Netflix's Baby Reindeer Has Officially Been Ruled As Not Being A True Story
Following the release of Netflix's Baby Reindeer back in April 2024, the show's writer and creator, Richard Gadd and Netflix have both come under fire. Soon after its release, concerns arose over the series' opening lines stating that the show is based on a 'true story', as well as the fact that it failed to hide the identity of the show's antagonist as well as the portrayal of her.
Fiona Harvey, the inspiration behind Baby Reindeer's Martha and the woman who stalked the show's creator has alleged that the depiction of her, and her actions, have been exaggerated, specifically denying that she sexually assaulted Gadd, gouged his eyes and went to prison for stalking him.
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Harvey first stated that Netflix had failed to fact check the reality of what had occurred while appearing on an interview with Piers Morgan.
Since then, Harvey has filed a $170 million dollar (approximately £127 million) lawsuit against Netflix, stating that the show has defamed her for the wrongful portrayal of depicting her as being a convicted stalker.
In a recent ruling that took place on September 27 in California, US district judge Gary Klausner held that while 'Harvey's purported actions are reprehensible', Gadd's depiction of her in Baby Reindeer was 'worse' than what Harvey was accused of in real life.
Given that the show opens with the statement 'this is a true story', viewers naturally watched the series thinking it was a factual account of what transpired between Gadd and Harvey.
Klausner further stated that there was also a stark difference between stalking and 'being convicted of stalking in a court of law'.
Elsewhere, he maintained the same stance on the allegations of sexual assault: 'Likewise, there are major differences between inappropriate touching and sexual assault, as well as between shoving and gouging another's eyes. While plaintiff's purported actions are reprehensible, defendants' statements are of a worse degree and could produce a different effect in the mind of a viewer.'
This now means that Harvey will be able to proceed with a defamation lawsuit following Klausner's ruling, as well approving her claim of intentional infliction of emotion distress, which is relevant to 'extreme and outrageous' false statements.
In addition to this, Klausner voided Netflix's attempt to throw out the lawsuit, and denied Harvey's claims for violation of her publicity rights, negligence and for punitive damages.
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