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Netflix made a rare comment on Reindeer baby scandal after she was sued by the “real Martha” – and she subtly criticized the controversy surrounding her alleged portrayal on the show.
It was revealed on Thursday (June 6) that Scottish law graduate Fiona Harvey, who is believed to have inspired the character played by Jessica Gunning in the hit Richard Gadd series, was suing Netflix for $50m (£39m).
This development comes after Harvey spoke out about her alleged filming while giving a controversial interview with Piers Morgan last month.
Netflix has come under fire since the release of the hit biopic series, written by and starring comedian Gad, on April 11, with many questioning the effectiveness of the streaming service’s security protocols.
As more and more investigators try to find the real-life characters that inspired the series, it has become critically acclaimed Reindeer baby He received backlash, with many wondering if more protective measures could have been taken to prevent viewers from identifying them.
The series follows struggling comedian Donnie Dunn (Gad) who has been relentlessly harassed and stalked by Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning) for over four years, and since the series premiere, has become a viral sensation.
As the show rose up the most-watched charts on the service, viewers tried to discover the real-life inspiration behind the show’s controversial characters, including Martha, in a move that Gad himself criticized.
Gad was also forced to shut down speculation surrounding the true identity of the character who groomed and sexually assaulted him – a traumatic event from Gad’s life – as it led to false accusations being made by curious viewers.
Netflix has remained silent on the matter — but after Harvey filed a lawsuit against the service, a spokesperson said: “We intend to vigorously defend this matter and stand by Richard Judd’s right to tell his story.”
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In another apparent response, Netflix appeared to have subtly criticized Harvey’s lawsuit by doubling down on its support for the show by releasing Gunning’s audition tape for Martha.
Harvey — who warned in May that she planned to take legal action against Netflix — reportedly alleged in the newly filed lawsuit that she was harassed by people around the world because of the series and Netflix’s failure to adequately protect her identity.
The 58-year-old accuses the streaming giant of ruining her reputation with its portrayal of Martha, arguing in legal documents that she never stalked or sexually assaulted Gadd, and has never been criminally convicted of stalking.
Harvey’s lawyers are demanding a jury trial in the US District Court for the Central District of California in a bid to recover “actual damages” of $50 million (£39 million), plus the costs of legal fees and interest.
