A California court has ruled admissible the defamation complaint filed by the woman who inspired one of her recent successes.
The British Fiona Harvey claims to be the one behind Martha, a manipulative woman whose harassment is recounted in “My Little Reindeer”.
Netflix is ready to go into battle to “defend Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”
Red carpets in court. Sensation of the last Emmy Awards with six trophies, My little reindeer is now a legal drama that places Netflix in the dock. A California judge has ruled against the streaming giant who asked that the defamation lawsuit against it be dropped. The British Fiona Harvey filed a complaint in June, considering herself the victim of moral damage caused by this fiction inspired by the past of its creator.
Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, who plays the leading role, recounts how he was harassed by a woman twenty years older than him, named Martha in the series. The comedian first made a show out of it, which he presented as “based on a true story”. And that’s all that makes the series potentially defamatory according to the courts. “The very first episode unequivocally states that ‘this is a true story,’ thus inviting the audience to accept the allegations (shown on screen) as fact”estimates the Californian magistrate in his decision.
There is a major difference between harassment and being convicted of harassment in court
The judge in charge of the complaint against Netflix
Netflix argued that the events described were “substantially true” and that viewers would understand for themselves that there was an element of fiction, since it is a series. Fiona Harvey says she has received death threats since the launch of the phenomenon series in the spring. She also clarifies that she never sexually assaulted Richard Gadd and that she did not smash a glass bottle over his head before trying to gouge out his eyes, contrary to what is played out on screen. . She also points out that she has never been convicted of harassing a police officer while Martha is a repeat offender with five years in prison under her belt.
Netflix recalled that she had still been the subject of an investigation for harassment, that she had touched the actor’s buttocks and pushed him. “There is a major difference between harassment and being convicted of harassment in courtestimated the judge. Likewise, there are big differences between inappropriate touching and sexual assault, as well as between pushing someone and gouging out someone’s eyes.” The events described “can reach the level” slander and the complaint is therefore valid, according to the magistrate for whom the presentation adopted by Netflix “suggests contempt” facts.
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The streaming platform “made no effort to verify the accuracy of these statements and representations, or to take other steps to conceal identity” of Fiona Harvey, the court further indicates. To AFP, Netflix assures that it is determined to “vigorously defend yourself in this matter” and to “defend Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.” It doesn’t matter how long this legal standoff lasts.
