Netflix warned to prepare for 'long and messy' legal battle over one of their most popular shows
The dramatized 'true story' nature could come back to bite Netflix
Netflix has been warned to prepare for a 'long and messy' legal battle as a consequence of one of its most popular and acclaimed shows, as one woman seeks $170 million in damages as a result of the series.
It didn't take long after its release for the online world to become obsessed with Baby Reindeer, as the autobiographical show based on a play by leading actor Richard Gadd gripped the attention of over 50 million Netflix users.
The show details a comedian's terrifying encounter with an obsessed female stalker, and it garnered wide critical acclaim with a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.
It's certainly proven to be a popular show for Netflix, and joins their many hit successes across a wide reaching catalogue, but they could end up paying a heavy price if a 'long and messy' legal battle doesn't go their way.
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As reported by The Mirror US, Netflix is currently being faced with a lawsuit worth up to $170 million in damages, as Fiona Harvey, who claims to have been the real-life equivalent of the show's stalker Martha alleges defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violation of her right of publicity.
While Netflix claims that the show is a 'dramatized true story', and thus not all of the facts will be true to what happened in Gadd's real life, she has relented with her lawsuit after fans of the show reportedly 'found' her online.
Gadd previously urged fans to stop looking for the real life equivalents of characters in the show, as per Vulture, after false claims were laid against theatre director Sean Foley, but Harvey's interview appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored seemingly confirmed fans suspicions that she was indeed Martha from the show.
While Netflix are likely to pursue the claim of free speech and point towards the absence of any reference to Harvey in the show as part of their defense, legal advisor James Pipe has suggested that this could be a challenging battle for both to fight in court.
"It's got all the ingredients of a long, messy legal battle," argues Pipe, adding that "with a claim this size and the level of media attention, we're probably looking at least a year or two before there's any final decision, unless they settle early, which can happen if both sides want to avoid a drawn-out court fight."
While Harvey has a chance that the courts might side in her favor, the immense legal power of Netflix in comparison might make it difficult. "It's going to come down to whether the court sees this show was storytelling, or something more damaging," Pipe illustrates.
Part of Harvey's defamation claims is what she believes is an exaggerated portrayal of her behavior. She has denied sending Gadd thousands of emails and going to his home, yet how much that will play a part in the court case - especially when it comes to the veracity of her claims - remains to be seen.