Fiona Harvey, the woman allegedly inspiring the Netflix series “Baby Reindeer,” criticized the Golden Globe Awards as “a pack of drivel” after the show won two awards, including Best Television Limited Series. Harvey is suing Netflix for over £130 million, claiming defamation and emotional distress due to the portrayal of her as a stalker. She denies allegations of stalking Richard Gadd, who wrote the show based on his experiences. The accusations have led to public backlash against her. Netflix plans to “vigorously defend” the lawsuit, with a trial set for May 2025.
The woman said to have inspired the baby reindeer stalker Martha yesterday slammed the Golden Globe Awards as a “pack of drivel” after the Netflix show won two awards.
Fiona Harvey, who is suing the streaming platform for more than £130 million in damages, comes after Jessica Gunning, who played Martha Scott, won Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series. , criticized the glitzy awards ceremony held in Los Angeles.
The show also won Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, beating out Disclaimer, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, The Penguin, Ripley, and True Detective: Night Country.
It is said that Harvey was the inspiration for the character of Donnie Dunn, played by Richard Gadd, who stalks Martha after he offers her free tea at the pub where she works.
The 59-year-old Scot told the Daily Record he did not have a high opinion of Gadd or Gunning, saying: “That’s terrible.” I have put my life on hold for another year. I can’t do that anymore.
“The baby reindeer thing is a lie.”
The show is said to be based on the real-life experiences of comedian and author Gad. After the show aired, he asked viewers not to speculate about the real person who inspired the series.
Harvey filed a lawsuit in the US last June, accusing Netflix of spreading “terrible lies” including that he was a “twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison”. .
‘Real-life’ baby reindeer stalker Fiona Harvey (Piers Morgan: Filmed Uncensored) slams Golden Globe Awards as ‘a bunch of pranks’ after Netflix show wins double award
After Jessica Gunning (pictured) won Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series for her role as Martha Scott, Harvey slammed the glamorous ceremony held in Los Angeles.
Gunning, Richard Gadd and Nava Mau accept the award for Best Television Limited Series for Baby Reindeer at the Golden Globe Awards Ceremony in Beverly Hills, California on January 5, 2025.
She is suing for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, gross negligence, and violation of publicity rights.
In an interview with BBC News last year, Ms Harvey said she was confident Netflix would lose the case, adding: “There’s no doubt about that.” Otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it. I think we can win. ”
“Defendants told these lies and never stopped because they were better stories than the truth, and better stories made money,” the complaint filed in federal court in California states. It is being
“As a result of the defendants’ lies, fraud, and completely reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life was ruined.”
Court documents claim that Netflix “did literally nothing” to confirm that the reported story was true, and that Harvey “has never been convicted of any crime and has never served any time in prison.” Not at all,” he said.
The lawsuit seeks actual damages and compensatory damages of $50 million (£39 million) each. Punitive damages of $20 million (£16 million). ‘All profits’ from the baby reindeer is $50m (£39m). This totals £133m.
Harvey also claims he has received hate attacks from around the world because of how Martha is portrayed in the Netflix hit.
She claims she never stalked Gad, sexually assaulted him, or was ever convicted of stalking.
Harvey claims that Netflix led viewers to believe that the fictional elements of the show were factual.
Gadd appears in Baby Reindeer as Donnie Dunn, a comedian who is stalked after giving out free tea at the pub where Martha Scott (Gunning) works.
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series winner Gad the baby reindeer poses at the Emmy Awards ceremony at the Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Gunning (who appears on the show) won the Best Supporting Actress award at the American awards ceremony.
The Mail can exclusively reveal that Gad, who wrote the script based on his own experiences and plays the character himself, told production company Clerkenwell Films that the stalker was never convicted. .
Sources said Mr Gadd told Mr Clerkenwell that the stalker was subject to an “exclusion order”. This is a civil order and is not the same as a criminal conviction for stalking.
This means that the show has always been a fictionalized dramatization, even though it was broadcast under the banner “This is a True Story.”
Netflix executive Benjamin King previously told a House of Commons committee that Mr Gadd had suffered at the hands of a “convicted stalker”.
It is not clear how Clerkenwell Films explained the situation to Netflix or what compliance steps were taken.
Internet sleuths quickly identified Harvey as Martha, although Gadd had previously said Martha’s identity was so well concealed that she would be unrecognizable.
In an earlier interview, Gadd said the situation had been “resolved” but did not explain how. He added: “It’s emotionally very true.” I was severely stalked and abused. ”
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Harvey denied the stalking allegations, but admitted he had met Ms Gadd several times in Camden, north London.
In response to the lawsuit, Netflix said in a statement: “We will vigorously defend this matter and defend Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
A trial is scheduled for May 2025 in California before Judge Gary Klausner.
