Netflix’s breakout hit, Baby Reindeer, has not only captivated audiences with its exploration of mental health issues but has also ignited a contentious debate surrounding the portrayal of real-life individuals in true-crime narratives.
Delving into the Plot
The series, penned by Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, has soared to the top of Netflix’s charts, earning praise for its intricate storytelling and compelling characters.
However, its success has brought about the potential consequences of blurring the lines between fiction and reality in the portrayal of sensitive issues.
Baby Reindeer follows the story of Donny, a Scottish barman portrayed by Richard Gadd, who becomes entangled in the web of a female customer, “Martha Scott,” depicted as a stalker bombarding him with thousands of messages across various platforms.
That’s just barely scratching the surface of the story because what really sets this show apart is that it’s actually based on a true story, and not just anyone’s story, Richard Gadd’s own experience with being stalked.
Unintended Fallout
Despite its acclaim, Baby Reindeer has triggered an unexpected aftermath as social media sleuths attempt to uncover the real identities behind the characters portrayed in the show. This has sparked a fiery debate among the writer, actors, and the individuals depicted in the series.
The stalker that Gadd had, sent him 41,000 emails, 350 hours of voicemail, 744 tweets, 46 Facebook messages, 106 pages of letters as well as sabotaging his other relationships.
This sent internet-sleuths combing through Gadd’s social media to find any trace of who this person was and they came up with a few theories.
Eventually even the alleged stalker of Richard Gadd came came to the Daily Mail with a statement saying that she is considering legal action for defamation following the release of Baby Reindeer (She was unnamed in this statement).
He’s using Baby Reindeer to stalk me now… I’m the victim. He’s written a bloody show about me.
She claims that Gadd is bullying an older woman for fame and has received abuse and death threats from Gadd’s and the show’s supporters.
Though, Gadd has commented and warned the public multiple times of refraining from deducing the real-life identities of the people on the show,
People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation, Please don’t speculate on who any of the real life people could be. That’s not the point of our show.
Sean Foley also responded with a statement on X that he has already contacted police and is looking to stop all the abusive and threatening posts against him.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Legal experts have weighed in on the implications of such portrayals. Media lawyer Mark Stephens warns of the dangers posed by amateur investigations, emphasizing the need for caution in blurring the lines between entertainment and reality.
The new culture of people trying to solve a crime, or becoming internet detectives, is incredibly dangerous… Of course, programme-makers like to say it’s a real story, but it is only a matter of time until an investigation is ruined by amateurs, perhaps by spoiling a crime scene or damaging evidence.
Nigel Tait, a managing partner at law firm Carter-Ruck, underscores the legal responsibility of television producers while acknowledging the complex nature of online discourse.
That’s what matters legally. It is nothing to do with them what people do afterwards online… If they have taken some care, it is not really their responsibility.
Members of The Show
Actors involved in Baby Reindeer, notably Jessica Gunning, who portrays the stalker, have found themselves embroiled in the aftermath, urging fans to refrain from pursuing the real-life individuals involved.
It’s a real, real shame, because it shows that they haven’t watched the show properly.
Richard Gadd himself has appealed to viewers to respect the privacy of the individuals depicted in the show, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between emotional truth and factual representation.
Please don’t speculate on who any of the real-life people could be, That’s not the point of our show. We’ve gone to such great lengths to disguise her to the point that I don’t think she would recognise herself, What’s been borrowed is an emotional truth, not a fact-by-fact profile of someone.
Other Real-Life Stories
People are still saying that the show shouldn’t have been made. Which calls back to another popular hit from the BBC, ‘May I Destroy You’ which was a drama that reflected real-life trauma from Michaela Coel. She said the show was made because,
Part of my heart hopes that people who have had experiences that are traumatic watch this and feel less alone
While director of Netflix documentary ‘Lover, Stalker, Killer’ which was based on the Cari Ferver case, Sam Hobkinson says that people will always watch true stories,
And once something is being watched by so many millions, it will take on a life of its own. There is a duty to realise that fact, and in our experience every care was taken. Even with our story, one very much in the public domain, we saw how careful you have to be.
You can read more about Richard Gadd and the making of Baby Reindeer HERE! We’ve got news on ALL things comedy, from movies, TV, late-night, and of course comedy shows. Speaking of comedy shows, we’ve got a bunch of hilarious ones playing every night at Big Belly Comedy Club, so join in on the fun!
