Baby Reindeer is currently the most popular series on Netflix, holding the top spot in global viewership for the past two weeks. The show consists of seven episodes, inspired by the real-life experiences of director and writer Richard Gadd. The narrative draws from Gadd’s personal encounters, particularly highlighting a moment when he was once stalked by a woman in her early twenties. The character based on him is named Donny, portrayed by Gadd himself. The lead female role, Martha Scott, is played by Jessica Gunning.
Despite its initial release, the show did not garner much attention due to the relatively unknown cast. However, the unique storytelling aspect has since made it a sensation, attracting a significant audience intrigued by the dramatized events.
However, the show’s success has not been without controversy. According to The Scottish Sun, a 58-year-old woman from Scotland named Fiona Harvey recently self-identified as the “real-life version” of Martha Scott, the character referenced by Richard Gadd. She expressed feeling offended by the portrayal of her character in the series: “There’s an actress playing my character. She looks quite similar to me after a few drinks, but the truth is that I’m not an unattractive person.“
Fiona Harvey also announced plans to take legal action against the film, stating that Richard Gadd is now the only person who has caused her distress, to the extent that she feels compelled to create a documentary to discuss the relationship between the two individuals. “He’s not Brad Pitt. Now the public is treating me as a murderer. This cannot continue. I will make a lesson out of this.” Interestingly, outside of her grievances, Fiona Harvey is also a lawyer. She indicated that she would represent herself if the matter escalates to court.
Although introduced as a dramatized portrayal of real events, Richard Gadd has previously explained that some elements within Baby Reindeer are inspired by the lives of many people he knows. When the show aired, many viewers speculated about the identities of the characters referenced. Subsequently, Richard Gadd had to remind viewers to focus on the show to avoid negatively impacting others involved. Currently, the director has not publicly commented on Fiona Harvey’s allegations.
