Woman Sues Netflix Over Allegedly Defamatory Portrayal in “Baby Reindeer”.
By Caroline Ameh
Fiona Harvey, a Scottish woman, has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging defamation, negligence, and privacy violations over her portrayal in the hit drama series “Baby Reindeer.” Harvey claims that the character Martha in the show is based on her and that Netflix propagated “brutal lies” about her to millions of viewers worldwide.
In the lawsuit filed in a California court, Harvey seeks over $170 million in damages, asserting that the series falsely depicted her as a convicted criminal who engaged in stalking behavior. While “Baby Reindeer” was written by and stars Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, Harvey denies the allegations made against her character in the show.
Netflix responded to the lawsuit, stating their intent to vigorously defend the matter and support Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story. However, Harvey maintains that the portrayal of her character, including scenes depicting sexual assault, is entirely fabricated and damaging to her reputation.
The series purports to be based on real events, with certain elements fictionalized for dramatic purposes. However, Harvey contends that Netflix failed to adequately verify the accuracy of Gadd’s story before producing the series. Benjamin King, a Netflix executive, previously testified before the Culture Media and Sport Committee in Parliament, affirming the story’s basis in Gadd’s alleged experience of being stalked.
Richard Roth, Harvey’s lawyer, asserts that there is concrete evidence proving his client has never been convicted of a crime, contrary to the portrayal of Martha in “Baby Reindeer.” Additionally, Harvey has endured threats to her safety since the series aired, leading to increased fear and isolation.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Harvey refuted the claims made against her character in the series, stating that she only had casual email exchanges with Gadd during his time at a London pub. The lawsuit alleges that real comments made by Harvey to Gadd, including a tweet from 2014, were incorporated into the show’s dialogue without her consent.
As the legal battle unfolds, Harvey seeks vindication and restitution for the harm caused to her reputation and well-being by the portrayal of her character in “Baby Reindeer.”
