Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has defended Richard Gadd, creator of the Netflix original series Baby Reindeer, in a recent interview with The Times of London. Scottish comedian Richard Gadd wrote, starred in, and executive produced the series, which went on to become a huge hit for the streaming giant. Baby Reindeer tells the true story of Gadd’s experience as a struggling stand-up comic and bartender, who finds himself being stalked by a woman named Martha. The Netflix miniseries was a hit and spent three weeks at the top of the viewing charts in most English-speaking countries. The show has now won six of its 11 Emmy nominations.
However, the series and its creator have found themselves the subjects of controversy. At the time of its airing, viewers decided to become internet sleuths, working to identify the alleged stalker. A Scottish woman ultimately claimed she was defamed in the portal of the stalker and brought a defamation lawsuit against Netflix in June for about $170 million. The plaintiff, Fiona Harvey, has publicly claimed to be the inspiration behind the character Martha (Jessica Gunning). Back in May, Harvey called the show “obscene,” and “a work of fiction, it’s a work of hyperbole.” She denied having stalked Gadd, claiming they met a few times, but says she never sent him an onslaught of voicemails and messages as depicted in the series. She added that she did have a toy reindeer, but as for the nickname, “it was a joke.”
Netflix has since responded to the suit stating that it intended to “defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.” Now, Sarandos has stated that he is “proud of the show and the way Richard handled the story.” The show opens with the qualifier “This is a true story,” and Sarandos has defended this decision, saying:
“It was no one’s intent to use a label recklessly. That is Richard’s true story. The fact that you’re watching on television says that parts of it were certainly fictionalised and dramatised. I’m surprised that it’s a continued debate.”.
Netflix Has Been in Hot Water Over Several ‘True’ Stories
Coincidentally, the case against Baby Reindeer came just two days after Netflix settled another defamation lawsuit. This time over the portrayal of former prosecutor Linda Fairstein in the series When They See Us. The show premiered in 2019 and centered on the “Central Park Five” case. In that suit, defendants Netflix and series creator DuVernay settled with Fairstein. In a joint statement, outlining the terms of the settlement, Netflix agreed to relocate the following disclaimer from the closing credits to the start of episodes.
“While the motion picture is inspired by actual events and persons, certain characters, incidents, locations, dialogue, and names are fictionalized for the purposes of dramatization.”
Netflix found itself in more hot water after the success of Inventing Anna. Rachel DeLoache Williams, a former “friend” of Anna Sorokin, filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix in August 2022 over her characterization in the Shonda Rhimes miniseries. The series was a dramatic retelling of Sorokin’s infamous con in which she pretended to be a German heiress by the name of Anna Delvey, with Sorokin ultimately convicted of swindling banks, investors, and other wealthy New York socialites.
The lawsuit claimed that the series falsely portrayed DeLoache Williams, making her appear greedy, dishonest, cowardly, manipulative, and opportunistic. Williams took particular issue with the series showing her abandoning Sorokin in Morocco and betraying her to the authorities. Netflix attempted a bid to have the lawsuit thrown out, arguing their First Amendment right to take a “literary license” when interpreting controversial public figures. However, the case has been allowed to proceed.
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