Netflix has insisted that Baby Reindeer It is a “drama, not a documentary,” even though the hit series is labeled as a “true story.”
Speaking at the Edinburgh Television FestivalAnne Mensah, Netflix’s UK vice president of content, said the streaming company would be “disappointed” if the assertion that the story is real at the start of the series downplayed the story, which touches on themes of sexual assault and harassment.
“I absolutely agree that we made the show a drama, not a documentary, and that will continue to be how we will watch the show,” he said (via The Telegraph).
This comes after the company came under scrutiny from those claiming to have appeared in the series, created by and starring Scottish comedian Richard Gadd.
Also starring Jessica Gunning Like his stalker, Martha Scott, Baby Reindeer represents a dramatized account of Gadd’s own experiences.
The lawsuit against Baby Reindeer
Following the sudden success of the show, a woman named Fiona Harvey came forward and claimed to be the inspiration behind Martha, claiming the story was inaccurate and filing a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix.
When asked about the controversy surrounding the series and its claim to be a “true story,” Mensah said that It was “amazing” how much the program had touched people and cited an increase in the number of men calling hotlines for help.
“It was important for those reasons,” she said, adding: “If you feel it detracted from that, I would be absolutely disappointed, but I absolutely support the whole show.”
He also insisted that the aim of the series is not to generate controversy, explaining that Netflix “does not make series for publicity.”
“It was about giving a creator the space to tell their story and that’s true in everything we do,” he added. “That’s the important thing; if you’re looking for publicity, it’s the antithesis of what I believe in.”
Mesnah also said that Netflix did not try to “manipulate anyone” [con] an algorithm”adding: “The truth is much simpler, which is [que] “The audience is incredibly smart and incredibly diverse, and they see the good and not the boring.”
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
