Baby Reindeer’s real-life Martha was not convicted of stalking Richard Gadd, Netflix admits

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Netflix has admitted that Baby Reindeer’s real-life Martha Scott was never convicted of stalking the show’s writer and star, Richard Gadd, an admission that could have an impact on the outcome of the $170m defamation lawsuit against the streamer. The series is billed as a “true story,” which Harvey argues in her lawsuit is “the biggest lie in television history.” When Netflix’s senior UK director of public policy, Benjamin King, appeared in UK Parliament before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in May, he argued that Baby Reindeer was a “true story of the horrific abuse” suffered by Gadd “at the hands of a convicted stalker.” However, committee member John Nicolson then wrote to Netflix asking for evidence to back up this claim. In his response, King wrote: “I wanted to clarify our understanding that the person on whom the show is based – who we have at no point sought to identify – was subject to a court order rather than a conviction.” Jessica Gunning as Martha in the hit Netflix drama ‘Baby Reindeer' King added: “The writer of Baby Reindeer endured serious harassment over many months, which had a significant impact on his wellbeing.” Earlier this week, Gadd backed Netflix in their effort to dismiss Harvey’s lawsuit. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free “It is impossible to be exhaustive in setting out all of Harvey’s conduct, as there were so many instances of unwelcome personal interaction and attempts to engage, as well as deeply troubling communication.” However, he also argues that Martha is a fictional character.