The woman identified as Fiona Harvey has taken legal action against Netflix, claiming that her portrayal as the character Martha in the show "Baby Reindeer" has led to defamation and emotional turmoil. The series, created by comedian Richard Gadd, revolves around the character of Donny being stalked by an older woman named Martha. Although Gadd has indicated that the story is inspired by his real-life encounters, he has maintained that Martha is not a direct reflection of Harvey.

Harvey came forward after purportedly facing online harassment due to speculations about her being the inspiration behind Martha. The lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court outlines allegations of the show's title card misleadingly stating "This is a true story" and accuses Netflix of not verifying facts before portraying Harvey as a convicted stalker. Harvey’s attorney expressed outrage over the damages caused to his client and criticized Netflix's lack of due diligence in fact-checking.

The legal complaint asserts that Harvey, a Scottish lawyer residing in London, has been wrongfully associated with criminal behaviors depicted in the show, leading to significant emotional distress. Despite disclaimers in the end credits, the lawsuit claims that Harvey's identity was easily deduced by the public, causing her to endure threats and distress. Harvey attributes her deteriorating mental health to the portrayal of her character in the series, emphasizing the detrimental impact on her reputation and well-being.