Baby Reindeer creator insists real-life stalking was ‘exhausting and extremely upsetting’

Richard Gadd says he suffers from abuse and threats by stalker who is suing Netflix over ‘brutal lies’

The creator of Baby Reindeer, the hit Netflix series, has detailed in court papers the “exhausting and extremely upsetting” stalking he allegedly experienced.
Richard Gadd, who also stars in the show, wrote he had suffered “stalking, harassment, abuse and threats” at the hands of a woman who is now suing Netflix over her portrayal in the series.
Fiona Harvey is seeking at least $170 million (£133 million) in a lawsuit filed against Netflix after she claimed to be the inspiration behind the character of Martha Scott, who stalks Gadd’s character Donny Dunn after he serves her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.
In a 21-page document filed to a California court on Monday, Gadd emphasised the series was a “dramatic work”.
He wrote: “It is not a documentary or an attempt at realism. While the Series is based on my life and real-life events and is, at its core, emotionally true, it is not a beat-by-beat recounting of the events and emotions I experienced as they transpired. It is fictionalized, and is not intended to portray actual facts.”
“Although these stage productions were emotionally true and based on real events in my life, they dramatized people, places, things, and events to tell a story,” Gadd wrote in the filing. “I did not write the Series as a representation of actual facts about any real person, including Fiona Harvey … Martha Scott is not Fiona Harvey.”
He also outlined the effect of Harvey’s actions towards him, claiming she followed him around London. 
“The cumulative effect of all of Harvey’s actions was enormous,” he wrote. “It was exhausting and extremely upsetting to deal with her constant personal interactions in the Hawley Arms, her following me around London including near where I lived and her relentless and deeply unpleasant communications.”
In her lawsuit, Harvey has accused Netflix of spreading “brutal lies”, including that she is a “twice convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison”.
“Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money,” the documents stated.
“As a result of defendants’ lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life had been ruined.”
The court documents alleged Netflix “did literally nothing” to confirm that the story represented was true, stating that “Harvey has never been convicted of any crime and has never been to prison”.
A statement from Netflix said: “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
The lawsuit seeks actual damages and compensatory damages of $50 million (£39 million) each; punitive damages at $20 million (£15 million); as well as “all profits” from Baby Reindeer at $50 million (£38 million).