{"id":2262364,"date":"2024-06-07T14:49:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T18:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflix-sued-over-hit-true-story-show-the-biggest-lie-in-television-history\/"},"modified":"2024-06-07T14:50:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T18:50:33","slug":"netflix-sued-over-hit-true-story-show-the-biggest-lie-in-television-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netflix-sued-over-hit-true-story-show-the-biggest-lie-in-television-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Netflix Faces Lawsuit Over Popular &#8216;True Story&#8217; Series: Dubbed &#8216;Television&#8217;s Biggest Lie"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnetflix-sued-over-hit-true-story-show-the-biggest-lie-in-television-history%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2262364&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Tern Journal member is part of a special \u200bgroup of people\u2063 who are united by a love of freedom and a commitment \u200bto telling the truth. Thank you for\u200c standing with\u2063 us!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>A Scottish \u200blawyer named Fiona Harvey is suing\u2063 Netflix \u200cand the creators of \u200b&#8221;Baby Reindeer,&#8221; a British\u2062 comedy streaming on the platform, for defamation. She claims that the show&#8217;s depiction of \u200da \u2062character named Martha is based on her and the portrayal \u200cruined \u2064her life and reputation. Netflix has \u2062released a statement saying they will vigorously \u2063defend the case.\u2064 Similar legal issues have arisen\u200d in the\u200d past with depictions of real\u2063 people in entertainment, and the outcome of this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/byron-york-says-house-republicans-are-pushing-for-hunter-biden-plea-deal-to-be-rejected\/\" title=\"House Republicans want the plea deal for Hunter Biden to be rejected, according to Byron York.\">case \u200bremains<\/a> to be seen.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/aanton\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/aanton\/%20\"><span>Allison Anton<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   June 7, 2024 at 11:04am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Claiming that your film or television show was \u201cinspired by\u201d or \u201cbased on a true story\u201d has always been a bit of a double-edged sword.<\/p>\n<p>While those shows are typically enthralling, given that these films must fudge some details of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colin-kaepernick-to-publish-childrens-book-about-race-living-courageously-in-truth\/\" title=\"Colin Kaepernick To Publish Children\u2019s Book About Race, Living \u2018Courageously In Truth\u2019\">real events<\/a> to tell a compelling story, such media has always been ripe for criticism \u2014 or even lawsuits.<\/p>\n<p>And if that film or television show becomes incredibly popular, then you could almost consider the lawsuits inevitable.<\/p>\n<p>Such has been the case with the hit British black comedy, \u201cBaby Reindeer,\u201d streaming on Netflix.<\/p>\n<p>Telling a fictionalized version of star comedian Richard Gadd\u2019s early career, the show follows Donny (played by Gadd) and his issues with a woman he met at a pub, Martha (portrayed by Jessica Gunning), as well as the TV writer who mentored him.<\/p>\n<p>The story takes a dark turn quickly, with Donny being abused by his mentor and stalked by Martha \u2014 a depiction the \u201creal\u201d Martha has greatly objected to.<\/p>\n<p>According to a report in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/baby-reindeer-alleged-inspiration-sues-netflix-170-million\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>, Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey has claimed she was the inspiration for Martha. Due to the unflattering portrayal, Harvey is suing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/culture-shift-hollywood-must-shocked-2-shows-topping-netflix-tv-charts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Netflix<\/a> and the show\u2019s creators to the tune of a whopping $170 million in a California court.<\/p>\n<p>Quoting the opening line of the opening episode, \u201cthis is a true story,\u201d the lawsuit claimed that that line was \u201cthe biggest lie in television history,\u201d and a lie told \u201cout of greed and lust for fame; a lie designed to attract more viewers, get more attention, to make more money, and to viciously destroy the life of Plaintiff, Fiona Harvey \u2013 an innocent woman defamed by Netflix and Richard Gadd at a magnitude and scale without precedent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The complaint alleges that the depiction of Harvey made her out to be an unstable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/taylor-swift-plagued-lax-bail-laws-alleged-stalker-repeatedly-arrested-set-free\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stalker<\/a> who sexually assaulted Gadd\u2019s character, which ruined her life and her reputation.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Is there a legitimate case for defamation here?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6986551\/baby-reindeer-martha-lawsuit-netflix-defamation-fiona-harvey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Time magazine<\/a> reported, however, that Gadd and Netflix always maintained that they went to painstaking lengths to disguise Harvey\u2019s identity in the show.<\/p>\n<p>Gadd claimed that they had \u201cgone to such great lengths to disguise her to the point that I don\u2019t think she would recognize herself,\u201d while the complaint, conversely, contended that such identification was remarkably easy.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, viewers were able to use lines from the show to associate Harvey with Martha on the social media platform X, inundating her with messages asking her if she was the \u201creal\u201d Martha.<\/p>\n<p>Granted, Time did note that some aspects of Harvey\u2019s story have not been wholly consistent, and she was accused back in the 2000s of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trans-dem-charged-stalking-4-days-elected-peer-comes-defense-sick-tweet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stalking<\/a> lawyer and widow of a former politician, Laura Wray.