Netflix finally speaks out on ‘real-life Martha’ speculations following release of Baby Reindeer
Netflix has addressed concerns surrounding speculation over the real identities of the people who inspired characters in Baby Reindeer.
You’ll be hard-pressed to have been scrolling on social media and not come across someone praising Netflix’s latest drama-thriller miniseries, Baby Reindeer.
The seven-episode show is based on comedian Richard Gadd’s real-life experience of being stalked and sexually assaulted.
It stars himself as the fictional Donny Dunn alongside Jessica Gunning as ex-lawyer Martha Scott and chronicles how the protagonist deals with buried trauma and a female stalker.
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Following its premiere on 11 April, TV fans have embarked on a witch hunt to uncover the ‘real’ stalker which Martha is allegedly based on.
Gadd pleaded with fans not to ‘speculate on who any of the real-life people could be', adding that all the speculation is 'quite sad' and was 'not the point of the show at all.'
Now, Netflix’s policy chief Benjamin King has had his say.
Speaking in a UK Parliament hearing, he claimed that the streaming giant and producer Clerkenwell Films were satisfied with their safeguarding measures.
“[Netflix and Clerkenwell Films] took every reasonable precaution in disguising the real-life identities of the people involved in that story,” he said.
He added that the plan was always to uphold the ‘veracity and authenticity’ of Baby Reindeer while protecting individuals’ identities.
“We didn’t want to anonymise that or make it generic to the point where it was no longer his story because that would undermine the intent behind the show.
“Ultimately, it’s obviously very difficult to control what viewers do, particularly in a world where everything is amplified by social media.”
He added that he ‘wouldn’t be comfortable’ to live in a world where the media ‘silenced’ Richard’s experiences.
Today (9 May), a woman named Fiona Harvey - who has been dubbed the ‘real-life Martha’ - will appear on Piers Morgan Uncensored to ‘set the record straight’.
Speaking to the Daily Record yesterday (8 May), she claimed she ‘felt used’ during the ‘rapid interview’.
"It was very rapid to try to trip me up,” she told the publication.
“He did it fast paced to catch me off guard. It seemed to me that I was set up. I feel a bit used.”
Harvey says she was paid £250 for her involvement in the interview with Morgan.
The interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored will air tonight (9 May) on the presenter's YouTube channel at 8.00pm GMT/3.00pm ET in the US.
Topics: Baby Reindeer, TV And Film, Netflix, Piers Morgan
Ella Scott