Since it’s debut on June 20, 2025,Baby Reindeerhas become a smash hit forNetflixby racking up almost 54 million views, and staying at the top of the streamers’ charts as their most popular English-language series for three consecutive weeks. Not only have viewers been captivated by the story based on comedian Richard Gadd’s real-life experiences with a stalker, but internet sleuths have also been trying to figure out the real identities behind the characters. Netflix has said little about what’s been happening on social media regarding the guessing game that’s been going on,but all that changed recently when policy chief, Benjamin King, stood before the UK Parliament.
According toDeadline, King stood before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to answer questions about whether Netflix did all that it could to keep the identities of the characters inBaby Reindeerunder wraps. King commented that Netflix had the difficult task of balancing the job of protecting everyone’s identities, while at the same time upholding the “veracity and authenticity” of Gadd’s story. He says that was the one part they didn’t want to “anonymize.”
“We didn’t want to anonymize that ormake it generic to the point where it was no longer his story, because that would undermine the intent behind the show.”
Baby Reindeer
A seemingly innocent interaction with a customer turns into a chaotic journey as the life of aspiring comedian Donny spirals out of control and brings up the past.
Even thoughBaby Reindeerstars Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning have asked fans not to play the guessing game, King would go on to state that it’s difficult for Netflix to control what viewers do onlinein this day and age of social mediawhere everything is scrutinized. However, he also commented that he would not want to live in a world where “Richard was silenced and not allowed to tell the story.”
“Ultimately, it’s obviously very difficult to control what viewers do, particularly in a world where everything is amplified by social media.I personally wouldn’t be comfortable with a world in which we decided it was better that Richard was silenced and not allowed to tell the story.”
Baby Reindeer’s Real-Life Martha Plans to ‘Set the Record Straight’
Despite Netflix taking “every reasonable precaution in disguising the real-life identities of the people involved in that story,” according to King, the character of Martha was identified as Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey, who is obviously outraged by the treatment she’s received online and in person since the big reveal. She plans to “set the record straight” by telling her side of the story in an interview with Piers Morgan on July 09, 2025. When asked if Netflix has provided any type of support for Harvey, King responded that he didn’t think it was appropriate to get into specifics.
“I cannot get into the specifics of what happened around the making of the show because it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to comment.I don’t want to give further fuel to some of the theories which are circling on the internet.”
Baby Reindeer Producers Investigate Alleged Misconduct During the Casting Process
The investigation stemmed from a 2021 incident where Gadd dated Reece Lyons, a transgender actress who was interested in auditioning for the series.
The series and its rabid fan base of amateur sleuths has unfortunatelyled to some being falsely accused, including Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley, who had to file a report with police after it was wrongly determined that he was the real-life Darrien, the man who is portrayed as having sexually assaulted Richard Gadd. Gadd took to Instagram at the time to shut down the rumors, commenting that people he loves are getting caught up “unfairly in the speculation.”
“People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation. Please don’t speculate on who any of the real life people could be.That’s not the point of our show.”
King did point out thatBaby Reindeerhas gone on to raise awareness for maleswho are the target of stalking, and that Netflix has worked with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a support charity for stalking victims.
Baby Reindeeris available to stream on Netflix, and you may watch the trailer for the series below.
