Who is real Martha from Baby Reindeer? Are Netflix and creator Richard Gadd in trouble over stalker story?

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised

The new Netflix show Baby Reindeer has raked up quite a storm, both in terms of viewership and the controversy around the 'real' events depicted in it. The seven-episode show revolves around a struggling comedian in London, Donny Dunn who gets relentlessly stalked by a woman, Martha Scott, to the point that he is forced to confront his long-buried trauma. Being pegged as a masterpiece and a story of survival, it opened to rave reviews from critics and for a short while even had a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

But, the popularity has now been overshadowed by controversy. Netflix may soon face a slew of legal challenges.

What is the show about?

Richard Gadd, the writer and creator of the show, also plays the protagonist Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian who offers a cup of tea on the house to a sobbing woman he meets at the bar where he works. What follows is a relentless saga of stalking, abuse, dark flashbacks, and an overall commentary on sexual and physical assault and the marks they leave on their victims.

What is it based on?

Baby Reindeer is said to be ‘based on true events’ and is inspired by Gadd’s comedy routine of the same name, barring some creative liberty and obvious name changes. Gadd told The Guardian, “It’s very emotionally true, obviously: I was severely stalked and severely abused. But we wanted it to exist in the sphere of art, as well as protect the people it’s based on.”

Who is Martha?

Martha Scott is a forty-something woman and the main antagonist of the show. She meets Donny at a bar in London and then goes on to stalk him, to the point that Dunn has to change homes, try to get help from the police, and even protect his mum and dad from Martha. The character is said to be based on the real-life stalker of Richard Gadd and is terrifying and relatable in equal parts.

Who is the real-life Martha and what has she alleged?

Fiona Harvey is a 58-year-old Scottish woman who has claimed that she is the one on whom Martha Scott is based. But there's a plot twist in real life: Harvey went public on TV and denied ever stalking or harassing Gadd.

In an explosive Piers Morgan interview, she debunked sending Gudd thousands of emails, sitting outside his home and tracking his every move, as depicted in the show.

Harvey has gone on to say that she was ‘forced to give the interview’ as she was identified within days of Baby Reindeer’s release and had to put her side of the story out in the world.

She has accused both Richard Gadd and Netflix of ‘lying’ and ‘making money out of her misery.’ Harvey has termed the show as ‘obscene’ and ‘defamatory.’

Piers Morgan also termed Netflix and Gadd's efforts to hide the identity of the characters as ‘a spectacular failure.’

Real-life consequences

Fiona Harvey has alleged that ever since the release of the show, she has been at the end of threats, both online and offline.“Some of the death threats have been really terrible online. People phoning me up. You know, it’s been absolutely horrendous.”

Gadd, in an interview with The Guardian, has revealed how he fell in love with a trans woman (played by Nava Mau) but that relationship fell apart too as she became the focal point of his stalker’s obsession.

He added, “I could almost cut a line, with a knife and fork, through my anxiety. I could feel it emanating from my body.”

Why the name Baby Reindeer?

The unique name “Baby Reindeer” is what Martha calls Dunn throughout the show, frantically calling him that in the thousands of emails and texts she sends to him. The name is based on a childhood plushy that Martha owned and which reminded her of Dunn.

Harvey has alleged that in the ‘five to six’ times she met Gadd, she ‘jokingly’ revealed how she had a baby reindeer toy while growing up and how he reminded her of that toy.

What next for Gadd, Harvey, and Netflix?

Fiona Harvey has said that she would be taking legal action against Gadd and Netflix for defaming her.

Interestingly, she has also demanded 1.25 million USD for her interview appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Harvey has claimed that so far she had received only a ‘piddling’ €250.

Gadd is reportedly already working on a new show “exploring the themes of masculinity and growing up.”

All episodes of Baby Reindeer are now streaming on Netflix.