Baby Reindeer, one of Netflix’s best mini-series of 2024, is based on its creator and lead star Richard Gadd’s alleged real-life experience of dealing with a psychopathic female stalker. While he changed the characters’ names in the series, Martha, the stalker in Baby Reindeer, played by Jessica Gunning, was said to be based on Fiona Harvey, the woman who was allegedly convicted for stalking Gadd. However, Harvey has given interviews where she denies the events depicted in the show, even claiming that she has not been convicted as a stalker or imprisoned for this. Baby Reindeer: From the Title’s Significance to How ‘True-to-Life’ the Show Is, All You Need to Know About Richard Gadd’s Netflix Series.
In a statement issued to the media, Fiona Harvey claims she will initiate legal action against Netflix for the ‘untold damage’ caused to her health, reputation, and job prospects.
Check Her Statement Below:
Earlier in 2024, Netflix released a programme called “Baby Reindeer”, which they billed and marketed as a ‘true story’. One of the two main characters, ‘Martha’, was clearly intended to be based on me. A senior Netflix executive gave evidence to parliament on oath that Baby Reindeer was ‘obviously a true story’ of Richard Gadd’s dealings with a ‘convicted stalker’. No doubt Richard Gadd, Clerkenwell Films (who produced the programme) and Netflix have made millions of pounds from this programme, in large part by making so many claims that Baby Reindeer is a true story.
I have no doubt that the character of Martha’ in Baby Reindeer was intended to be a portrayal of me. The problem for Richard Gadd and now for Netflix is that Baby Reindeer is not a true story at all. I am not a ‘convicted stalker’. I have never been charged with any crime, let alone been convicted, still less pleaded guilty, and of course, I have never been to prison for anything. This is how Gadd and Netflix chose to portray me in a TV show for their own financial gain.
Nobody ever approached me for any comment on the accuracy of Baby Reindeer or the very serious and damaging allegation that I am a convicted criminal with a serious criminal record who has spent time in prison.
Nobody ever asked for my permission to present me in this way or to use my image at all.
The media firestorm around Baby Reindeer, and my rapid identification as the ‘real Martha’, have caused untold damage to my health, my reputation, my job prospects and my ability to make sensible decisions about my welfare and best interests. This media firestorm continues, with daily bombardments of calls seeking comment on stories of every possible kind.
I am making this statement to make clear that I will not be making any further media comment of any kind until further notice. With the assistance of a senior English lawyer, Chris Daw KC, I am putting together a legal team, in the UK and in the US, to take forward legal action against all of those who have lied about me and used my image to make large sums of money for themselves, with such damaging consequences for me and my family. Chris is not formally retained on my behalf and will not be making any media statements of any kind, in relation to my position or any other media stories, until further notice.
Once I have a legal team in place, I expect that they will make a further statement, setting out the next steps that I will be taking to deal with everything that has happened, as a direct result of the dishonest and false picture of me, painted in Baby Reindeer and in the media generally.
In the meantime, for the good of my health, please respect my privacy and please stop the endless calls and messages, asking for interviews, comments, and so many other things. I have made clear that I am not physically able to cope with relentless harassment from journalists and, if this continues, I will make a report to the police.
Watch the Interview that Fiona Harvey Gave to Piers Morgan:
Baby Reindeer is an adaptation of Richard Gadd’s autobiographical one-man show, which means the incidents that happen in the show are inspired by real-life events in his life. Apart from Gadd and Jessica Gunning, the show also stars Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Nina Sosanya, Michael Wildman and Amanda Root.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2024 02:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
