Call to exclude Netflix's Baby Reindeer from TV awards over authenticity concerns

A prominent Hollywood journalist has urged the American TV awards to exclude Baby Reindeer, branding it "a lie" and "not awards-worthy."

Former Hollywood Reporter editor Matthew Belloni, 54, argues that the Emmy's 25,000-member academy should not cast their votes for Scottish comedian Richard Gadd's acclaimed series, reports the Daily Record.

Penning his thoughts as a founding partner of the media company Puck based in Hollywood, he remarked: "Netflix opens Baby Reindeer with a title card that boldly and unusually says, 'This is a true story.'

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He continued by highlighting the show's claim, stating: "Not 'based on a true story' or 'inspired by true events,' but an explicit promise to viewers: Watch this OMFG bonkers ridic story because it's TOTALLY TRUE."

Belloni pointed out the deception involved, noting: "Only in the end credits does it acknowledge that scenes and characters have been changed. And it worked."

He elaborated on the consequences: "Everyone watched, high viewership led to great buzz, which led to awards attention, all thanks in part to what we now know is a lie."

These remarks follow a series of revelations by the Daily Record, which showed that Aberdeenshire law graduate Fiona Harvey, 58, was portrayed by Gadd as a dangerous and twice-imprisoned stalker, despite no evidence of any convictions.

Online detectives quickly linked London resident Harvey to the character Martha in the show, as her tweets were used in the production.

Following these discoveries, US legal firm Roth Law filed a substantial lawsuit against Netflix on Harvey's behalf in California, where the streaming service's headquarters are located.

Belloni, who has a background as an entertainment lawyer, remarked: "The issue - and I'm kinda shocked this hasn't become a bigger narrative this season - is that the veracity of Baby Reindeer as a 'true story' has pretty much fallen apart, first via media reports in the UK that challenged many facts; then when the 'real-life' Martha, Fiona Harvey, was outed by fans and later came forward on Piers Morgan; and now, last week, when Harvey filed a $170 million lawsuit in California alleging 'defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, and violations of Harvey's right of publicity' over what she calls 'the biggest lie in television history.'

"The Baby Reindeer case is interesting because, as a non-public figure whose life was allegedly 'destroyed' by the show, Harvey would only have to demonstrate that Netflix was negligent in its false portrayal of her."

The gripping stalker drama, Baby Reindeer, is in the running for several Emmy awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, with acting nods for Gadd and his co-star Jessica Gunning.

Drawing parallels with another high-profile literary scandal, Belloni continued: "If Reindeer were a memoir, would Gadd be cancelled like James Frey nearly 20 years ago after the narrative of A Million Little Pieces fell apart?

"Instead, Gadd is making the rounds at media-safe F.Y.C. ( for your consideration ) events, where he won't be asked about the factual problems and the mislabeling of the show... I'm guessing that was a condition of the booking, though Netflix declined to comment beyond its statement supporting Gadd, who has only said that the show is 'emotionally true' when I asked why the opening title card still hasn't been changed, a rep declined to comment... Maybe Netflix knows the 'truth' is a big part of what made the show pop."

"This might seem trivial, but in the future, why wouldn't every docudrama simply label itself with, 'This is a true story'?

"It's a much better hook than This is kinda, a little bit, 'emotionally' real, especially if the show appears on a powerful platform that has the resources to drown out critical voices, all while running an awards campaign."

Belloni added: "There's still time to do the right thing, Netflix.

"Relabel Baby Reindeer as 'based on the incredible true story,' parade Gadd around talking about the changes he made from reality, and argue that the factual stuff doesn't take away from the power of the material and the performances, which it doesn't.

"But leaving 'This is a true story' on a show that clearly isn't? Embarrassing, and definitely not awards-worthy."

Netflix and Gadd's lawyers have been approached for comment.