‘Baby Reindeer’ star Richard Gadd asks fans to stop “unfair” speculation

Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd has asked viewers of the hit Netflix show to stop speculating about the identity of the real life people who inspired the show’s characters.

The show, which was written by Gadd, is semi-autobiographical and recalls his experiences at the hands of a real-life stalker.

In Gadd’s drama, a fledgling comedian called Donny is stalked by a considerably older women named Martha. He also falls victim to a male rapist: a TV director called Darrien.

Now, Gadd has responded to “unfair” speculation after fans began to question the identity of Martha and Darren in real life.

Specifically, he also denied claims that Sean Foley, a two-time Olivier Award-winning director, writer, comedian and actor known for his stage hit The Play What I Wrote, was one of the “real life people” based on Gadd’s character Darrien.

“People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation,” he said.

The 34-year-old continued: “Please don’t speculate on who any of the real life people could be. That’s not the point of our show.”

Foley also posted a statement to Twitter/ X saying: “Police have been informed and are investigating all defamatory abusive and threatening posts against me.”

Speaking to GQ, Gadd explained that the show went to “great lengths” to disguise Martha to the point that [he didn’t] think she would recognise herself”. He added: “What’s been borrowed is an emotional truth, not a fact-by-fact profile of someone.” 

Unlike the show, he also confirmed that the real Martha was never sentenced to prison, explaining to The Times that he “didn’t want to throw someone who was that level of mentally unwell in prison”. 

From Rolling Stone US.