THE creator of Baby Reindeer has asked fans to stop speculating about the real-life identities of some of its characters as people he loves are getting “unfairly caught up”.
The hit Netflix series, which was written and starred Richard Gadd, depicts the true story of a stalker who harassed the actor over multiple years.
Fans of the crime drama have been speculating about the identity of the stalker Martha, played by Jessica Gunning, as well as the male TV writer Darrien, played by Tom Goodman-Hill, who is depicted in the series as a rapist.
The speculation has led to Gadd having to make a statement telling people not to go digging for his character's true identities as it is causing people whom he loves and admires to be wrongfully caught up.
READ MORE: Baby Reindeer: Netflix should expect its viewers to turn detective
The Scottish writer took to Instagram on Monday evening to address viewers as he said: “People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly getting caught up in speculation.”
He added: “Please don't speculate on who any of the real-life people could be. That's not the point of our show. Lots of love, Richard.”
Gadd has also had to deny claims that Sean Foley, an award-winning director and actor, was one of the people in his life that he based his character Darrien on.
Foley also posted a statement to Twitter/ X saying: “Police have been informed and are investigating all defamatory abusive and threatening posts against me.”
— sean foley (@SeanFoleyJ) April 23, 2024
Since the show's release, viewers have been trawling social media looking for clues as to who the real-life Martha and Darrien could be.
Martha’s identity has not been confirmed by anyone involved with the show, not even by Gadd.
Gadd explained in an interview with GQ that he tried his best to disguise Martha’s real identity as he said: “We’ve gone to such great lengths to disguise her to the point that I don’t think she would recognise herself.
“What’s been borrowed is an emotional truth, not a fact-by-fact profile of someone.”
Despite Gadd’s efforts to anonymise his characters this hasn't stopped several fans turning into armchair detectives.
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Fans of the drama have tried to piece together Martha's and Darrien’s identity using old social media posts and other information depicted in the series.
Baby Reindeer started life as a one-man stage show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019.
The show later transferred to London's West End and has now been watched by 2.6 million people in its first week on Netflix.
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