Fiona Harvey files a $170 million defamation lawsuit against Netflix, alleging her portrayal as a stalker in the mini-series “Baby Reindeer” is false and damaging.
Los Angeles, (Bollywood Fever): Netflix faced a lawsuit on Thursday from a Scottish woman seeking at least $170 million, alleging defamation over her portrayal as a stalker in the popular mini-series “Baby Reindeer.”
Fiona Harvey, the plaintiff, has publicly identified herself as the inspiration behind the character Martha, played by Jessica Gunning. Martha, like Harvey, is a London-based lawyer and shares a physical resemblance.
In a complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, Harvey accused Netflix and “Baby Reindeer” creator Richard Gadd of exaggerating her portrayal. The show, which claims to be a “true story,” suggests she was a twice-convicted stalker sentenced to five years in prison. Harvey denied stalking Gadd, who portrays a fictional version of himself named Donny Dunn, or having any criminal convictions or imprisonment.
Harvey stated that the show misled viewers, leading to widespread online discussions about her as the “real” Martha on platforms like Reddit and TikTok.
“Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money,” the complaint stated.
Netflix responded to the lawsuit, asserting its intention to “defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
The lawsuit demands at least $50 million each for actual damages, compensatory damages including mental anguish and profits, and at least $20 million in punitive damages.
Harvey’s lawsuit came two days after Netflix settled a defamation case with former prosecutor Linda Fairstein over her depiction in “When They See Us,” a 2019 series about the Central Park Five rape case. Netflix agreed to move a disclaimer that some characters might have been altered for dramatic purposes to the start of episodes and to donate $1 million to a nonprofit aiding wrongfully convicted individuals.
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