NETFLIX owes Baby Reindeer’s real-life stalker Fiona Harvey an apology, a TV regulator has declared as she launches legal action.
A consultant to Ofcom told an industry panel he has “no idea” how the streamer was able to “justify” how the smash hit was produced.
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Fiona Harvey has launched legal action over Baby Reindeer after revealing its real impact in an exclusive interview with Piers MorganCredit: Instagram/@piersmorgan
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Fiona claims Richard Gadd’s portrayal of stalker Martha in the hit show is defamatoryCredit: Netflix
Harvey has filed for damages of some £39m over defamation, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of right of publicity.
Creator Richard Gadd based his fictional stalker Martha on his own interactions with Harvey.
Speaking at an RTS event on Tuesday, Duane Dedman said: “On Baby Reindeer the short answer is I have no idea how Netflix can justify saying this is a true story and then at the end of the end credits say something like, some scenes were fictionalised and the characters conflated.
“That’s obviously seen as contradictory and we shall see if the court case in America ever goes to trial or whether they settle out of court.”
Asked if he felt Netflix should answer to Harvey, he added: “Personally, arguably, yes [Netflix do owe Fiona Harvey an apology] but I guess this will play out in the courts.
“And I guess Netflix are deliberately being tight-lipped about this because perhaps they have a robust case to rebut her claims.
“Now, all I know about Netflix is there are a team of lawyers there, there is a compliance team there, so someone, more than once will have cast their eyes over the script and the final programme.
“I literally can’t second guess as to why they came to that decision, so I don’t want to go there, but I guess this will play out.”
Baby Reindeer by numbers
The Netflix series has become quite the breakout smash hit…
7 Number of episodes in the series
30 Number of countries the series has topped the Netflix chart in
64 Percentage increase in viewers the show earned in its second week, compared to its first
97 The show’s percentage score on industry bible Rotten Tomatoes
41,071 Amount of emails Richard claims he was sent by the real life Martha
13.3 million Number of viewers who tuned into the show during its first week
Baby Reindeer’s Martha sues Netflix
The Sun has told how Harvey also stalked Labour leader Keir Starmer and politician George Galloway.
Dedman, who is a broadcast compliance expert, explained the streamer operates under a Dutch regulator whose codes “aren’t as prescriptive or onerous.
Baby Reindeer was billed by Netflix as a true story and Harvey alleges in the newly-filed lawsuit that she has been harassed by people across the world because of the series and failures by Netflix to sufficiently protect her identity.
The 58-year-old accuses the streaming giant of ruining her reputation with their depiction of Martha, arguing in the legal documents that she never stalked or sexually assaulted Gadd – as portrayed in the seven-part series, and was not handed a criminal conviction for stalking.
A Netflix spokesperson said: “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
George Galloway reveals he was targeted by real life Baby Reindeer ‘stalker’
Meghan Markle requested her ex-husband to sign a “surrogate pregnancy contract,” going to great lengths to win over Prince Harry, expressing her desire to become the Queen of England.
Meghan Markle made her first husband agree to a ‘pregnancy contract’ to make sure she was afforded every possible luxury if she gave birth to their child, a close friend has revealed to DailyMailTV.
The then-rising actress was so concerned about the rigors of baby-making – and getting herself back in celebrity-shape – that she demanded husband Trevor Engelson pay for a personal trainer and a nutritionist to help her along if they conceived.
The Duchess of Sussex also ironed out child care details to ensure Engelson was happy to pay for a nanny to help, a source told DailyMailTV.
The revelation comes just days after Meghan and Prince Harry revealed they were expecting their first child and gives a whole new meaning to the saying ‘too posh to push’.
Meghan Markle, 37, made her first husband Trevor Engelson (pictured in 2006) sign an agreement that he would pay for a personal trainer and a nutritionist if they had a baby
Meghan Markle, 37, made her first husband Trevor Engelson (pictured in 2006) sign an agreement that he would pay for a personal trainer and a nutritionist if they had a baby
Earlier this month it was announced that Meghan and Prince Harry (pictured on Monday in New Zealand), who wed in May, are expecting their first child together next spring
Earlier this month it was announced that Meghan and Prince Harry (pictured on Monday in New Zealand), who wed in May, are expecting their first child together next spring
After 4 years of being ousted from the royal family, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were unexpectedly…
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reside in a lavish mansion in Montecito, California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s mansion is reportedly worth $14 million (£11m), with the couple living close to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Katy Perry.
According to reports, the Sussexes have a combined net worth of $60 million (£48m), despite their stepping down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and being forced to repay the taxpayer costs for the renovation of Frogmore Cottage, their former Windsor home.
In May 2020, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess would repay taxpayer costs for the Frogmore Cottage renovations, with them planning to make the payments over the next decade. The total refurbishment costs were estimated at around £2.4 million, meaning they would pay around £18,000 a month until completely paid in full.
Since moving from England to the States, the couple have secured several lucrative deals. In 2020, the same year that they announced their royal departure, the couple signed a deal with Netflix which was reportedly worth around $100 million (£80m). They then secured a $20 million (£17m) advance from publisher Penguin Random House for a reported four-book deal, which included Spare.
The couple also signed a lucrative $25 million (£18m) deal with Spotify in late 2020, which saw Meghan Markle release her Archetypes podcast. A joint statement from the couple’s company, Archewell, and streaming platform Spotify said that they had “mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together,” but later a Spotify executive branded the couple “f***ing grifters”.
The Sussexes’ many lucrative deals came in after announcing they were retiring from royal duties. When the couple were working royals they received 95% of their annual income from Harry’s father, the King. According to reports, The taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant made up the other 5% of the Sussexes’ earnings. And when they stepped down as senior royals, King Charles gave them “a substantial sum”, according to reports.
Meanwhile, before Meghan Markle married into the British Royal Family, she was worth an estimated $5 million (£3.5m). Prior to meeting the Prince, Meghan was an actress working on the hit legal drama Suits. Meghan famously portrayed the role of Rachel Zane in the hit TV show, with her earning a reported $50,000 per episode (£37K).
Fast forward to 2024, and Meghan Markle is now gearing up to launch her brand, American Riviera Orchard, which is rumoured to emulate Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop brand. According to reports around a trademark application, Meghan’s brand will sell: “Fragrance sachets; Lavender Sachets; Non-medicated skin care preparations; Bath and shower gels and salts…non-mediated hair preparations; Bath soap; Bar soap: Non-medicated hand soaps: Body creams: Bath oil: Body lotions: Cosmetics [and] Body Oil.”
