Fiona Harvey: Netflix attacks ‘real Martha’ lawsuit in defense of Baby Reindeer

Netflix made a rare comment on the topic Little reindeer scandal after she was sued by the “real Marta” – and took a subtle hit at the controversy surrounding her alleged portrayal on the show.

On Thursday (June 6), it was revealed that Scottish law graduate Fiona Harvey, who believes she inspired Jessica Gunning’s character in Richard Gadd’s hit series, is suing Netflix for $50 million (£39 million).

It comes after Harvey spoke out about her alleged portrayal during a controversial interview with Piers Morgan last month.

Since the April 11 premiere of the wildly popular biographical series written and starring comedian Gadd, Netflix has come under fire, with many questioning the effectiveness of the streaming service’s security protocols.

As more and more armchair detectives attempted to find the real characters who inspired the otherwise acclaimed series Little reindeer was met with backlash, with many people asking whether more protective measures could have been put in place to prevent viewers from identifying them.

The series tells the story of struggling comedian Donny Dunn (Gadd) who is constantly harassed and stalked by Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning) for over four years. Since the series premiered, it has become a word-of-mouth sensation.

As the series began to appear on the most-watched charts, viewers tried to discover the true inspirations behind the show’s controversial characters, including Marta, which was criticized by Gadd himself.

Gadd was also forced to stop speculating about the true identity of the character who groomed and sexually abused him – a traumatic event in Gadd’s life – because it led to false accusations from curious viewers.

Netflix remained silent on the matter, but after Harvey filed a lawsuit against the site, a spokesperson said, “We intend to vigorously defend this case and stand up for Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”

In another apparent response, Netflix apparently responded subtly to Harvey’s lawsuit by increasing its support for the show by releasing Gunning’s audition tape for Martha.

Harvey, who warned in May that she planned to take legal action against Netflix, in her newly filed lawsuit allegedly alleges that she has been harassed by people around the world because of the series and Netflix’s failure to adequately protect her identity.

The 58-year-old accuses the streaming giant of ruining her reputation by featuring Marta, arguing in legal documents that she never stalked Gadd or sexually assaulted her and that she has not been convicted of stalking.

Harvey’s lawyers are seeking a jury trial in the US District Court for the Central District of California, seeking “actual damages” of $50 million (£39 million) plus attorneys’ fees and statutory interest.