Real “Martha” Takes Legal Action for $170 million against Netflix Over ‘Baby Reindeer’ Portrayal.

June 7, 2024- Fiona Harvey, a Scottish woman, has filed a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix, claiming that the character “Martha” in their series Baby Reindeer is based on her and falsely portrays her as a convicted stalker. Harvey’s lawsuit, filed in California, accuses Netflix of defamation, negligence, and privacy violations, alleging that the series tells “brutal lies” about her to millions of viewers worldwide.

Baby Reindeer Lawsuit

Harvey asserts that she was wrongfully depicted as a violent and abusive stalker in the show Baby Reindeer, which follows the story of comedian Richard Gadd and his experiences with a stalker named Martha. The series opens with a claim of being a true story, but the end credits note that some elements have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Harvey denies all allegations made against her in the series, including the claim that she sexually assaulted Gadd.

@brutamericaFiona Harvey, who claims to be the inspiration for the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer’s character Martha Scott, sued the streaming platform for $170 million.♬ original sound – Brut.

Netflix has vowed to defend itself vigorously, supporting Gadd’s right to tell his story. Gadd, not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, has previously urged viewers not to try to identify “Martha.” Harvey maintains that Netflix did nothing to verify Gadd’s story and included some of her real-life comments and tweets in the show.

Since the series’ release, Harvey claims she has received numerous death threats and has become increasingly isolated. Her lawsuit seeks to clear her name and hold Netflix accountable for the alleged harm caused by the show’s portrayal of her.

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Published by HOLR Magazine

Image Credit: @brutamerica TikTok, @fionaharvey2014 X, @netflix Instagram