Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning put on united front as Baby Reindeer’s ‘real Martha’ sues Netflix-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning made their first TV appearance following reports of Fiona Harvey suing Netflix (Picture: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)

There seemed to be an elephant in the room as the stars of Baby Reindeer made their first TV appearance since the revelation that the real-life Martha is suing Netflix.

Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning put on a united front as they spoke to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in the US last night (June 6).

While both laughed and joked around and appeared in high spirits, neither mentioned the current legal crisis surrounding their TV drama, which has been watched by over 65million people worldwide.

Viewers may have noticed, though, that Gadd’s body language was rather hunched and he seemed to be of a nervous disposition, the weight of the world on his shoulders as his life story makes headlines around the globe and, potentially, enters courtrooms.

Gadd – who portrays his own stalking ordeal in Baby Reindeer – and Gunning – who portrays perpetrator Martha – appeared on Fallon’s show just hours after reports surfaced that Fiona Harvey, on whom the character of Martha is based, is seeking monetary damages of at least $170,000,000 (£132,000,000) from the streaming giant.

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

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

In part, Harvey’s complaint refutes Netflix’s ‘lies’ of her being a ‘twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison’.

Putting all of their legal woes to one side, however, Gadd and Gunning were a powerful twosome as they recalled Baby Reindeer’s success to Fallon, with the studio audience offering a warm welcome of applause and cheers.

Gadd began by explaining that the show started as a series of ‘autobiographical shows’ in 2016 before he went to Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 and Baby Reindeer was born.

‘It just took off. It was this crazy thing. Netflix came to me, they said, “Do you want to make it into a series?” And I said, “Yeah, go on then!”,’ he joked.

Despite his ‘belief’ and ‘hope’ that his horrific harassment ordeal might one day make it to the small screen, Gadd had no idea that the show would be such a success.

‘It’s crazy. It’s had this almost, cross-cultural success that I never expected because it’s so singular, it’s so idiosyncratic, and it’s very London, and it’s such an odd story, such a weird, traumatic story… but I guess a lot of people are suffering right now!’

The Baby Reindeer stars put on a united front for The Tonight Show (Picture: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)

Gadd depicts his own stalking ordeal in the Netflix series, while Gadd plays the stalker (Picture: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)

Harvey was not mentioned in the interview by name, nor were any of her recent allegations alluded to.

The only time in the chat that ‘Martha’ was namedropped was when Gunning said she bought a physical copy of one of Gadd’s old plays to read, quipping that she went ‘method’ and it was ‘a little bit Martha of [her]’.

Taking to the comments after its upload, a handful of viewers pointed out the obvious.

‘Seems Gadd had told Jimmy to not mention the potential lawsuit’, commented YouTube user rykelly82ify.

‘Why is Jim not saying anything about Fiona Harvey?’, asked onlyoneani.

Meanwhile, Harvey, who allegedly sent Gadd thousands of emails and even harassed his parents, has given a string of interviews herself.

She was initially tracked down by social media sleuths who found her profiles, before she was grilled by Piers Morgan and reportedly signed up to a nightclub appearance (which was later cancelled following outrage).

Harvey has denied repeatedly harassing Gadd and sending him thousands of emails (Picture: X)

The series written by Gadd has stormed the world (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix/Avalon)

More celebrities and politicians came to discover they’ve allegedly been hounded by Harvey, 58, in the past, speaking out with their stories.

She maintains that she has been falsely portrayed by Netflix, hence her reason for seeking financial compensation.

In her filing, it reads: ‘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.’

A Netflix spokesperson said in response: ‘We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.’

In a previous TV interview on Uncensored Harvey, described Baby Reindeer 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.’

Gunning is worlds away from the real Martha (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix)

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

She vowed to take legal action and repeatedly denied stalking Gadd in real life.

‘None of that is true. I don’t think I sent him anything. There may have been a couple of emails.’

As for Gadd, while he continues his press tour to promote the show across the pond, he previously 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.’

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.’

Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.

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