Netflix firmly shuts down ‘manipulative’ theory behind Baby Reindeer after ‘real Martha’ backlash-Adam Miller-Entertainment – Metro

‘I don’t make shows for publicity,’ a Netflix executive said (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix)

Netflix has hit back at any speculation that Baby Reindeer was a big publicity stunt.

Richard Gadd’s drama based on his real-life experience with a stalker was hailed a masterpiece, becoming one of the streaming giant’s most successful and talked about shows of all time.

Baby Reindeer follows Donny (played By Gadd) and his stalker Martha (Jessica Gunning) who infiltrates every corner of his life, entering his home, attacking his girlfriend and eventually sexually assaulting him.

Donny also receives daily messages from Martha, over email, and eventually through his phone number. It totals to a claimed 41,000 emails and hundreds of hours worth of voice messages within the show.

However, it’s now under fire from a woman named Fiona Harvey, who claims to be the ‘real Martha’ and is suing Netflix for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right to publicity.

It wasn’t long before fans of the show discovered Harvey’s social media profile with many accusing Netflix of ploughing along with Baby Reindeer regardless, to gain publicity.

Comedian Richard Gadd wrote and starred in the Netflix hit (Picture: Ed Miller/Netflix)

The drama has received an array of award nominations (Picture: Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Images)

The streaming service’s vice president of content Anne Mensah ruled out any suggestion Baby Reindeer was a publicity stunt at the EDTV Fest.

‘I don’t make shows for publicity,’ said Mensah, adding: ‘It’s the antithesis of what I believe in.’

She also said: ‘I really believe the UK is this amazing place for content creators and the writers and the directors… and it’s 100% about finding ways to take this space.

‘It’s not about trying to manipulate anybody (with) an algorithm.

‘The truth is way simpler, which is the audience is incredibly clever and incredibly diverse, and they spot good and not boring.’

Fiona Harvey was interviewed on Piers Morgan’s TalkTV show (Picture: Piers Morgan Uncensored/YouTube)

Mensah was also confronted by a ‘disgusted’ audience member about the safeguarding of the show, insisting Netflix takes it ‘absolutely seriously’.

Baby Reindeer tells viewers it is a ‘true story’. In it, Martha is sentenced to nine months in prison and receives a restraining order.

Harvey has since said though: ‘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.’

This summer, it was reported that Harvey was suing Netflix for $170,000,000 (£133,000,000), alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and violations of her right of publicity.

Gadd insisted that the characters in Baby Reindeer, including the character of Martha, were ‘fictional’, despite the series opening on Netflix with a statement that reads: ‘This is a true story.’

According to Deadline, Gadd stated in a declaration submitted in federal court in response to Harvey’s lawsuit: ‘I never intended the Series to identify any real person as Martha Scott, including Harvey.

‘Martha Scott is not Fiona Harvey. Like all characters in the Series, Martha is a fictional character with fictional personality traits that are very different than Harvey’s.’

Baby Reindeer is available to watch on Netflix.

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