Netflix Sued For $170 Million Over Hit Dark Comedy Baby Reindeer

Fiona Harvey claims to be the inspiration behind the Netflix series Baby Reindeer’s antagonist character, Martha Scott.

While the series is receiving major viewership and critical acclaim, Harvey has a different opinion of the series and is suing the streamer for $170 million. Read on to find out why Harvey is suing Netflix over the major hit series.

Woman sues Netflix for $170 million over Baby Reindeer

Baby Reindeer is a dark comedy about stalking and its main character, Martha Scott, is based on a woman who allegedly stalked the show’s creator, Richard Gadd. Meanwhile, Fiona Harvey, the woman suing the streaming giant claims to be the inspiration behind Scott’s character. Now, she is suing Netflix for $170 million in a lawsuit filed in California.

According to the Telegraph, Harvey alleges defamation, infliction of emotional distress, negligence and violations of her right to publicity, the right to control the commercial exploitation of a person’s name, image, or persona. Those rights are normally associated with celebrities.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, Harvey strongly denies the claims depicted in the series, saying:

I don’t think I sent him anything. There may have been a couple of emails, jokey banter, but that is it.

About the dark comedy

Baby Reindeer is a dark comedy based on Gadd’s experience with an alleged stalker and is a huge success for Netflix. However, the lawsuit argues that the popular series grossly misrepresents her actions. Moreover, Harvey says the series has had a devastating impact on her life.

In Harvey’s lawsuit, it is claimed:

The lies that Defendants [Netflix and Gadd] 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.

Moreover, the papers accuse Netflix of exploiting a fabricated narrative for financial gain as follows:

Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth.

Meanwhile, Harvey states that Netflix failed to conduct any fact-checking relating to Gadd’s claims, including verifying the alleged stalking convictions. Because of this, the lawsuit claims that this negligence destroyed her reputation and livelihood.

Furthermore, Harvey seeks $150 million in compensatory damages for emotional distress, loss of business and reputation and lost profits. Moreover, the plaintiff seeks $50 million in punitive damages.

What does Netflix say about the lawsuit?

The giant streamer has responded via a spokesperson and stated its intention to “defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.” 

Meanwhile, Gadd did acknowledge creative liberties were taken in the series in an interview, saying:

It’s very emotionally true, obviously: I was severely stalked and severely abused. But we wanted it to exist in the sphere of art, as well as protect the people it’s based on.

Meanwhile, the series has become a major hit for Netflix and has garnered awards, while attracting more than 60 million viewers in its first month. Moreover, the series is expected to become one of the streamer’s biggest hits yet.

However, despite its claims, the lawsuit does cast a shadow over its success. While the series was initially praised for its portrayal of a harrowing experience, it now attracts scrutiny over the truthfulness of the narrative. Meanwhile, it is currently unknown if Harvey’s claims will lead to a success with the lawsuit.

Readers can watch the interview with Piers Morgan here:

Readers, have you watched Baby Reindeer? What is your opinion of the hit dark comedy? Leave a comment below to let us know.