EMMERDALE SLAMMED FOR ‘SHOCKING’ GAY JAIL SCENES
Viewers vent anger at ‘too strong’ jail scenes
SCENES this week in Emmerdale which saw a gay character abused and taunted over the suicide of his father has sparked a storm of complaints.
Telly watchdog Ofcom has received 180 complaints from upset viewers about Monday night’s instalment of the ITV soap.
Character Aaron Dingle, played by Danny Miller, has been suffering abuse in prison since the other inmates found out he is gay. He has also been victimised as the son of convicted paedophile Gordon Livesy, who hanged himself in the jail in 2016.
Aaron, who was abused by his father as a child, was dragged to an empty cell by an angry mob of prisoners during the episode and beaten by ringleader Jason, who spat homophobic insults at him.
He then said: “Your pansy old man died in here. This is where he laid at night thinking about all the things you and him got up to.
“Did you cry for him to stop, or did you secretly want him to carry on?”
As he held Aaron to the bed, he said: “Then he climbed up on his bed, exactly where you’re kneeling now.
“I reckon the last thought that went through his head, your dad, was that it was worth it because he ruined you.”
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate, or not.”
ITV responded: “The threat of violence towards Aaron Dingle was signposted both before and during last night’s episode.
“The actual violence shown towards Aaron was carefully judged and suitably limited, given the scheduling of the programme.”
Viewers of the Yorkshire Dales-set soap were shocked by the scene.
@elizabeth mphill tweeted: “@emmerdale found last night’s just TOO sickening too watch had to switch off.”