The black comedy-drama made waves when it was released on Netflix in April, instantly becoming a fan favourite and one of the streamer’s most popular series of all time with over 84.5 million views.
The ‘true story’ follows the life of comedian Donny Dunn, played by Richard, as he navigates the complexities of realising he is being stalked by a woman named Martha, played by Jessica Gunning.
Shortly after its release, Fiona Harvey came forward, identifying herself as the alleged ‘real Martha’ and filed a lawsuit against Netflix for $170million (£133m), alleging defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violations of her right of publicity.
Despite the lawsuit, Baby Reindeer won six awards on Sunday night at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, including outstanding limited series or anthology.
Taking to the stage to accept the award, Richard appeared to be confident in his storytelling and urged other creators to ‘take risks’.
Joined by his fellow cast and crew, the star told the crowd: ‘I know the industry is in a slump right now. And I know that might force or put pressure on networks to tighten purse strings and broaden the slate, but I do believe no slump was ever broken without a willingness to take risks’.
He continued to say that if Baby Reindeer has proved anything in the industry, it’s that ‘there’s no set formula to this’ and that to create a good, engaging show, you don’t need ‘big stars, IP or a long-running series with catchall storytelling’.
The only constant across any success in television is good storytelling. Good storytelling speaks to our times,’ he said.
He then urged aspiring creators to ‘take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable, dare to fail in order to achieve.’
Richard’s comments come after Netflix Chief Ted Sarandos addressed the Baby Reindeer lawsuit, telling The Times of London that Netflix did not ‘intend’ to use a true story label recklessly.
He continued to say that he was ‘proud of the show and the way Richard handled the story.’
Fiona’s lawsuit alleges Netflix told ‘brutal lies’ about her in the series, which opens with: ‘This is a true story.’
Netflix has since admitted that despite the show depicting Martha as a convicted stalker, the ‘real-life’ Martha was never convicted.
In court documents obtained by the New York Times, Richard claimed that he had, in fact, been stalked by the woman and said the series is a ‘fictionalised retelling’ of the situation.
The Awards and the Aftermath
Despite the controversy surrounding Baby Reindeer, The show took home a total of six awards, including outstanding limited series or anthology, and Richard Gadd himself received three awards for his work on the show. Gadd's co-star, Jessica Gunning, also received an award for best supporting actress in a limited series or anthology.
The awards were met with mixed reactions, with some praising Gadd’s courage in bringing his story to the screen, while others were critical of the show’s portrayal of the alleged stalking incident. The lawsuit is still ongoing, and the trial is set to begin on May 6, 2025.
Moving Forward: The Future of ‘Baby Reindeer’
The success of Baby Reindeer is a testament to the power of storytelling and the potential for good television to resonate with viewers. While the show has been met with controversy, it has also sparked important conversations about stalking, mental health, and the complexities of truth in storytelling.
As the lawsuit continues, the future of Baby Reindeer remains uncertain. However, the show has already left a lasting impact on the television industry, inspiring other creators to take risks and explore uncomfortable themes.
The awards and controversy surrounding Baby Reindeer have certainly made it a show that will be remembered for years to come. Only time will tell how the lawsuit will impact the show’s legacy, but one thing is for sure: the show has sparked important conversations about storytelling and the power of television to bring attention to important issues.
