Netflix Baby Reindeer Real Life Subject Claims They Are The Victim
Baby Reindeer commands eyeballs on Netflix, amassing over 13 million views since its debut. Currently, the project sits atop the streaming website’s charts in over 30 countries, including the major markets in the US and the UK. The intense narrative surrounding a stalker and her victim grips viewers and won’t let them go. But in an interesting twist, the real-life counterpart of the fictional “Martha” at the heart of the stalking tale claims the tables have veritably turned, resulting in her victimization, harassment, and a deluge of false accusations.
The Real Life Martha Is Now A Target
Richard Gadd both penned and starred in Baby Reindeer, Netflix’s new juggernaut, which covers his own harrowing experiences enduring the unwanted attentions of a stalker. As millions of streamers will by now know, Gadd plays “Donny”—a character beleaguered by the unwelcome, unending, obsessive affection of an older woman. Shot through with authenticity, benefiting from a gripping storyline, the series inspired significant viewer engagement alongside online discussion.
Of course, and unfortunately, the same fanfare provoked unnecessary consequences—especially for the woman allegedly at the heart of the show’s narrative, the inspiration (if you want to call it that) behind Martha in Baby Reindeer on Netflix.
The Subject Claims She Was The One Stalked
Of course, no developing bit of UK drama would be complete or spicy enough without the tabloids’ involvement. Thus, in a recent interview with the rag, the woman, concealing her identity (good idea), voiced her immense distress over the ordeal. The nameless woman flat-out accused Gadd of exploiting her story for personal gain. To hear her tell it, the streaming hit is also a vehicle effectively stalking her, rendering her the victim.
All of which comprises a somewhat ironic twist: the alleged stalker in a based-on-a-true-story stalking series becomes the stalking victim–stalked herself by the very project inspired by her stalking…you get the picture.
Receiving Death Threats Over What She Claims Is False
That being said, and in this woman’s defense, she vehemently denied ever having been Gadd’s stalker. She also debated her portrait in Baby Reindeer on Netflix, especially in light of the avalanche of death threats she’s received, as well as abuse from those supporting Gadd and his perspective.
The Baby Reindeer drama additionally extends beyond the screen. In a momentous rejection of the show’s plot, the woman disputes several of its key elements. Probably the most prominent detail she rejects is the infamous toy baby reindeer; she also denies having had any conversations with Gadd about childhood toys in general.
If true, these statements would directly challenge the series’ authenticity.
The Creator Speaks Out
This controversy notwithstanding, both Baby Reindeer’s Gadd and Jessica Gunning, who portrays the stalker in the Netflix series, requested that audiences refrain from speculating about any character’s real-life identities. Perhaps sensing the coming dramatic storm of intrigue, accusations, and even lawsuits, Gadd took to Instagram, implying in a post that loyal audiences refrain from doxing real individuals, however much they might have inspired the show.
Baby Reindeer Now Streaming On Netflix
Of course, none of this is exactly bad press for the series,–or, if it is negative PR, as the saying goes, no press is bad press. And as the controversy continues to stir and inspire debate among viewers and pop culture enthusiasts, as the line dividing fiction from reality further blurs, expect more questions—moral in nature—to arise about the consequences of dramatizing real-life events.
Indeed, Baby Reindeer, Netflix’s new international hit, may force us all to reckon with these uncomfortable questions.
Source: Daily Mail
