Baby Reindeer creator and actor Richard Gadd has taken to social media to reassure fans who were left concerned after watching the Netflix show. Baby Reindeer is a 'chilling' true story based on Gadd's real life experience of being stalked, harassed and abused.
The 'harrowing' mini-series follows Gadd, who stars as Donny Dunn, as a simple act of kindness quickly turns his life upside down. When Martha Scott (played by Jessica Gunning) enters Donny's workplace pub, she appears upset.
Donny, who can't help but "feel sorry for her" gives her a cup of tea for free. However, Donny's kind gesture swiftly morphs into a real life nightmare as Martha begins stalking and harassing Donny.
Martha would send Donny, an aspiring comedian, more than 80 emails a day. Over the course of five years, she would send as many as 40,000 emails, 740 tweets, 100 pages of letters, 45 Facebook messages and leave 350 hours of voicemail.
Martha would stay at Donny's workplace pub for his entire shift, and at times, would sit at the bus stop all day outside his accommodation. The series has gripped millions world-wide, and is currently number one in Netflix's Top 10 TV Programmes in the UK.
Many viewers have been so moved and 'haunted' by Richard's story in Baby Reindeer that they have taken to his social media accounts to express their support and concerns. In response, Richard issued a statement on Instagram, alongside a screenshot of the show in Netflix number one spot.
"Number 1. Thanks to everyone for tuning in and making this possible and for all your lovely comments too", he said, before adding: "I am okay, for those asking. I promise." Jennifer typed: "Binged this last night! Very good very vulnerable very real."
In the comment section, Josh replied: "I had to watch all 7 in one massive gulp of television. Couldn’t take my eyes away. This is truly excellent work. I was in tears by the end."
Kat added: "It's like Carrie Fisher said 'Take your pain and turn it into art'. This is a series I will never stop thinking about. You should be massively proud of it."
Jade declared: "This show needs to win all the awards. Watched it last night and woke up this morning still thinking about it. Incredible writing, performance and story. The ending made me stand up and clap in my own living room. Congratulations #masterpiece."
Baby Reindeer - the nickname Martha gave Richard - consists of seven episodes. Each episode lasts between 27 to 45 minutes and aims to depict the "human quality" behind stalking.
Richard has never shared Martha's true identity, but in the series, she is arrested and taken to prison for her behaviour. Reflecting on his experiences, Richard once said: "The laws surrounding harassment and abuse are so stupid because they look for black and white, good and evil, and that's not how it works."
Speaking to Netflix, Richard added: "Stalking on television tends to be very sexed-up... It has a mystique. It's somebody in a dark alleyway. It's somebody who's really sexy, who's very normal, but then they go strange bit by bit.
"But stalking is a mental illness. I really wanted to show the layers of stalking with a human quality I hadn't seen on television before."
