Why Does Martha Misspell Words in ‘Baby Reindeer’

Netflix’s hit series ‘Baby Reindeer’ has caused quite a stir in 2024, but viewers can’t help but notice something peculiar about Martha’s emails in the show: they’re riddled with spelling errors.

Crafted by Richard Gadd, who also stars in the series, ‘Baby Reindeer’ brings his ordeal of being stalked and s*xually abused to the small screen. Gadd had previously shared his story through a one-man stage show. In the series, he portrays a fictionalized version of himself named Donny, who becomes the target of Martha’s obsessive stalking after a chance encounter in a pub.

Also Read: ‘Baby Reindeer’ Maker Claims He “Feels Sorry” For The Stalker

As their unconventional relationship unfolds, viewers are presented with snippets of Martha’s numerous emails to Donny, all adorned with notably poor spelling. These emails are lifted directly from the real-life correspondence Gadd received from his stalker.

Martha bombarded Gadd with a staggering 41,041 emails, along with over 350 hours of voicemail messages, 106 pages of letters and countless social media missives. The exact reason behind Martha’s spelling and grammar blunders remains unclear, but some speculate they may reflect her mental state at the time.

There’s speculation that Martha’s messages could be influenced by dyslexia or episodes of mania. However, the sheer volume of her communications likely also played a role in their quality—or lack thereof.

Adding another layer to the intrigue, Martha’s emails often end with the signature “Sent from my iPhone.” Yet, in later episodes, even this phrase is sometimes misspelt, hinting that Martha manually typed it out to deceive Donny rather than it being an automated signature.