Allegations Against Richard Gadd
Richard Gadd has allegedly been questioned over his professional conduct after dating a transgender actress who auditioned for Baby Reindeer.
Background of the Situation
Reece Lyons was auditioning for the part of Donny’s (Gadd) partner Teri in the Netflix series, but Nava Mau was eventually selected to play the character.
Clerkenwell Films, who produced the series, investigated creator and star Gadd, 34, about dating Lyons in 2021, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing. He had allegedly not previously disclosed the relationship.
Reece Lyons’ Experience
Five days after Baby Reindeer was released, Lyons posted a thread on X, where she did not mention Gadd or the show directly, but the publication confirmed the identity. The April 16 posts are said to be what led to the investigation.
Lyons claims she met a man after one of her shows, who offered to buy her a drink, congratulated her on the performance, and encouraged her to audition for a part in his show.
Reactions and Statements
She has made clear that she does not believe she is a victim of abuse, but disagrees with ‘conflating a work opportunity with a dating dynamic’.
‘It astounded me how somebody who spoke so openly and poignantly within the context of his career about how a power dynamic with an older and more established writer quickly led to an abuse of power and the devastating effects this had on him,’ she said.
Further Details
Baby Reindeer tells the harrowing true story of one man’s experience of being stalked as he also recovers from the trauma of sexual assault and rape. It also addresses the abuse of power in the TV industry.
Gadd and Lyons met in October 2021 and went on four dates between October and November 2021. Any potential romantic relationship was ended by Gadd in December 2021, three months before the formal casting process for Baby Reindeer began.
The final casting decisions were not made by Gadd, but he did give feedback to production on audition tapes.
Aftermath and Response
Lyons claims after her audition, she was called by the man she had dated, who mentioned that Netflix was looking for somebody who’s already a star.
The show’s popularity has led to people trying to figure out who the ‘real people’ are, and a lawyer has issued a warning.
Mau has shown her close friendship with Gadd, commenting on one picture of him and Gunning: ‘Love you both!’
