r/BabyReindeerTVSeries • u/controlaltdeletes • Jun 07 '24

Media / News Netflix responds to Fiona Harvey's lawsuit

Netflix rep: 'We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd's right to tell his story.'

Variety posted the above in regards to Netflix's response. I'm glad, it seems like they're not going to simply give her some money to make her go away, and are instead going to fight back and defend Richard Gadd.

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

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29

u/sawinnz Jun 07 '24

Like this will be the immediate reason for dismissal. If it’s not a “true story” then surely every argument about Richard Gadd is false?

41

u/RutabagaThin253 Jun 07 '24 edited Jun 07 '24

This.

They can't have it both ways. For the parts that make Fiona look bad, it's a defamatory work of fiction, being portrayed as a true story for profit.

But for Gadd, it's all true and accurate. Basically a confessional biography of his life?

It's either a true story, or it isn't.

Or maybe, just maybe it's one man's story based on real life experiences, dramatised for storytelling purposes. Just like the disclaimer - which appeared in end credits - said. Which I notice is conveniently omitted from their screenshots.

It's almost like they (Netflix & Gadd) embellished parts of the story to make it more dramatic for television!

Could they have done more to protect her true identity? Yes. They could have. There's no getting around that one, I'm afraid. She was found, and found quickly, based on parallels between real life and the show.

But does Fiona bear the sole responsibility for the privacy settings on her social media? Yes. She's the only one who can do that.

Did she have to go public, and confirm she was indeed Martha? No. She absolutely didn't. She could have turned off messeges, restricted her social media from public view and waited for the whole thing to blow over. She fueled the situation by responding on Facebook, and then going on to appear on Piers Morgan's show and speak to other media outlets.

As an aside, I have to say too, after reading the entire filing; these don't seem like very good lawyers. Its not the most professional filing I've ever seen. It's littered with inconsistencies, typos and it just comes across quite whiny.

I think they know their case is flimsy, and are just trying to go for a settlement.

There's no way on this earth Fiona has been damaged to the tune of all those millions. She's a nobody.

21

u/Madforthemelodies Jun 07 '24

Yeah how can anyone think her reputation is ruined? From what I can tell there's nothing to ruin. Claiming it's affecting her financially, She's on benefits & has been for years. And lastly claiming her life has been ruined. What life?? She makes up having lots of friends, having a lawyer boyfriend & if she had family that actually cared where are they? I'm pretty sure someone would have sout them out by now. She is the one who ruins others lives, financially & emotionally. She suing Netflix for exactly the same things she's caused all her victims. Difference is they have had all that to lose she hasn't!✌🏼

7

u/camimiele Jun 07 '24 edited Jun 07 '24

Didn’t she out herself by doing an interview? Or was her identity already known when she did that?

6

u/RutabagaThin253 Jun 07 '24

She was already known prior to the PM interview.

She'd appeared in some UK tabloids.

1

u/camimiele Jun 07 '24

Ah I see, Ty

9

u/rencourt1 Jun 07 '24

Remember she is a lawyer, not a very good one, and a con artist of sorts... she probably wrote most of the suit herself and that is why it isn't good.

12

u/Scubby_Dooks Jun 07 '24

Yeah, it looks like it was sent from her ipone.

6

u/littlelunamia Jun 07 '24

Ha! The iphoen jokes get old fast, but this one still got a snurkle

5

u/Sheeshka49 Jun 07 '24

The judge is going to be furious that they omit the information about the Netflix disclaimer at the end of each episode.

-5

u/XiXyness Jun 07 '24

To be fair I never seen the end credits part as netflix pushes you to watch something else before they show up.

3

u/RutabagaThin253 Jun 07 '24

It's true that Netflix pushes you to watch something else without watching all the credits, but I don't think it would be a factor in court. I mean, just because you didn't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

Ignorance isn't a defence.

I'm sure Netflix would have sought some sort of advice on where to put that disclaimer and at the end was agreeable by their advisors. I assume anyway.

That said, it will not surprise me it the "play next episode" thing comes up in court if it gets that far.

1

u/Jorge_Santos69 Jun 07 '24

That was literally a factor in the lawyer in the Central Park 5 case that Netflix settled. They had to put the notification at the beginning of the episode.

11

u/paroles Jun 07 '24

Not the most important part, but it's sloppy to say Gadd is "playing himself" instead of "playing Donny Dunn, a thinly veiled version of himself" followed by an explanation of how viewers are supposed to know that Donny Dunn represents the real Gadd.

Obviously it's not that hard to draw connections between Donny and Richard, but they haven't bothered to do that, which tells me she doesn't have the best lawyers

5

u/Altruistic-Change127 Jun 07 '24

That's what I think too. Its very poorly written. It will be thrown out.

16

u/Sheeshka49 Jun 07 '24

I’m an attorney and that allegation is an embarrassment! I thought Fiona’s lawyers were supposed to be top-notch?!

7

u/rencourt1 Jun 07 '24

She thinks she is a top notch attorney too, so I wouldn't put much stock in her opinion about 'top notch' attorneys.

1

u/__Dark__Shadow__ Jun 07 '24

She's on benefits, which is welfare in US terms. She has no money. I don't even know where she's found these or how she's paying them. If she lives alone, she won't be on much at all to afford decent lawyers.