30/04/2024
The recent release of the Netflix series Baby Reindeer has ignited a significant debate, earning praise for creator Richard Gadd’s raw and transparent depiction of trauma, while also stirring new worries about the exposure and identification of actual individuals involved in the narrative.
The series draws from Gadd's actual encounters with a woman named Martha, a dramatized version of his real-life stalker whom he met while employed at The Heart pub in Camden. In the series, Gadd portrays a character named Donny, whose interactions with Martha evolve into a deeply complex relationship as he confronts his personal struggles with self-esteem and past sexual assault trauma.
In Baby Reindeer, actress Jessica Gunning takes on the role of Martha, a character who claims to be a lawyer yet baffles Donny with her inability to afford a diet coke, an item she orders daily but never consumes. What starts as seemingly innocent quickly escalates as Martha starts bombarding Donny with hundreds of emails and shows up at his stand-up performances.
While Gadd has chosen to keep the real Martha’s identity confidential, there has been speculation about her actual name and online profiles, culminating in her recent declaration of intent to sue Netflix for what she views as a misrepresentation of her character.
In an interview with The Scottish Sun, the woman voiced her displeasure towards actress Gunning, stating: “There’s a fat actress that’s supposed to be me.” She also sharply criticized Gadd, remarking: “I am very attractive. He’s not Brad Pitt.” She disclosed her intentions to pursue legal action against Netflix, adding: “People are probably saying I’m a mass murderer. This can’t continue. I will kick their asses.”
Despite Baby Reindeer being promoted as a factual recount, Gadd has clarified that the episodes include “borrowed from instances” involving “real people” he has encountered. A particularly distressing episode features Donny being sexually assaulted by a prominent industry figure who promises to advance his career—a scenario that Donny endures despite recognizing the harsh reality of his situation.
Since its premiere, the show has prompted viewer conjecture about the identities of the characters portrayed, prompting Gadd to address his social media audience. He implored his followers to refrain from speculating about the real-life identities involved: “People I love, have worked with and admire are unfairly getting caught up in speculation,” he stated, concluding, “Please don’t speculate on who any of the real-life people could be. That’s not the point of the show.”
