The creator and lead actor of "Baby Reindeer", actor Richard Gadd, has revealed the grueling and super disturbing stalking he allegedly experienced from a woman, who goes by the name Martha in the series. As the internet became obsessed with the series, Fiona Harvey, a woman who claims to be the "real Martha" sued Netflix, accusing it of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and violation of her rights.
Harvey filed a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix in June, as Netflix claims the series tells a true story. Harvey's name is never mentioned in the series, but she has publicly said that she is the woman who inspired the character of Martha Scott, who for 3 years stalks Gadd. Harvey has denied being a stalker, or sending Gadd thousands of emails, voicemails, letters and X messages.
In the court filing, Gadd said that "Baby Reindeer" is a fictional account of his emotional journey through some real, extremely traumatic experiences. "The series is a dramatic work. It's not a documentary or an attempt at realism, but it's based on my life and the real events that happened and is, at its core, emotionally true. It is not a random account of the events and emotions I experienced; they really happened. The series is fictional and does not aim to portray actual facts."
“Although these stage productions are emotionally true and based on real events in my life, they brought people, places, things and events to tell a story. I did not write the series as a representation of actual facts about any real person, including Fiona Harvey. "Martha Scott is not Fiona Harvey," he said.
"Baby Reindeer" talks about the persecution, the ignored feelings, showing that the cycle of violence does not end, if the traumas are not resolved. The event is based on the life of series creator Richard Gadd.
The comedian plays the main character, who is a version of himself named Donny Dunn. In this series, he shares his experience of being stalked by a middle-aged woman, nicknamed Martha.
"It's very true and obviously I was harassed and severely abused. But we wanted this experience to exist in the realm of art, as well as protect the people for whom the event is told."
Gadd also mentions his experience of being raped by an older and then successful writer.
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