Richard Gadd Real Video: Original Video Of Richard Gadd Breakdown
Baby Reindeer is a riveting new seven-part series adapted from Richard Gadd’s play of the same name. The story centers on Donny Dunn (portrayed by Gadd himself), a comedian and bartender who must confront his past trauma when Martha (Jessica Gunning), a relentless stalker, fixates on him.
What’s particularly astonishing is that Baby Reindeer is based on Gadd’s real-life experiences with a stalker. The series draws from his personal ordeal, including actual emails sent by his stalker, Martha. This authenticity has sparked intense interest, leading some to try and uncover the real identities involved, even prompting a police investigation due to false accusations.
Contrary to some speculation, the viral breakdown video in Baby Reindeer isn’t real. However, it’s inspired by a genuine event: a powerful monologue Gadd delivered during a June 2011 stand-up set. After recounting a night he bombed on stage so badly that the audience didn’t clap, Gadd launched into a heartfelt speech about the struggles of stand-up comedy. At around the 4:45 minute mark, he describes the profound disappointment and the delicate balance between confidence and vulnerability that comedians navigate. Gadd remarks, “When you do comedy, it’s kind of like a rock and a hard place. You’re stuck between confidence and vulnerability,” and notes the elusive nature of perfection in comedy, adding, “You can never be perfect, so when you’re a comedian, you can never be happy.”
In Baby Reindeer, the fictional viral video shows Donny revealing how he was sexually assaulted by a writer who had groomed him, promising to advance his career. This revelation leaves him vulnerable to his stalker and damages his relationship with Teri (Nava Mau). In reality, Gadd channeled these harrowing experiences into his one-man show, Monkey See Monkey Do, which had a similarly profound impact. Reflecting on the show’s first technical rehearsal, he told The Guardian, “I remember cracking up, because it was all going so badly, and the producer said, ‘What do you want from this, man?’ And I turned to him with tears in my eyes, and said, ‘I just want to make it out alive.’” The show’s reception proved to be a lifeline, with audiences’ acceptance and support providing Gadd with a sense of salvation.
The 2011 set footage has garnered numerous supportive comments from viewers who connected with Baby Reindeer and appreciated Gadd’s vulnerability. One viewer expressed, “Thank you for being vulnerable and real. Your art will be a hallmark signature for so many reasons in this life.” Another commented, “Baby Reindeer really touched my heart. Genuinely, thank you for sharing Richard Gadd. This show was a masterpiece into the inner workings of a tortured mind and how inevitable it is that we confront our truths.”
In real life, Gadd endured severe stalking and sexual abuse. His stalker targeted him for four years, bombarding him with an overwhelming 41,071 emails, 350 hours of voicemail messages, 744 tweets, 106 pages of letters, and 46 Facebook messages. This relentless harassment took a toll on his personal life, leading to the breakdown of his relationship with a trans woman amidst the turmoil.
Turning these traumatic experiences into art has been a cathartic journey for Gadd. On ITV’s This Morning, he shared, “When you are struggling with things and everything is on your shoulders or just tight in your chest, just getting it out there, writing it down, putting it into something. It’s been the best therapy for me, it’s kind of been a lifesaver.”
