Netflix confirm deal with Richard Gadd despite ongoing lawsuit

In an announcement at the Royal Television Society conference, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed that the creator of hit series Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd, has singed a first-look deal with the streaming giant.

Sarandos also affirmed that he stands by Gadd throughout the ongoing lawsuit surrounding the series, which has won six Emmy awards this past Sunday.

“This is Richard’s true story," Sarandos said. "We finished [signing] our first-look deal with Richard Gadd to do his next work at Netflix … We’re very proud of Richard and proud of the story he told and the way he told it.”

The litigation surrounding Baby Reindeer stems from the series' portrayal of Richard Gadd's stalker, named in the show as Martha. Scottish woman Fiona Harvey asserts that she is the stalker portrayed in the series, and is taking legal action against Netflix, seeking $170 million for defamation and emotional distress.

In a statement, Netflix said, “We intend to defend this matter vigorously and to stand by Richard Gadd’s right to tell his story.”