Baby Reindeer’s ‘real Martha’ suing Netflix and ‘demanding $170,000,000 in damages’-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

The alleged ‘real Martha’ of Baby Reindeer is said to be suing Netflix (Picture: NETFLIX / Piers Morgan Uncensored)

The alleged ‘real Martha’ of Baby Reindeer, Fiona Harvey, is said to be suing Netflix.

The harrowing series, created by and starring Richard Gadd, follows aspiring comedian Donny Dunn being stalked by a woman named Martha, after a seemingly friendly encounter turns sinister and obsessive.

Over the seven-part series, Dunn’s ordeal grows when Martha begins waiting outside his house, sending him thousands of emails, and even harassing his parents and turning violent towards his girlfriend.

In the weeks that have followed its release, not only have internet sleuths appeared to have found Martha’s social media profiles, the woman claiming to be her has spoken out in multiple interviews, an explosive Piers Morgan grilling, and even reportedly signed up to a nightclub appearance (which was later cancelled following outrage).

Meanwhile, more celebrities and politicians came to discover they’ve allegedly been hounded by Harvey, 58, in the past.

She’s now said to be suing Netflix, and is seeking monetary damages of at least $170,000,000 (£132,000,000) it’s been reported.

According to Variety, Harvey is alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right of publicity.

The harrowing series is created by and stars Richard Gadd (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix / Avalon)

The lawsuit alleges Netflix told ‘brutal lies’ about her in the Netflix series, which opens with: ‘This is a true story.’

The complaint says: ‘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.

‘Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money.’

It 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.’

The Netflix programme stars Jessica Gunning as Martha (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix / Avalon)

During Harvey’s Uncensored interview, she described the show as ‘a work of fiction, a work of hyperbole’, insisting: ‘I wanted to rebut that completely on this show – I am not a stalker, I have not been to jail, I’ve not got injunctions – it is complete nonsense.’

Speaking to broadcaster Morgan, she denied several parts of the Netflix series, including sexually assaulting Gadd, assaulting his girlfriend or launching at him across a bar – something Martha did in the show.

She added that she will be taking legal action and repeatedly denied stalking Gadd in real life, saying of the thousands of emails: ‘None of that is true. I don’t think I sent him anything. There may have been a couple of emails.’

She also claimed Gadd asked her to sleep with him with a ‘big green spot on his face’ and asked her if she’d like her ‘curtains fixed’, and elsewhere, after being grilled by Morgan over the thousands of emails, admitted she had six email addresses and multiple phones.

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Previously speaking about the process of turning his ordeal into a TV show, Gadd told Metro.co.uk he wanted Baby Reindeer ‘to be three-dimensional’.

‘I wanted it to be nuanced. I just remember my idea of stalking in life was so different to what actually happened,’ he said.

‘My idea of what a stalker was, was that they are fundamentally, sort of, psychopathic characters. But it just wasn’t that case. I saw someone very vulnerable, really.’

He added there was no ‘moral point for people to take away’ but there was ‘a subtle reference to the fact that this is a vulnerable person who needs help’.

He’s since said he doesn’t plan on speaking about the real-life identities of his characters, telling The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever comment on it ever again.’

Fiona Harvey gave an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored (Picture: X@piers Morgan)

He went on: ‘I don’t agree with the sleuth thing. I’ve put out a statement publicly saying I want the show to be received as a piece of art, and I want the show to people to enjoy as a piece of art. I’m called Donny Dunn.

‘It exists in a sort of fictional realm, even though it’s based on truth, it exists in a fictional realm, let’s enjoy the world that I’ve created. If I wanted the real life people to be found, I would’ve made it a documentary.

‘I’ve spoken publicly about how I don’t want people to do it and if I start playing a game of whack-a-mole, then I’m almost adding to it. I don’t think I’ll ever comment on it ever again.’

Metro.co.uk has approached Netflix, Richard Gadd and Fiona Harvey’s reps for comment.

Baby Reindeer is available to watch on Netflix.

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