Nov 153 min read

The Truth Behind True Crime

By Andrew Xie and Isabella Zhu Nov. 13, 2024

“This is a true story.” These are the first words displayed in a bright red font over a pitch-black background, opening one of the biggest breakout shows of the year. Based on the real-life experiences of creator Richard Gadd, the seven-episode limited Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” has won six Emmy Awards since its release in April.

The show follows Donny—an aspiring comedian played by Gadd—as he is shadowed by a serial stalker named Martha who mistakes his courtesy as affection. As her pursuits become increasingly relentless, his life spirals out of control. While Gadd has dramatized the show for entertainment, portraying real people and events comes with consequences.

Although “Baby Reindeer” does not explicitly reveal the inspiration behind Martha’s character, online sleuths quickly identified Fiona Harvey, as Martha’s real-life reference. Harvey claims she has endured anxiety, depression and a fear of leaving her home since the show’s release; on June 6, she sued Netflix for defamation. It was ruled on Sept. 27 that Harvey could proceed with her lawsuit based on the assertion that the show’s creators exaggerated key events. In Baby Reindeer, Martha stalks a police officer, sexually assaults Donny, violently attacks him and eventually serves five years in prison. The judge noted that none of these details were true, yet fans have varying reactions to the case.

“If Harvey was fired or denied a job due to the documentary, she could have sued for wrongful termination. By suing Netflix for defamation, it seems to justify the rumors against her and paint her in a darker light,” Freshman Sayuri Lokeshwar said.

Since the court hearing, Gaad has stood up for Harvey, mentioning in his court filing that his intentions were not to hurt her, but rather to tell a story that reflected his emotions. However, Lyrissa Lidsky, a law professor at the University of Florida, cautioned that if something is labeled as a true story, it must be factually accurate; deviations from reality can confuse the audience.

“I was surprised that the major plot points were heavily dramatized, as the show feels raw and gives off the impression that the creator truly experienced every event firsthand. I understand how it would be difficult for viewers to not take everything at face value,” Junior Niels Park said.

The true crime series “Monsters” released in September following the case of the Menendez brothers also sparked controversy regarding accuracy. Erik Menendez criticized the show in a statement posted on X by his wife, asserting it perpetuated a

misleading portrayal of him and his brother. Recent surfacing of evidence for sexual abuse have led online personas and celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Cooper Koch to advocate for the brothers’ freedom. For example, Kardashian published a letter on NBC News addressing parole for the brothers just weeks after she and Koch visited their prison.

“The Menendez Brothers case was just awful. To think those kids had murdered their parents in cold blood is inexcusable evidence of their insanity. However, the newly presented evidence of sexual abuse could have indeed been a trigger for their actions,” Jeffry Sloneker, Science Department, said.

A lack of truth in true crime may attract people to the genre. A 2018 study published by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of South Carolina stated that almost 90 percent of true crime podcast listeners ease boredom and entertain themselves with true crime content instead of resonating with the story on a personal level. Another YouGov survey from this year found that Americans’ primary motivations for true crime consumption tended to be an interest in mystery, psychology and entertainment.

True crime media holds a double-bladed sword: it can reduce tragedies into marketable content by glamorizing killers and misrepresenting victims. Yet it can also raise awareness about various cases, like the Menendez brothers. Celebrity and social media support allowed the brothers to schedule another court hearing on Dec. 11, giving them the chance to leave their lifelong imprisonment.

About the Contributors

Andrew Xie

staff writer

Andrew Xie is a Freshman at Leland High School and is a Writer. He loves reading and writing and this is his first year in journalism. He likes watching soccer and playing video games.

Isabella Zhu

staff writer

Isabella is a Staff Writer/Artist, and this is her first year in Journalism. Isabella is deathly scared of running, but does cross country anyways. Her favorite things to do outside of journalism are eating, walking, and sleeping.