Richard Gadd, a Netflix star, has calmed anxious fans after sharing the agony he went through for many years while being pursued.
The 34-year-old comic revealed his horrible experiences in the series Baby Reindeer, which is based on his one-man act of the same name.
The actual story follows Gadd as struggling comic Donny Dunn and his friendship with Martha (Jessica Gunning), who becomes his stalker.
While their initial interactions appear harmless and nice, she becomes obsessive and extremely attached, pestering him with thousands of emails and voicemails and showing up at his workplace and home.
Baby Reindeer goes on to describe sexual abuse, trauma, and police ineptitude, leaving viewers not just frightened and distressed, but also concerned for Gadd.
Sharing a screenshot of the series reaching the number one spot on Netflix’s Top 10 TV programmes in the UK, Gadd wrote: ‘Number 1. Thanks to everyone for tuning in and making this possible and for all your lovely comments too.’
He added: ‘I am okay, for those asking. I promise.’
Gadd had previously spoken about suffering from something ‘like PTSD’ after going through the stalker hell, and had ‘every type of therapy going’.
He added to The Times: ‘I am way more cautious around people now. It takes me a long time to trust them. Before, I entered situations with such abandonment and I got burnt.’
Gadd was showered in support in the comments, with followers expressing how powerful the series was.
@mrjoshlyon wrote: ‘I had to watch all 7 in one massive gulp of television. Couldn’t take my eyes away. This is truly excellent work. I was in tears by the end. I’ve suffered similar exploitation and abuse and I know those same feelings of utter worthlessness. I still haven’t found an outlet, catharsis or redemption but watching a story like this makes me feel so much less alone in the world. You also gave me the biggest belly laugh I’ve had in several years (20’17” mins into ep 5). I had to pause the show to compose myself as I lost control of my breathing and began coughing/choking on my involuntary laughter, I know it’s dark but the absurdity and sadness send me over the edge. It takes a lot to provoke such a reaction from me. I can’t remember the last time something both horrified and tickled me to the same degree. Suffice to say, I’m immediately going back and re-watching it. I can’t wait to see what you do next. Enormous congratulations to everyone involved. All the best and sorry for the long comment.’
@d.a.vibes added: ‘One of the best shows I have EVER seen. Thank you for this; sharing your story will touch the lives of so many people who have also experienced traumas. The writing, the acting, the cinematography, the score!! Everything! Perfection!’
‘This was incredible Richard, I finished it yesterday and immediately started it again. Thank you for sharing your story, it was so beautifully yet agonizingly told in every way, the rawness and vulnerability of your character really broke me and I know this is going to stick with me for a long time. Really well done,’ @chi_limpiroj said.
‘Stalking on television tends to be very sexed-up. It has a mystique. It’s somebody in a dark alley way. It’s somebody who’s really sexy, who’s very normal, but then they go strange bit by bit,’ Gadd previously told Netflix Tudum.
‘But stalking is a mental illness. I really wanted to show the layers of stalking with a human quality I hadn’t seen on television before. It’s a stalker story turned on its head. It takes a trope and turns it on its head.’
He added that it was ‘challenging’ visiting ‘the worst period’ of his life, saying: ‘It’s running back towards an awful fire you’ve been in.’
Baby Reindeer is available to watch on Netflix.
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