Baby Reindeer

[ronandannette]

What do we make of this? I first heard of it through a news source; not a promo for the show but instead about the controversy of the asserted "true story" now being proven untrue, and the antagonist of the plot suing NetFlix for over a hundred million dollars. We've just tonight tried to watch it; it's absolutely repulsive on every level.

Thoughts?

 

[NAB]

It was bad . The talking to her and making her feel better made sense but the rest was just crazy.

Glad to hear it wasn’t a true story. I only watched because it was # 1 for awhile.

 

[GAN]

What do we make of this? I first heard of it through a news source; not a promo for the show but instead about the controversy of the asserted "true story" now being proven untrue, and the antagonist of the plot suing NetFlix for over a hundred million dollars. We've just tonight tried to watch it; it's absolutely repulsive on every level.

Thoughts?

It was crazy for sure. Found it was kind of hard to look away from ….wondering what was going through this guys mind. I’m not shocked it was/is untrue as some decisions he made were beyond mind boggling

 

[ronandannette]

It was crazy for sure. Found it was kind of hard to look away from ….wondering what was going through this guys mind. I’m not shocked it was/is untrue as some decisions he made were beyond mind boggling

If you're not up on it, it's not that part that's untrue. Richard Gadd stands by all of that. It's the character assassination of the real-life woman who was portrayed as Martha, and who had no clue this show was even being made. Not only has she never been arrested or convicted in any court in the UK, there's also (apparently) no digital trace anywhere of the 40,000-odd texts and e-mails she was supposed to have sent. She has been publicly identified (including her home address), humiliated, hounded mercilessly on social media, including thousands of bodily-harm and death threats and of course, is now virtually unemployable and a social pariah.

She herself admits to a certain amount of the content, and is by her own description, mentally-ill (as is Richard Gadd, btw). She is definitely a troubled and sad, creepy character, but honestly, I hope-against-hope she takes NetFlix to the cleaners over this.

If you're interested in more details, Piers Morgan Uncensored (a UK current events show) has been following the saga closely, including personal interviews with both this lady, Richard Gadd, lawyers for NetFlix and others.

 

[kyton]

Haven’t watched it but the woman is a menace from all accounts - she has harassed quite a few people in real life.

 

[Kitty 34]

I tried watching it about a month ago but just couldn't......... too creepy and weird.

 

[willowsnn3]

I watched a few episodes then just stopped. May be hard to find but there is better stuff out there to watch.

 

[ronandannette]

I watched a few episodes then just stopped. May be hard to find but there is better stuff out there to watch.

Yes. It’s unsettling to think that this is NetFlix most popular, worldwide block-buster in years. {{shudder}}

 

[lovin'fl]

Terrible. Hard to feel any sympathy for him. And cringe that he acted his own part. I wouldn't want to relive a SA on TV for all to see.

 

[Micca]

I tried watching it about a month ago but just couldn't......... too creepy and weird.

I came to that conclusion just watching the trailer. Medium-weird is fine, my tolerance for creepy is pretty low.

 

[pinkxray]

I opened this thread expecting a picture or story about a baby reindeer. LOL. I am disappointed.

Glad to hear it’s something to skip. I don’t watch much tv but think I noticed it on Netflix and sometimes turn on whatever bc it’s in the trending section. Will skip.

 

[AustinTink]

He’s definitely as creepy as she is. I believe it’s all true though. Check out her interview with Piers Morgan. She’s not all there.

Her real facebook account was exposed early on when the show was released. I looked at her ramblings and it was just as the show depicted. Her account has gone silent now.

The whole story is as gross as it is fascinating.

 

[Miffy]

For anyone who doesn't know--and I know only because my sister told me--the story is, at least in part, about being stalked. Since I was stalked many years ago, I don't watch or read anything that's even peripherally about this topic.

 

[BrianL]

I opened this thread expecting a picture or story about a baby reindeer. LOL. I am disappointed.

Here you go, to make you and everyone else feel better:

 

[georgina]

Never heard of it. Sometimes its good to be out of the social media loops.

 

[Karin1984]

Yeah, that was a dumb move from Netflix. If you are going to sell something as 'a true story', you might want to do some checks if it is a true story. Especially if you are going to paint someone in an extremely negative light.

I hope she wins, even when she only settles out of court for 1 million, and then uses the money to get the help she needs.

I stopped after 1 episode, or maybe I didn't even watch a full episode. It wasn't for me.
And it probably is popular because it's weird and weirdness fascinates people.

 

[ronandannette]

He’s definitely as creepy as she is. I believe it’s all true though. Check out her interview with Piers Morgan. She’s not all there.

Her real facebook account was exposed early on when the show was released. I looked at her ramblings and it was just as the show depicted. Her account has gone silent now.

The whole story is as gross as it is fascinating.

The untrue part, which has now been proven to be untrue, is that she was ever convicted of a crime and that she sent 40,000 digital communications to Gadd. She was not and did not - there is simply no record of either. The rest of it...is, shall we say, not in contention by either side.

 

[AustinTink]

The untrue part, which has now been proven to be untrue, is that she was ever convicted of a crime and that she sent 40,000 digital communications to Gadd. She was not and did not - there is simply no record of either. The rest of it...is, shall we say, not in contention by either side.

I’m not sure she has a case though since she basically outed herself by appearing on Piers Morgan. Otherwise, it’s just a show with the premise based in some degree of fact, not a documentary. Gadd even said in interviews from the get-go that the real life Martha never went to jail.

The lawyer lady that Fiona (real Martha) stalked has done some interviews now. The Morgan interview really opened a can of worms. I suspect she and Gadd are both enjoying it.

 

[ronandannette]

I’m not sure she has a case though since she basically outed herself by appearing on Piers Morgan. Otherwise, it’s just a show with the premise based in some degree of fact, not a documentary. Gadd even said in interviews from the get-go that the real life Martha never went to jail.

The lawyer lady that Fiona (real Martha) stalked has done some interviews now. The Morgan interview really opened a can of worms. I suspect she and Gadd are both enjoying it.

As I understand it, this is the thing though - NetFlix never used the standard "based on a true story" or "some events, characters and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes" disclaimers. Why? Who knows. The story could have been just as powerful either way. Then NetFlix doubled-down on insisting the details were factual.
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/netflix-vows-stand-by-richard-29316963

 

[AustinTink]

As I understand it, this is the thing though - NetFlix never used the standard "based on a true story" or "some events, characters and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes" disclaimers. Why? Who knows. The story could have been just as powerful either way. Then NetFlix doubled-down on insisting the details were factual.
https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/netflix-vows-stand-by-richard-29316963

That was dumb of them. Especially given the fact that the stalker happens to be a lawyer.

I guess if it goes to court, Laura Wray will be Netflix’s star witness. That stalking case was very well documented in the papers at that time. Apparently, Fiona has been showing up near her home again and she is petrified. Seems like Gadd really stirred up a hornet’s nest for more people than himself and Netflix.