<\/p>\n<p>Though the news of Harvey\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/9-year-old-chiefs-fan-blackface-defamation-suit-woke-sports-site-attended-super-bowl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defamation suit<\/a> only became public on Thursday, <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2024\/06\/baby-reindeer-lawsuit-netflix-real-life-martha-1235961104\/https:\/\/deadline.com\/2024\/06\/baby-reindeer-lawsuit-netflix-real-life-martha-1235961104\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deadline<\/a> reported that Netflix had already released a statement later that same day.<\/p>\n<p>The statement read \u201cWe intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd\u2019s right to tell his story,\u201d with no plans for further action detailed at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the truth of what Gadd depicted in his show and what Harvey has claimed in her lawsuit have yet to be proven.<\/p>\n<p>Harvey could be telling the truth, that her depiction as a crazy stalker with a jail record was completely false, or perhaps there were some grains of truth in the character of Martha in the show after all. The legal process will be tasked to unravel all of that.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, though the the format for entertainment and television has changed drastically over the past decade, the same problems and pitfalls with depicting allegedly \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breakthrough-movie-miraculous-true-story-boys-life-saved-power-prayer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">true stories<\/a>\u201d remains.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Is there one day going to be a Netflix drama series about the Baby Reindeer lawsuit? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AiVtHdgkAn\">https:\/\/t.co\/AiVtHdgkAn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ian Leslie (@mrianleslie) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mrianleslie\/status\/1799066886124249212?\">June 7, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>After all, the reason many films contain the Disclaimer \u201cThis motion picture is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental,\u201d was thanks to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/larry-johnson-the-cia-has-become-the-kgb\/\" title=\"Larry Johnson: The CIA Has Become the KGB\">libel suit brought<\/a> against the 1932 film \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0023374\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rasputin and the Empress<\/a>\u201d by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tucker-carlsons-story-russian-revolution-terrifying-living-similar-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Romanov<\/a> survivors.<\/p>\n<p>If your film or tv show has depicted real people, and those real people or their family were still alive, you must exercise the utmost care in your depiction of them.<\/p>\n<p>Otherwise, you might end up owing them exorbitant amounts of money while your own reputation is tarnished.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>In just a few months, the world is going to change forever. The 2024 election is the single most important election of our lifetime. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We here at The Western Journal are committed to covering it in a way the establishment media simply will not: We will tell the truth, and they will lie.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>But Big Tech and the elites don\u2019t want the truth out. That\u2019s why they have cut us off from 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone cut your monthly income by 90%. That\u2019s what they\u2019ve done to people like us. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>As a staff, we are asking you to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to fight this once-in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/caitlin-clark-lands-historic-nike-shoe-deal-worth-millions-just-before-her-rookie-season-kicks-off\/\" title=\"Caitlin Clark Secures Multi-Million Dollar Nike Deal Ahead of Rookie Season Kickoff\">-a-lifetime fight<\/a>. Without you not only will The Western Journal fail, but America will fail also. As Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Will you support The Western Journal today and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>become a member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A Western Journal <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>This is the time. America will live or die based on what happens this year. Please <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  to get the real truth out and to fight the elites, Big Tech, and the people who want America to fail. Together, we really can save the country.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Thank you for your support!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Please stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45810\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/aanton\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45810\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45810\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45810\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Allison Anton dabbles in fiction, as well as commenting on depressing modern trends and media. She calls the metro Atlanta area home, and when she\u2019s not writing, she\u2019s creating a loving home for her amazing husband.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commentary by Allison Anton, June 7, 2024: Describing a film or TV show as &#8220;inspired by&#8221; or &#8220;based on a true story&#8221; is a double-edged sword. While these narratives captivate audiences, they often alter real events for dramatic effect, which can mislead viewers about the actual truth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2577,"featured_media":2262365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/baby-reindeer.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2262364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/baby-reindeer.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2262364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2577"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2262364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2262364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2262365"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2262364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2262364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2262364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}