Alleged real-life Baby Reindeer stalker reacts to Netflix show, considers legal action

As someone who watches Netflix regularly, I had no idea the dark dramedy Baby Reindeer would blow up as much as it has. The seven-episode British show, created by Richard Gadd and based on his one-man show of the same name, has captivated audiences worldwide with its open and vulnerable look at mental health issues and the traumatic effects of being sexually assaulted.

Each episode unravels a hard-to-believe storyline that gets more convoluted by the minute. Can you believe it's a true story? After binging Baby Reindeer in one sitting, I understand how it's remained No. 1 on Netflix's Top 10 shows list weeks after its release. It's absolutely fantastic.

And while it's great to see how much success Gadd is receiving for his show (as well as his co-star Jessica Gunning), the downside to having this many eyes on the story is that many viewers are adamant about finding the real-life Martha, Gadd's stalker. Despite Gadd's pleas for viewers to stop going after the person who stalked him for years, the internet does what it wants, for better or for worse. And now, a woman who says she's Gadd's real-life stalker is speaking out on Baby Reindeer. Namely how much she's against the whole thing.

Alleged real-life Baby Reindeer stalker receives "death threats and abuse"

The 58-year-old woman living in London, who preferred to remain nameless, spoke with the Daily Mail and explained how she believes she's the victim in the whole situation because of Gadd's decision to make a show about their experience. Revealing that she's received death threats from Baby Reindeer fans who have figured out her identity, the woman told the publication that Gadd is using the show "to stalk me now," adding, "I'm the victim. He's written a bloody show about me."

While Baby Reindeer has been praised for its realistic depiction of working through grief and its unflinching look at morally grey characters, the alleged real-life stalker believes Gadd created the show to simply "[bully] an older woman on television for fame and fortune."

The woman continued to insult the series and debunked some of the moments, including the explanation for the name Baby Reindeer. Though the woman is no doubt frustrated with the tweaks to the real-life story, it's not uncommon for writers to alter details of their real life to adapt a story onscreen. For the alleged real-life Martha, though, this all cuts deep. "I've never owned a toy baby reindeer and I wouldn't have had any conversation with Richard Gadd about a childhood toy either," the woman told the Daily Mail.

"[Gadd] always thinks he's at the centre of things. I'm not writing shows about him or promoting them in the media, am I? If he wanted me to be properly anonymous, he could have done so. Gadd should leave me alone."

- Alleged real-life Martha

The Daily Mail also reports that the woman is considering taking legal action against Gadd, though she did not elaborate on that plan. At this time, Gadd has not publicly responded to this woman's interview, and I wouldn't count on it happening.

All seven episodes of Baby Reindeer are streaming on Netflix.