Richard Osman claims 'people in the industry know' the identity of Richard Gadd's sexual abuser in Netflix's Baby Reindeer

Richard Osman claims 'people in the industry know' the identity of Richard Gadd's sexual abuser in Netflix's Baby Reindeer

WATCH NOW: Trailer for Netflix hit Baby Reindeer

Lauren Williams

By Lauren Williams


Published: 02/05/2024

- 20:05

Baby Reindeer saw the story of Richard Gadd's sexual abuse from someone within the entertainment industry

Richard Osman has claimed that "everyone" in the TV industry knows the identity of the sexual abuser Richard Gadd depicted in his Netflix series Baby Reindeer.

The widely popular Netflix show tells the story of Gadd's real-life experience with stalker Martha Scott (played by Jessica Gunning) and how she infiltrated his life after simply offering her a glass of coke on the house.


Alongside the story of Martha, Gadd also told of how he was sexually abused by someone in the entertainment industry who promised to help him with his comedy shows.

Gadd plays himself in the series through a character named Donny Dunn and soon meets Darrien (Tom Goodman-Hill) who seems to have good intentions.

Things soon took a sinister turn as he plastered Dunn with drugs and alcohol - soon using him for his own needs.

Like the identity of Martha, Gadd tried his best to keep the identity of his abuser under wraps, but Osman has recently claimed that the identity of the individual is widely known across the industry.

Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast with journalist Marina Hyde, Osmon noted: "As you say, there’s a very, very serious thing that happens with a male comedy producer and Richard Gadd.

Darrien and Donny Dunn

Richard Gadd depicted his own sexual abuse during the show

NETFLIX

"Who, as you say, did the show in Edinburgh and has been very open to people in the industry about who that person was, so people in the industry know who that person was.

"Now it comes out now and a completely different person is identified, someone who has produced Richard Gadd before, but is definitively not the person in any way.

"But the person they’ve cast in that role looks like this other guy, looks like the guy who’s been falsely accused. And it’s such a weird, bizarre thing to do because this poor guy has had death threats and he’s had to issue a statement to say it’s not me.

"And it is not him, definitely not because people in the industry know who it is. And it’s definitely not him."

Sean Foley

Sean Foley has been targeted by internet sleuths after the claimed he was the abuser

GETTY


Internet sleuths claimed they "worked out" that Sean Foley was Gadd's abuser and began to send death threats to him on social media, something which Gadd immediately cleared up.

Taking to his Instagram account, he wrote: "People I love, have worked with, and admire (including Sean Foley) are unfairly caught up in speculation. 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 x X.” (sic)

Since the release of the series, the "real Martha" has also spoken out about the impact the show has had on her life and claimed she will be suing Netflix for damages.

Richard Osman on Baby Reindeer

Richard Osman has claimed people know who Richard Gadd's abuser is

NETFLIX/ITV

Fiona Harvey - who is believed to be the inspiration behind Jessica Gunning's character Martha - has noted that she is a "highly competent lawyer" and will take action after receiving death threats.

The woman has recently revealed she didn't watch the show as it is "a gross intrusion into my privacy. I don't want people to know where I live, but I will not be silenced."

She also told The Scottish Sun: "I have a claim against Netflix as this is being billed as part of a true story. I'm a highly competent lawyer. I'd have to do it myself. I'm very good. I have a photographic memory and can memorise huge files. I was top in my school at everything.

"I am very attractive. He's not Brad Pitt. There's a fat actress that's supposed to be me. He's come up with this character called Martha, and he has put me right in the frame.

"This is a programme for the 20-somethings. The people with no lives, no jobs, whatever. I don't want to be a celebrity."

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