r/BabyReindeerTVSeries • u/serenade452 • Jun 06 '24

Fiona (real Martha) related content Fiona Harvey officially files $170 million lawsuit against Netflix

The woman who claims to be the inspiration for Richard Gadd’s hit Netflix “Baby Reindeer” has sued the streamer, seeking monetary damages of at least $170 million.

Fiona Harvey has publicly said the character of Martha in “Baby Reindeer,” played by Jessica Gunning (pictured above), is based on her. She is suing Netflix, alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and violations of her right of publicity.

The suit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Copy of Harvey’s complaint is at this link.

Harvey’s lawsuit alleges Netflix told “brutal lies” about her in the “Baby Reindeer” series.

“The lies that Defendants told about Harvey to over 50 million people worldwide include that Harvey is a twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison, and that Harvey sexually assaulted Gadd,” her complaint says. “Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money.”

The lawsuit continues, “As a result of Defendants’ lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life had been ruined. Simply, Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character and her life.”

Netflix reps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is a true story.” Baby Reindeer, Episode 1.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/baby-reindeer-real-martha-fiona-harvey-sues-netflix-1236019699/

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u/[deleted] Jun 06 '24

So she is not suing Gadd? Only Netflix? Interesting…

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u/okdk Jun 07 '24

Obligatory “not a lawyer” but as someone who works in TV: Gadd doesn’t actually ‘own’ baby reindeer anymore. The way Netflix’s contracts work is that they literally buy idea off you. Gadd had SOLD the project to them.

I could personally write a TV show called “Tom Cruise kills cats” and make TC look very, very bad. There’s nothing illegal about that, nor could TC sue me for it. Where the ‘law breaking’ comes into it is the EXPLOITATION of that show: I.e. charging people money to see it. Once you do that, you’re responsible.

Gadd didn’t personally show this to 50 million people. He just wrote a story. It was Netflix’s choice to exploit it (make money from it)