, recently filed a $170million (£133m) lawsuit against Netflix.In a lawsuit filed earlier this month (July 6) in the US district court for the central district of California, Harvey accused the streaming giant of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, gross negligence and violations of her right of publicity (via The Guardian).It follows the huge success of the drama series, which was created and written by comedian Gadd.

He also portrays a fictional version of himself, Donny, in the show.The seven-part programme depicts Gadd’s real experience of being relentlessly stalked by an older woman called Martha.

A title card in the first episode claims it is a “true story”, with many viewers subsequently attempting to find the real people behind the characters.This led to Harvey giving her first TV interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, during which she threatened legal action against both Gadd and Netflix.

She later said she was planning a case “against all those who have lied about me” in a lengthy statement.Harvey identified herself as the inspiration behind Baby Reindeer, but denied many aspects of the story – including being a stalker, sending Gadd 41,000 emails, hundreds of voice messages and over 100 letters.“I don’t think I sent him anything,” Harvey said in the interview. “There may have been a couple of emails, jokey banter, but that is it.”Additionally, Harvey said Gadd needed to “prove” that she went to prison – as was depicted in the show. “I’ve never been sent to jail,” she told.