Scottish woman Fiona Harvey is taking legal action against Netflix, claiming that the hit drama series Baby Reindeer defamed her by portraying her as a convicted criminal who stalked the show’s creator, Richard Gadd. Harvey is seeking over $170 million in damages, alleging that Netflix told “brutal lies” about her to millions of viewers worldwide.
The series, written by and starring Gadd, depicts a character named Martha who is a convicted stalker and is later arrested after Gadd’s character reports her to the police. Harvey denies the allegations made against her in the show and insists that she has never been convicted of a crime.
In a statement, Netflix expressed its intention to vigorously defend the matter and support Gadd’s right to tell his story. The show’s end credits acknowledge that while the series is based on real events, certain elements have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Harvey’s lawyer, Richard Roth, has presented evidence showing that his client has no criminal convictions on her record. The lawsuit also claims that Harvey has received death threats since the series was released, causing her to live in fear and isolation.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Harvey refuted the claims made in the series, stating that she had only exchanged a few emails with Gadd during his time working at a London pub. She insists that the portrayal of her in Baby Reindeer is inaccurate and damaging to her reputation.
The lawsuit raises questions about the responsibility of streaming platforms like Netflix to verify the accuracy of the stories they depict and the potential consequences of portraying real individuals in a negative light. The legal battle between Harvey and Netflix is set to unfold in the coming months as both parties stand their ground in defense of their respective positions.
