Baby Reindeer viewers question ethics behind Piers Morgan’s ‘real Martha’ interview

This week, the broadcaster revealed he had spoken to Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey, labelled the “real Martha”, with the interview set to air on his YouTube show Uncensored on Thursday (8 May).

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After filming the interview, though, Harvey said she felt “used” by Morgan, who she said placed “a heavy emphasis” on the thousands of emails she allegedly sent Baby Reindeer creator and lead star Richard Gadd.

Netflix’s Baby Reindeer follows a comedian as he is relentlessly harassed and stalked by Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning) for more than four years.

Immediately after its release on 11 April, the series became a word-of-mouth sensation and is on course to be one of the streaming service’s most-watched shows, alongside heavyweights Stranger Things and Bridgerton.

Harvey, who has received death threats since the show started, has now hinted that Morgan capitalised on the furore, telling Daily Record: “I wouldn’t say I was happy. It was very rapid to try to trip me up. He did it fast paced to catch me off guard.

“It seemed to me that I was set up. I feel a bit used.”

Harvey’s claims corroborate general feeling about Morgan’s interview, which was met with consternation when the broadcaster announced the “world exclusive” on Wednesday (8 May).

He wrote on X/Twitter: “The real-life Martha from Baby Reindeer breaks cover and gives me her first TV interview about the smash hit Netflix show. Fiona Harvey wants to have her say & ‘set the record straight.’ Is she a psycho stalker?”

The post’s replies section was flooded with messages from users calling the interview “irresponsible” and “unethical” due to the fact that Gadd himself told The Independent that the real person who inspired Martha to be “mentally unwell”.

”This is exploitation of a person who is in a vulnerable position. Clearly unethical,” one person wrote, with another adding: “This guy has absolutely no shame!” Others branded the decision to interview Harvey “disgraceful” and “absolutely vile”.

The Independent has contacted Morgan’s Uncensored for comment.

Baby Reindeer - Trailer

Morgan’s announcement arrived hours before Gadd, Gunning, co-star Nava Mau and series director Weronika Tofilska participated in a panel discussion about the show in Los Angeles.

The event was held to stir up interest among TV awards voters in Hollywood. Both Gadd and Gunning are strongly expected to receive Emmy and Golden Globe nominations in the forthcoming awards race.

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