EastEnders fans boycott soap over ‘sickening, harrowing and offensive’ rape storyline, with sexual assault victims calling it ‘a slap in the face’

• If you have been affected by this story please contact Rape Crisis on their free 24/7 helpline on 0808 500 2222 

EastEnders fans have turned off the show in their droves after being ‘disgusted’ by an ‘offensive’ rape storyline. 

Shocked viewers watched on in disgust during Wednesday’s episode as rapist Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) blackmailed Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) into falsely clearing him of sexual assault. 

In a previous episode, Dean fell down the stairs in The Queen Vic after a heated confrontation with George Knight (Colin Salmon) and he later threatened to tell the police if Linda didn’t go back on her word. 

Dean raped Linda in 2014 but he was tried and acquitted in court over a separate offence against Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons). 

As Thursday’s episode came to a close, viewers watched on as Dean secretly recorded Linda lying and saying their sexual encounter was consensual. 

Offensive: EastEnders fans have turned off the show after being ‘disgusted’  Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) blackmailed Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) into falsely clearing him of sexual assault

Shocking: Viewers also called for the removal of Linda’s mother Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) for attempting to console her daughter by claiming it ‘didn’t matter’

Shocked viewers were quick to hit out at the soap for the storyline, with survivors of sexual assaults accusing the show of ‘spitting in their faces’. 

They also called for the removal of Linda’s mother Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) for attempting to console her daughter by claiming it ‘didn’t matter’. 

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, viewers shared: What is Elaine chatting? “it doesn’t matter, it’s just words” no… no it’s not. I went through sexual abuse myself and I can tell you, watching that I felt heartbreak and disgust at the same time…. REMOVE ELAINE if that’s how she’s going to go down… I suspect she’s not going to care much that Deans recorded the entier thing either. and I know EastEnders isn’t real life, but when you’ve got these hard hitting trauma inducing storylines, it doesn’t matter if what you’re seeing is “real” or not. because if it’s happened to you, you end up getting those same thoughts and feelings that you once had back. My situation was similar in many ways to Lindas too. Mine happened when I was a child, and went to the police once I’d finally processed it, because it’s a lot for a child, or anybody to get their heads around… the police didn’t believe me. So I get the bravery and the courage in linda because Knowing he did it, has kept her together. Justice would’ve been better but just knowing and holding that inside of yourself… it never leaves.’; 

‘Fck a helpline this story is just offensive and gross it spits in the faces of R Word victims  #EastEnders’; ‘Usually I love to watch Linda’s scenes a few times from each episode but this nearly 3 minute long scene I could only view once. It has made me sick to my stomach. Linda would never go back on the truth. This has taken such a dark and vile turn, its not right #Eastenders’;

‘Well done, EE, for spitting in the face of us victims, I hope it makes you proud.’; ‘Am sorry but think Eastenders done this so wrong. That should never have happened. Made me so uncomfortable’; ‘That’s not good enough, disgusting storyline, as if Linda would do that. I’m doing a formal complaint. Made me sick to the stomach.’;

‘Literally had to turn the episode off and stop watching. This story line shouldn’t have happened’; ‘Airing scenes as triggering at the one between Linda and Dean tonight and following it up with the “if you have been affected” message is nasty, nasty work’; ‘This storyline is so offensive to real victims. Shame on you EastEnders.’; 

‘Absolutely disgusted in this show for that’; ‘Airing this was uncalled for. I cant believe it even got aired if i’m honest. This isn’t raising awareness.’; ‘The nerve of you putting out action line numbers while producing this horrible drivel !!!’; ‘Disgusting, sickening and harrowing storyline that is’; ‘This is a disgusting storyline’; 

‘This plot is extremely sad and uncalled for.’; ‘Too far, way too far for a storyline’; ‘Just wrong and disgusting, a travesty for victims, a slap in their face #Eastenders’; ‘I’m just stunned Eastenders thought this storyline was a gd idea. If this is what ‘The Six’ is all about then it’s a big fail imo.’; ‘This story line and episode is absolutely disgusting feeling so sorry for the people who have been affected by this the least they could do is remove the episode and apologise it’s disgusting’;

‘No, this clip is disgraceful enough. Horrible how this has been handled’; ‘This is so so wrong on so many levels’; ‘I’ve watched this show my whole life but this storyline is too far and for the first time I actually think I’m gonna tune out. It’s so triggering for victims, don’t know what the writers were thinking

‘Very poor taste… very shameful way to try and get ratings.’; ‘So sad for Linda’; ‘Horrible episode.’; ‘Awful awful storyline. All that good things been doing with the storylines past few years gone down the drain I reckon with this sickening storyline.’ 

