Netflix’s ‘Baby Reindeer’ Legal Battle Quietly Rumbles On As Series Targets BAFTA Glory

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix‘s bitter legal fight over Baby Reindeer is expected to gather pace next month as the Richard Gadd series continues to win awards.

Fiona Harvey, a lawyer from Scotland, slapped the world’s biggest streamer with a $170M defamation lawsuit last year after Baby Reindeer became a global sensation and she was identified as the show’s alleged stalker, played by Jessica Gunning.

Harvey claimed that the darkly comic series, which was billed as a “true story,” portrayed her via the Martha character as “a twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison.” Harvey has never been convicted of stalking Gadd and she argued the series was “the biggest lie in television history.”

The case was widely expected to go to trial next week (May 6, 2025), but a little-reported appeal by Netflix put a halt to proceedings at the Central District of California court.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled last September that Harvey’s case could proceed because the series was wrongly billed as a “true story” after Netflix “made no effort” to fact-check Gadd’s experiences and failed to “hide” Harvey’s identity.

Days later, Netflix appealed Klausner’s ruling, meaning the case is now with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Lawyers for the streaming giant have argued that Harvey’s claim fails because she “does not allege a provably false statement of fact was made about her.” Netflix added that her reputation has already been tarnished by “past news stories detailing her previous harassment and stalking of public figures.”

Netflix, represented by Latham & Watkins, filed the opening brief of its appeal in March under seal. Harvey, who is represented by Richard Roth of The Roth Law Firm, will submit an answering brief on May 28 after securing an extension from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. The arguments will be the next major staging post in a case that shows no signs of being settled.

As the litigation rumbles on, Baby Reindeer continues to be a darling of the awards circuit. After Emmy and Golden Globes success, Gadd’s drama is now gunning for BAFTA glory. Gadd won best writer at the BAFTA Craft Awards over the weekend, while at the main awards on May 11, Baby Reindeer is up for Limited Drama, Leading Actor (Gadd), and Supporting Actress (Jessica Gunning and Nava Mau).

It remains to be seen if Netflix will want Gadd and his co-stars to take questions on the red carpet, where they could be asked about Harvey’s legal claim. The BAFTA TV Awards take place at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.