‘Just stop!’ rage EastEnders fans as they blast BBC for ANOTHER sexual assault storyline – swiping ‘it’s obsessive now’
EASTENDERS fans have blasted the BBC over another sexual assault storyline - swiping 'it's obsessive now'.
On Monday, the BBC soap announced Yolande Trueman will be sexually assaulted by Pastor Clayton.
The pair have become close in recent months as they work together on community projects.
However, last week, things took a shocking turn when the pastor sexually harassed Yolande.
As the pair celebrated Yolande’s idea to buy a van to make a mobile soup kitchen, Pastor Clayton pulled Yolande in for a hug and made an unwanted sexual advance, sliding his hands down her body.
At their next meeting, Pastor Clayton then made another move, touching Yolande’s leg inappropriately.
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Now EastEnders bosses have confirmed the situation will escalate as Pastor Clayton sexually assaults Yolande.
FAN FURY
But some EastEnders fans have reacted with fury at the news, which comes in the wake of Stacey Slater's stalker storyline with Theo Hawthorne and Linda Carter's rapist Dean Wicks returning to the Square.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one raged: "Why? Why do we need another rape? And by a Pastor.
"Very soon, Eastenders will be a filthy, terrifying square of sexual predators. I am not happy with this storyline at all!"
Another added: "Just stop! How many of these storylines are you going to do and never get right? How many sexual assaults are we going to see, followed by no justice for the victims?
"It’s obsessive now. They think they’re raising awareness but just do more damage."
A third agreed, writing: "There is now about to be a third physically and sexually abusive man present on the square yet none of the victims of Dean, Nish and previously Theo have yet had any kind of justice.
"Linda, Suki, Eve, Kat, Stacey, Jean, Jade, Gina and we can now include Yolande."
Meanwhile a fourth tweeted: "What are the writer's obsession with abusers? Roxy, Ben and Linda still haven’t got justice for what Dean and Lewis did.. You’re making a mockery of the whole storyline it’s sickening."
This is an important story that we hope will raise awareness of how women at any age can be groomed by someone in a position of power
Chris Clenshaw
A fellow viewer commented: "Is this remotely necessary? You already tossed out Ben’s rape storyline.
"Made a mockery of everything Dean has done and just has people eating at his restaurant.
"Act like Nish is some jokester and didn’t hurt Suki. Now we’ve gotta watch poor Yolande get raped?"
EastEnders is working with charities End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass on the storyline.
How you can get help:
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
TOUGH SCENES
Few details have been released yet, but as the storyline progresses, Yolande will struggle to come to terms with being assaulted by a man whom she believed she could trust as it impacts all aspects of her life, including her relationship with Patrick (Rudolph Walker).
It was vital for us to work alongside End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass to truthfully present and sensitively portray Yolande’s sexual assault storyline
Chris Clenshaw
The scenes will air in an hour-long special episode on Wednesday, April 17 and will also include flashback accounts of women who have previously been sexually assaulted by Pastor Clayton, as it becomes clear that this is not his first offence.
EastEnders has worked closely with experts in the field to ensure this story is portrayed as accurately and sensitively as possible.
Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer of EastEnders, said of the storyline: “This is an important story that we hope will raise awareness of how women at any age can be groomed by someone in a position of power.
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“It was vital for us to work alongside End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass to truthfully present and sensitively portray Yolande’s sexual assault storyline.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.