Netflix Faces $170M Defamation Lawsuit Over 'Baby Reindeer' After Failing To Get Lawsuit Thrown Out
Netflix is set to defend itself against a $170 million defamation lawsuit filed by Fiona Harvey, the woman claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha Scott, a character from the Emmy-winning series Baby Reindeer after failing to get the lawsuit thrown out.
Harvey claims show has spread false information about her
Baby Reindeer, created by comedian Richard Gadd, centres on a bartender and comedian, Donny Dunn, who is stalked by Martha. The show was marketed as "a true story," but Harvey claims the portrayal of her character was grossly exaggerated.
Harvey alleges the show spread false claims about her, leading to harassment and even death threats from viewers.
The court ruling from Judge Gary Klausner agrees that "a reasonable viewer could understand the statements about Martha" as being about Harvey.
Harvey denies several of the show's key accusations, including claims of sexual assault, physical violence, and stalking Gadd for hours outside his home. Judge Klausner pointed out that while Harvey's actions might have been inappropriate, the show depicted them "to a worse degree" than what actually occurred.
Netflix fail to get lawsuit dismissed
Netflix tried to have the case dismissed, but the judge ruled that the platform had made little effort to distinguish fact from fiction or obscure Harvey's identity.
"There is a major difference between stalking and being convicted of stalking," Judge Klausner noted.
Netflix’s argument that viewers would understand the dramatised nature of the show was dismissed due to the opening claim that the series was a “true story.”
Harvey says she faced threats online following the show’s release
Harvey has said that the consequences of the show have been severe. In an interview with Piers Morgan, she revealed she only sent Gadd a handful of messages but has since been publicly accused of crimes she never committed.
“I’ve been forced to speak out due to the online threats,” she said.
Despite Netflix's defence that the story represents Gadd’s personal experience, and that the show is largely viewed as a comedy-drama, Harvey maintains the streaming giant was reckless in its portrayal of her.
Gadd himself has previously asked fans not to speculate about the real-life individuals behind the characters. However, once the show aired, Harvey’s identity was quickly found online, triggering backlash and accusations that Netflix failed to protect her privacy.
"The fact the show opens with 'this is a true story' invites viewers to believe everything shown," Klausner wrote, further supporting Harvey's claim.
Netflix continues to stand by Gadd, stating, "We intend to defend this matter vigorously and stand by Richard’s right to tell his story."
But as the case moves forward, the question remains: did Baby Reindeer cross a line between storytelling and defamation?
