Netflix Faces $170 Million Defamation Lawsuit Over ‘Baby Reindeer’

Netflix Faces $170 Million Defamation Lawsuit Over ‘Baby Reindeer’

Netflix has been sued for at least $170 million by a Scottish woman who claimed she was defamed by her portrayal in the mini-series "Baby Reindeer." Fiona Harvey has alleged that the show unfairly depicted her as a Stalker.

Harvey, a London-based Lawyer, asserts she is the real-life inspiration behind the character Martha, portrayed by actress Jessica Gunning. According to Harvey, both Martha and she share physical similarities and occupational backgrounds. In a federal complaint filed in Los Angeles, Harvey contends that Netflix and "Baby Reindeer" Creator Richard Gadd falsely suggested she was a twice-convicted stalker who had served a five-year prison term.

Harvey denies stalking Gadd, who in the show plays a fictionalized version of himself named Donny Dunn, as well as any allegations of conviction or imprisonment. Despite her denials, Harvey claims that viewers are unable to distinguish between reality and fiction, leading to widespread discussions about her on platforms like Reddit and TikTok, where users refer to her as the real Martha.

The complaint alleges, “Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money.” Harvey's lawsuit seeks at least $50 million each for actual damages and compensatory damages, including mental anguish and lost profits, plus an additional $20 million in punitive damages.

In response, Netflix stated its intention to "defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd's right to tell his story."

The lawsuit comes just two days after Netflix settled another high-profile defamation case with former prosecutor Linda Fairstein over her portrayal in the 2019 series "When They See Us," which depicted the Central Park Five rape case.