Baby ReindeerDeemed Potentially Libelous, Clearing Way for Real-Life Martha to Take Netflix Toward Trial

Mar. 15, 2025

Piers Morgan Uncensored/Youtube; Ed Miller/Netflix

In his order, Judge Gary Klausner compared Gadd’s experience with Harvey to Martha’s actions in the series, stating that “there is a major difference between stalking and being convicted of stalking in a court of law,” “inappropriate touching and sexual assault” and “shoving and gouging."

Harvey alleges in the lawsuit that the portrayal of obsessive stalker Martha on the show is defamatory in relation to her encounters with Gadd, 35.

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“It’s very emotionally true, obviously: I was severely stalked and severely abused,” he said. “But we wanted it to exist in the sphere of art, as well as protect the people it’s based on.”

Netflix asked in July for the lawsuit to be thrown out with Gadd’s support, as he maintained that Harvey did stalk and abuse him. He also clarified that the show depicted his personal experiences, though parts of the story were “fictionalized.”

At the time, Netflix argued that “a reasonable person would not understand the statements [regarding Harvey] to be assertions of fact” and that “a reasonable person would understand from context that the elements are not factual” due to the “cinematic event elements” used in the series.

The judge, however, disagreed and stated that the events portrayed “would be interpreted as assertions of fact.”

Ed Miller/Netflix

Harvey filed the defamation lawsuit on June 6, asking for over $170 million in damages after she claimed she was harassed following the show. She also vehemently denied sexually assaulting Gadd and being a convicted stalker, stories of which were portrayed in the limited series.

Ina 20-page declarationsupporting Netflix’s effort in July to have the case dismissed, Gadd stated that he first met Harvey while working at a pub and that she “subsequently stalked and harassed me throughout 2014–2017.”

Gadd alleged in his court filing that Harvey touched him in “sexual” ways that were unwanted and claimed that she got hold of his personal information and contacted him “relentlessly,” sending him “thousands” of emails, voicemails and handwritten letters, including “sexually explicit, violent, and derogatory content, hateful speech, and threats.”

He also alleged that he grew “fearful” of Harvey as her stalking continued and eventually contacted the police to pursue legal action when her messages grew more sexually explicit.

Gadd added in the filing that Harvey was the one who “identified herself to the press as Martha,” following the airing of the show.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com