Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd clarifies that the hit Netflix series was not about Fiona Harvey

Warning: This article contains references to sexual abuse and stalking.

Netflix series Baby Reindeer actor and creator Richard Gadd has spoken candidly about the inspiration behind creating the show’s story. In a 20-page statement filed in support of Netflix’s request, Gadd stated that he could not include Fiona Harvey’s defamation lawsuit in the program because the show, despite being based on true events, is fictional. The actor also suggested that his inspiration behind creating the show was Fiona Harvey, but that each character in Baby Reindeer has personalized traits added by the creators.

Gadd also revealed that when he wrote the script for Baby Reindeer for the stage productions, Martha’s character, played by Jessica Gunning, only existed on paper and was not based on a real person.

Richard Gadd’s statements in the filed affidavit

According to the writer’s statement filed with Netflix, he repeatedly claimed that the characters on his show were either fictional or personalized to add drama for the audience; Gadd stated, “While the series is my emotionally true story as I remember and tell it, it is not intended to portray any real people.”

He added, “Instead, I created fictional characters, including Martha and Donny, that served as foils to explore my own experiences and traumas.” The actor also shared that she intentionally used the fictional names in Baby Reindeer and created dialogue and scenes.

“Each character in the series has a set of imaginary personality traits and events that I specifically selected to make them useful as dramatic devices,” Gadd continued. According to the show’s creator, Baby Reindeer is a story about obsession, sexual identity, self-loathing, self-destruction and self-discovery, as well as physical abuse and manipulation.

Richard Gadd recalls his first meeting with Fiona Harvey

Richard Gadd shared the details of his first encounter with Fiona Harvey. The writer-creator revealed that he initially worked in a pub, where Harvey was a regular. After getting to know the lady, she felt comfortable and shared her life stories with Gadd. According to court records, Harvey harassed and stalked Richard Gadd for three years.

The documents state, “After that initial meeting, Harvey stalked and harassed me from 2014-2017.” Gadd also reveals in the documents that Harvey learned his shift patterns and began sitting at the bar during his work hours. As the days went by, the actor became harassed by the woman’s behavior and explicit signals, and eventually left town for a few days.

When Gadd’s harassment didn’t stop, he eventually went to the police to file a complaint against Harvey.

Disclaimer: If you need support or know someone who is struggling with domestic violence or abuse or mistreatment, please contact your nearest mental health specialist, NGO or talk to someone about it. There are several helplines available for the same.