A British woman named Fiona Harvey has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming she was defamed by the streaming giant and the creators of the hit series “Baby Reindeer.”
Harvey alleges that she is the real-life inspiration for “Martha,” a character portrayed as a delusional and abusive stalker in the show. The series, which premiered in April and quickly became a global success, is based on Richard Gadd’s one-man play and depicts “Martha” harassing Gadd over several years.
In her lawsuit, filed in California, Harvey contends that the series’ claim of being a true story is false and has caused severe damage to her reputation. She accuses Netflix and Gadd of fabricating and sensationalizing details to attract viewers and increase profits, alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. Harvey is seeking $170 million in damages, asserting that the portrayal has led to harassment and threats from the public.
The lawsuit challenges the narrative of “Baby Reindeer,” where “Martha” is shown sending thousands of messages and sexually assaulting Gadd. Harvey denies these accusations, stating that the character’s depiction as a convicted stalker who served prison time is entirely fictional. Despite efforts by Gadd to change certain details to protect her identity, online sleuths identified Harvey, leading to her public outing and subsequent appearance on British television to refute the allegations.
Netflix has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
