Piers Morgan slams Netflix for ‘failing’ Baby Reindeer’s Martha

Piers Morgan has slammed Netflix and accused it of ‘failing in their duty of care’ to Baby Reindeer’s ‘real-life Martha’ Fiona Harvey after he faced backlash for an explosive interview with her.

Morgan questioned Ms Harvey on his show Piers Morgan Uncensored over the weekend, but faced criticism from victims of stalkers and those concerned for Ms Harvey’s wellbeing.

In the controversial discussion, which already has more than 11 million views, the pair discussed Netflix’s hit new series Baby Reindeer, based on the real-life story of actor and comedian Richard Gadd’s ordeal at the hands of a female stalker.

Speaking to ITV‘s Lorraine, Morgan said he believes his channel has ‘performed our duty of care’ but questioned whether Netflix may have ‘defamed’ Ms Harvey by claiming she is a convicted stalker.

He said: ‘The key question is whether they have defamed her? If you accuse somebody of being a convicted stalker and they’re not a convicted stalker, that’s a pretty serious mistake to make…

Piers Morgan addressed the controversial interview on ITV’s Lorraine on Tuesday morning

Morgan questioned Fiona Harvey on his show Piers Morgan Uncensored over the weekend

‘If it turns out that she isn’t then the Netflix claim at the start of every episode, ‘This is a true story’ becomes extremely problematic because it’s not a true story.’

He added: ‘I think they’ve got problems here because she is clearly determined to have her day in court with Netflix.’

He added: ‘The key question after watching the series and watching my interview is – is it actually a true story? And the key part of that is did she actually go to prison? Is she a convicted stalker? As I sit here Lorraine, there is no actual evidence so far that she has ever even been in court.’

Fiona Harvey had previously not been identified in reports surrounding the Netflix series to protect her privacy – but her bombshell interview with Morgan meant she can now be named and pictured.

During the interview she confirmed she is the woman Baby Reindeer’s character Martha is based upon, but denied ever stalking Mr Gadd, sexually assaulting him or attacking his girlfriend.

She also denies ever being arrested by police or going to prison. 

The show alleges that the comedian’s female stalker conducted a relentless campaign which started after he served her in a London pub while working as a bartender.

Fiona Harvey had previously not been identified in reports surrounding the Netflix series to protect her privacy – but her bombshell interview with Morgan meant she can now be named and pictured

Baby Reindeer depicts the character of Martha, played by Jessica Gunning, as a female stalker who was obsessed with Gadd

The Netflix hit sees Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd) offer Martha a cup of tea on the house during their first encounter, which Ms Harvey has claimed never happened.

The show alleges Gadd was bombarded with 41,000 emails, 350 hours of voice messages, 744 tweets, 48 Facebook messages, and 106 letters during the stalking campaign.

Ms Harvey told Morgan this was ‘simply not true’, adding she sent ‘less than ten’ emails to Gadd and ‘one letter’. 

During the interview, Ms Harvey referenced a scene in the show where character Martha admits to intimidating Gadd’s character and receives a nine-month prison sentence.

‘That is completely untrue, very, very defamatory to me, very career damaging,’ she said.

‘I wanted to rebut that completely on this show – I am not a stalker, I have not been to jail, I’ve not got injunctions – it is complete nonsense.’

Many viewers said they were left ‘disturbed’ by the interview, branding it a ‘painful’ watch. 

But Morgan said he believed his show had performed its ‘duty of care’ by staying in touch with her since the interview as he revealed Ms Harvey ‘wants an agent’.

He told Lorraine he did not see ‘any sign of anyone who I thought was mentally unwell’ but added he does believe she has ‘an obsessive streak’ and that she ‘lied a lot in the interview’. 

Responding to criticism over the interview, he said: ‘I felt it was important that she was allowed to have her say as she had already been revealed by the media as the real life Martha but she had no ability to tell her story.’ 

Netflix and representatives for Richard Gadd have been contacted for comment.