Judge rules Baby Reindeer “not a true story.”
"This is a true story" -five little words result in a US Federal Judge ruling in favour of Fiona Harvey, thus far.
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US District Judge R. Gary Klausner has found against Baby Reindeer being a true story as it purported, and paved the way for Fiona Harvey to proceed with a defamation case.
Harvey, who was never named in the hit Netflix series, identified herself as the show’s “Martha” after internet sleuths added the clues together.
Judge Gary Klausner noted that the series opens with the line “This is a true story,” inviting the viewer to take what follows as fact. But he found that Martha’s behavior on the show is significantly worse than what Harvey is accused of in real life.
“There is a major difference between stalking and being convicted of stalking in a court of law,” the judge wrote. “Likewise, there are major differences between inappropriate touching and sexual assault, as well as between shoving and gouging another’s eyes. While plaintiff’s purported actions are reprehensible, Defendants’ statements are of a worse degree and could produce a different effect in the mind of a viewer.
Creator and star Richard Gadd reportedly had reservations about including the line “This is a true story,” but that it was included at Netflix’ request.
“It appears that a reasonable viewer could understand the statements about Martha to be about Plaintiff,” the judge wrote. “The Series states that Plaintiff is a convicted criminal who sexually and violently assaulted Gadd. These statements may rise to the level of extreme and outrageous conduct.”
Klausner dismissed Harvey’s claims for negligence, violation of her publicity rights, and for punitive damages.
Harvey has filed two lawsuits, one in the UK and one in the USA, with the latter set to start in May 2025.
Source: Variety
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