Fiona Harvey says she's going blind during 'stress' of Baby Reindeer lawsuit
The woman who inspired Richard Gadd's hit series Baby Reindeer has revealed she is going blind.
Fiona Harvey, 59, a Scottish law graduate, is currently at the centre of a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against Netflix.
Last year the dark comedy was released on the streaming service, which stated at the start that it was 'a true story'.
The seven-episode series was written by and based on the real-life experience of Gadd, who plays amateur comedian Donny. Over the course of several years, he is stalked and abused by Martha, played by Jessica Gunning.
Following its release, internet sleuths seemingly found the 'real Martha' – Harvey – who has taken the streaming giant to court, demanding £132million for her supposed depiction in the series.
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Now, however, Harvey has shed light on how she has been diagnosed with background retinopathy.
The law graduate told the Record: 'I'm going blind and it's not surprising with the stress I have been under as a result of Baby Reindeer.
'I am diabetic and had always been able to keep my blood sugars under control, but my blood sugars have been wild ever since Richard Gadd's show aired.
'I am not sleeping properly, I'm not able to eat properly, I'm not able to get proper exercise because I'm virtually a prisoner in my own home.'
It is said that Harvey received confirmation that she had the illness on Thursday after undergoing eye tests at a London hospital.
The condition affects people with diabetes and occurs when high blood sugar levels damage light sensitive tissue.
Although people with stage one of the disease do not suffer vision loss, it is more than likely that vision problems will continue over time.
According to the Record, a copy of the letter confirms her diagnosis, saying: 'Dear Dr Fiona Harvey, Your test results show that you do have background retinopathy.'
Harvey went on to add that her sugars 'were fine' until Baby Reindeer and it 'led to all my physical health problems'.
'I don't have money for proper food. I feel it could lead to blindness very quickly in both eyes,' she continued.
Previously, Harvey alleged that the series falsely implied she had sexually assaulted Gadd and had been sent to prison for stalking him.
Although Netflix filed a motion in July to throw the suit out in July, a judge ruled towards the end of last year that Baby Reindeer did not live up to its billing as a 'true story' and has allowed Harvey to pursue the court case.
Netflix has defended the lawsuit and Gadd's 'right to tell his story', but at the crux is the claim that Harvey has no criminal convictions, unlike Martha.
The streaming platform continues to argue in legal papers that the alleged defamatory statements are 'substantially true'.
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This year, Gadd, of Fife, has been filming his follow-up drama called Half Man in Glasgow which will also feature Jamie Bell.
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