Richard Gadd Says Netflix Requested Deletion of Baby Reindeer Episode
According to cinemadrame News Agency, Richard Gadd, the actor and writer of Baby Reindeer, revealed that he removed an entire episode from the series at Netflix’s request. The seven existing episodes of the series were controversial enough, but Gadd disclosed this Monday that another episode had to be cut.
The Scottish actor stated at Melbourne’s “Future Vision” event that the unreleased episode would have lightened the show’s heavy tone. In the series, he plays a comedian attempting to avoid a stalker, portrayed by Jessica Gunning.
Gadd mentioned he “fought hard” to keep the eighth episode, which showed his character seeking refuge with his parents. Ultimately, most of those scenes were incorporated into other episodes. He said: “When we were writing the script, we were constantly reminded that the series was too dark. We needed to give the audience a break.”
The series is based on Gadd’s real-life experiences and has received Emmy and Peabody Awards. Following its release, a Scottish woman filed a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix last June, accusing the streaming platform of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and misappropriation of her likeness. She claimed that while Gadd based Baby Reindeer on their relationship, many scenes in the series were not factual and ruined her life. The case is still ongoing.