MailOnline has contacted BBC for comment. 

Outraged: Shocked viewers were quick to hit out at the soap for the storyline, with survivors of sexual assaults accusing the show of ‘spitting in their faces’

In 2014, communications watchdog Ofcom investigated EastEnders after viewers complained about Linda’s rape scene. 

While the rape was implied rather than explicitly depicted, viewers complained about the episode,  which went out before the watershed on BBC1 at 8pm.

A peak audience of 7.3 million tuned in to the episode and the BBC defended it after the broadcast, citing the soap’s ‘rich history’ of showing difficult storylines.

In a statement, it said: ‘EastEnders has a rich history of tackling difficult issues and Linda’s story is one of these.

‘We have worked closely with Rape Crisis and other experts in the field to tell this story which we hope will raise awareness of sexual assaults and the issues surrounding them.

‘We have been extremely mindful of the content within the episode and the timeslot in which it was shown and at no point have there been any scenes of a graphic nature. In fact, the attack on Linda was implied and was not explicit.’

The watershed begins at 9pm and material unsuitable for children should not, in general, be shown before 9pm or after 5.30am.

Speaking prior to the initial rape scene, actor Matt said he did not mind getting ‘abuse’ for playing a rapist if the shocking storyline helped real-life victims.

He said: ‘This show is so popular and you’re in people’s houses every night so to be associated with that crime, like I said if I have to get abuse on Twitter or a punch in the mouth, I’m fine with that as long as one person speaks out.’

Harrowing: In 2014, communications watchdog Ofcom investigated EastEnders after viewers complained about Linda’s rape scene 

Actress Kellie was asked by Radio Times if she thinks EastEnders should be tackling such an issue pre-watershed.

She said: ‘Yes. EastEnders is a programme that is supposed to be reflective of real life and this issue is part of our society.

‘Why shouldn’t it be tackled? I think it’s been done in a really sensitive way.

‘It’s out there so it’s not going to be a shock to viewers and they have the option to make a decision not to watch it. It’s a way to educate people.’

READ MORE: Ex-EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison slams ‘ridiculous’ soap for ‘normalising violence’

It is not the first time EastEnders has been involved in a controversial or harrowing rape storyline.

In 2004, viewers complained to the BBC about an episode which focused on the distress of Little Mo Slater, who was assaulted in the Queen Vic pub by a customer.

Complaints were received by Ofcom, which said it was concerned at the content, ‘given the mixed age ranges in the audience’. 

The BBC agreed it ‘was a degree more adult in tone than was appropriate’ for the pre-watershed time slot.

Matt revived his role as rapist Dean in the show’s Halloween special, with executive producer Chris Clenshaw telling Radio Times: ‘Yeah, we always kind of knew we were going to bring him back for Linda’s story this year.

‘You know, he’s a character that has such a historical connection to the show. As we know, he didn’t get his comeuppance.’

Linda is involved in a huge Christmas storyline where viewers will find out the identity of a dead body seen in The Vic.

The BBC soap made history in an episode back in February when they teased a flash forward, but the identity of the corpse and the killer were kept secret.

While there is a still month to go until fans will find out who the victim of the Christmas murder is some viewers believe they are one step closer to finding out.

Some soap fans believe it will be Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) who falls victim to the killer whereas others were convinced it will be Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) who dies this Christmas.

Ian made a huge return to EastEnders this summer, as he arrived in Walford alongside his wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).

If you have been affected by this story please contact Rape Crisis on their free 24/7 helpline on 0808 500 2222 

Plot: Linda is involved in a huge Christmas storyline where viewers will find out the identity of a dead body seen in The Vic L-R: Stacey (Lacey Turner), Suki (Balvinder Sopal), Sharon (Letitia Dean), Denise (Diane Parish) and Kathy (Gillian Taylforth)

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