Netflix to Counter $170 Million Lawsuit Over "Baby Reindeer"
Attention! Fiona Harvey is demanding a jury trial and monetary compensation worth $170 million. She states the reasons as emotional distress, disrupted lifestyle, and business loss, as mentioned in a recently filed lawsuit in the Californian Central District Court.
In the famous Netflix miniseries, stand-up funny man Richard Gadd narrates a true story of undergoing harassment by a woman who sent him excess of 40,000 mails and hundreds of hours of voice messages.
The thriller, titled "Baby Reindeer," has been on everyone's list of most-viewed content since its launch in April. This led to loads of attention and wonder about the characters and their backstories. After Harvey's discovering by internet detectives, calling her "the real Martha Scott," she went into the spotlight on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" one month ago stating that her life has been devastated.
Her lawsuit claims Netflix, alongside Netflix Worldwide Entertainment, to be the defendants. Additionally, she mentions Gadd, who performs in the seven-part series aiming to depict a struggling comedian called Donny Dunn.
The papers assert that Netflix and Gadd have perpetuated the "greatest lie in television history" through their claims of the story's authenticity.
The complaint also voices that Netflix and Gadd acted out of "greed and ambition" to amass wealth, aiming to destroy an innocent woman's life "who was falsely framed and defamed on a stage larger than any had witnessed before."
A Netflix official spokesperson shared their stance to CNN: "We plan to strongly defend this case and support Richard Gadd's right to express his story."
Gadd initially mentioned his disturbing experience with a supposed stalker at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019, which Netflix commissioned in 2021. He expressed in a Netflix article that the situation was "messy" and "complex," but felt the tale had to be disclosed.
On Thursday, Gadd alongside Jessica Gunning (portraying Scott) appeared on NBC's "The Tonight Show" to discuss the show's remarkable success.
"The story has experienced an unexpected boom, cutting across cultural lines. It's so specific, so London-esque, and revolves around a weird traumatic tale," Gadd mentioned.
So far, Gadd has remained silent on the lawsuit.
Before filming the series, he implored fans not to dig up the real-world identities of the people associated with the story. However, despite his wishes, numerous individuals resorted to doing just that, according to the lawsuit.
The papers accuse Netflix of ignoring the need to validate any facts in their production. The accusation includes details about Gadd's supposed stalker receiving a five-year jail sentence.
According to the complaint, shortly after the release of the show, Harvey faced threats to her life in her inbox. As a result, she now fears going out and looking at the news.
"She has endured anxiety, nightmares, panic attacks, shame, depression, discomfort, nervousness, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dread, and illness, each brought on by the falsehoods uttered about her," the documents outline.
Please note, no personal opinion or remark has been incorporated while retelling the text.
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The lawsuit also names Netflix's media business as one of the defendants, alleging their role in perpetuating false narratives for personal gain. Additionally, the media coverage surrounding the show has further amplified the controversy, potentially causing further harm to Harvey's business reputation.
