‘Baby Reindeer’ Star & Creator Richard Gadd Has Message For Viewers: “Please Don’t Speculate On Who Any Of The Real Life People Could Be”

Armando Tinoco
·1-min read

In the era of true crime in media, social media is abuzz following the release of Baby Reindeer on Netflix.

The series created by Richard Gadd is based on a true story based on Gadd’s own experiences. This has led internet sleuths to take into their own hands and uncover who the real-life characters could be, leading to wrongfully accusing innocent people.

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Gadd is now breaking his silence and recently shared a message to viewers.

“People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation,” Gadd posted on Instagram Stories. “Please don’t speculate on who any of the real life people could be. That’s not the point of our show.”

Foley reshared Gadd’s statement on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The director had previously shared that “police have been informed and are investigating all defamatory abusive and threatening posts against me.”

In Baby Reindeer’s fourth episode, Gadd’s Donny is groomed and sexually assaulted by successful writer Darrien, played by actor Tom Goodman-Hill. Some fans of the show concluded that the character Darrien was based on Foley, which Gadd denies.

The show’s other star, Jessica Gunning, who plays Martha, has also asked viewers not to speculate.

“If you like the show and you are a fan of it, you should stick with the story of Martha and Donny being what connects you, not trying to do any detective work and find out any real identities,” Gunning told BBC Scotland’s The Edit.

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