Netflix signs Richard Gadd despite $170M 'Baby Reindeer' lawsuit
Netflix has signed a first-look deal with Richard Gadd, the creator of the Emmy-winning series Baby Reindeer. The announcement was made by Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos at the Royal Television Society conference in London on Tuesday. This move comes despite a $170M defamation lawsuit against the streaming giant over Gadd's Baby Reindeer series. Sarandos emphasized that Netflix stands by Gadd and his storytelling.
'We're very proud of Richard and the story he told'
"We are facilitating storytellers to tell their stories," Sarandos said when asked about the lawsuit. "This is Richard's true story. We finished [signing] our first-look deal with Richard Gadd to do his next work at Netflix...We're very proud of Richard and proud of the story he told and the way he told it." Sarandos further clarified that Baby Reindeer was not a documentary.
'Baby Reindeer' based on Gadd's personal experiences
For those unaware, Baby Reindeer is a series based on Gadd's personal experiences. It revolves around a struggling comedian, Donny Dunn, who develops a complex relationship with his stalker, Martha (portrayed by Jessica Gunning). The series recently won four Emmy Awards, including outstanding limited or anthology series, writing and lead actor for Gadd, and Supporting Actress for Gunning. In an interview with Variety earlier this year, Gadd stated that the series is "all emotionally 100% true."
Netflix faces $170M lawsuit over 'Baby Reindeer'
In June, a Scottish woman named Fiona Harvey filed a $170M lawsuit against Netflix, accusing the company of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right of publicity. The woman—alleged to be the real-life Martha—has accused Gadd of "exploiting an older woman" for personal gain in a conversation with Daily Mail. She claimed that Gadd used Baby Reindeer as a means to harass her, stating: "I'm the victim...He's written a bloody show about me."
