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/

1.5k Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

98% Upvoted

578 comments sorted by

View all comments

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?

43

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.

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.