Despite fans’ attempts to uncover the identity of his real-life stalker, Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd has faced accusations of not adequately protecting them.
In the week since Baby Reindeer premiered on Netflix, viewers have been determined to discover the identity of Richard Gadd’s real-life stalker, as the limited series is based on Gadd’s personal experiences.
Due to this, individuals have been publicly identified and falsely blamed, resulting in accusations towards Richard Gadd for not adequately safeguarding himself from his true stalker.
One fan expressed disbelief at the show’s claim that they went to great lengths to protect her identity. They simply changed her name and nothing else. The fan questioned whether the show’s creators were aware of the potential consequences of this decision, as evidenced by a post on X/Twitter in response to the show’s release.
A tweet that has since been deleted expressed agreement, stating, “It is concerning to me that the show did not take enough measures to conceal her identity initially. If it turns out to not be her, then they have falsely accused the wrong person. And if it is her, who knows how she would react. This is just wrong. As you mentioned, the show completely missed its intended message.”
Some fans had a different opinion and expressed it by stating, “He was able to create one of the most compelling and heartbreaking television series of the decade, which explores the impact of trauma on our daily interactions with the world. It’s absurd that he is being criticized for not doing more to protect the identity of his stalker.”
The main focus of Baby Reindeer is Donny’s story, portrayed by Richard Gadd. Donny, who works at a pub and also tries to make it as a comedian, becomes the target of stalking by Martha (Jessica Gunning), resulting in her being imprisoned. The show does not disclose any information about the real-life inspiration for Martha, although her actual emails are included in the play. Additionally, Gadd has not publicly addressed the matter in subsequent interviews.
Despite Sean Foley being falsely accused as being Gadd’s abuser, the police have launched an investigation, which mirrors the plot of Episode 4. In response, Gadd took to social media and made a statement, expressing concern for those he cares about and works with, including Foley, who are being unfairly implicated. He urged people not to speculate about the real-life individuals involved, as it goes against the purpose of their show.
According to Gadd, in an interview with the Radio Times, they had to alter the specific details of the characters to protect both themselves and others. This was necessary in order to avoid leaving anyone too vulnerable.
During the same interview, actress Jessica Gunning also disclosed that she purposely chose not to learn much about the actual individual as she believed it would not be beneficial.
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