The Netflix show, “Baby Reindeer”, which debuted in April 2024, has begun to garner attention due to the ruled proceedings of a defamation lawsuit regarding the depiction of the main antagonist in the show.
This new update surrounding “Baby Reindeer” has brought attention to the discussion regarding the nature of fame and how many individuals who shouldn’t be given platforms have been able to become synonymous with public figures.
“Baby Reindeer,” a black comedy-drama thriller Netflix series created by and starring Richard Gadd, was designed for Gadd to adapt his perspective and spread awareness about his past situation, where he was working to navigate his life as a struggling comedian while dealing with harassment from a stalker.
Because the show turned many heads and sparked interest in audiences, many began to speculate about the true identities of the characters, including the main antagonist, Martha who is characterized as an insecure and mentally ill woman who stalks Gadd’s character, Donny throughout the show due to obsession.
As the popularity of the show continued to rise, Gadd wished for audiences to not seek out the true identities of the characters, stating to Rolling Stone, “I don’t agree with the sleuth thing. I’ve put out a statement publicly saying I want the show to be received as a piece of art…If I wanted the real-life people to be found, I would’ve made it a documentary.”
Despite this, Fiona Harvey, a woman claiming to be the real-life inspiration for Martha came forward a month after the release of the show to “set the record straight.”
Harvey appeared on television, in an interview with British broadcaster, Piers Morgan, who questioned her about her feelings regarding the supposed portrayal of her character.
Harvey went on to state that she believes the character was indeed intended to be a portrayal of her and she intends to sue Netflix for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
Throughout the interview, Harvey overall denied that she had ever harassed Gadd, stating that she had met him a few times and had only sent him “a couple of emails,” some tweets, and a handwritten letter.
Despite the controversies that surround the legitimacy of these statements, California judge, Judge R. Gary Klausner wrote that the show “appears to present itself as fact” rather than a representation of the creator’s opinion due to the show’s beginning statement, “this is a true story.”
Because of this, the show can be seen as shaping the viewer’s opinion and outlook on the events, leading to defamation of the Martha character, who Harvey claims is based on her.
With this recent accusation, many have speculated that this lawsuit was only able to gain such traction due to the fervor surrounding the true identity of Martha.
Because of much harassment towards Harvey, it had allowed her the ability to be interviewed by Morgan, allowing her to proceed with the charges towards Netflix.
With the belief that Gadd is in the right and Harvey shouldn’t be able to sue Netflix and the show’s creator, Harvey being able to proceed with the lawsuit will only cause further dramatization and issues regarding the show’s impact.
This behavior of fans/audiences providing platforms to individuals who don’t need it has notably become a commonplace issue, with other “popular figures” such as Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s prison release in December of 2023 and her explosion of fame in the next year.
Blanchard became popular through the murder case regarding her mother’s death. Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard was murdered by Nicholas Godejohn, with the murder planned by her daughter, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard.
This case gained large amounts of traction, due to the revelation of Gypsy being subjected to Munchausen Syndrome by proxy (form of child abuse in which a parent feigns or creates an illness in a child with the specific objective of subjecting that child to unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatments.). Because of this, Blanchard was able to gain sympathy from the masses, with many eagerly waiting for her release.
Upon her release, she was quickly put onto a pedestal, with her personal life being put on display. Having every aspect of her life exposed to the media caused many to become aware of any personal drama and issues that Blanchard may have experienced.
Furthermore, crime scene images of Dee Dee’s murder have been released, causing many to shift their view of Gypsy Rose, arguing that she’s a monster and that there was no reason to go to the lengths she did to escape her situation.
Providing such large platforms to individuals who don’t need it whether, they are undeserving or simply don’t need their lives in the public eye, has become an increasingly worrying issue.
With the nature of social media and the culture that comes with audiences and public figures, it’s obvious that we need to be careful and wary of the power that comes with the platform.