25 January 2023 , 15:52
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EastEnders fans were left in shock on Monday night as Lily Slater announced that she wanted to keep her baby - but do you think the storyline has gone too far?
The 12-year-old, who is expecting a child with Ricky Jr, previously vowed to have an abortion, but told her father Martin that she has made a U-turn with her decision.
In gripping scenes, Martin lost his temper at Lily, as he shouted: “I don't care about Ricky. I care about you and the mess you are in. Ricky is not the one that needs protecting Lil.”
After a tense confrontation, she later approached Martin and her mum Stacey in the living room, and said: “I'm not getting rid of it. I'm having my baby”.
Next week, spoilers reveal that Ricky Jr, also aged 12, decides to support Lily with bringing up the child, while all hell breaks loose as his dad Jack Branning finds out and confronts him - leading to the youngster fleeing home.
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Jack demands a meeting with Stacey and Martin, telling them to “talk sense” into Lily and make her change her mind about having the baby.
After Stacey says abortion is off the table, Jack runs into Lily and tells her what her life will be like as a teen mum, leaving her upset over what he has to say.
Do you think the pregnancy storyline has gone too far? Vote in our poll to have your say.
Drama erupts as Stacey finds out what he has done, banning the Branning family from having anything to do with the baby, including Ricky Jr.
Viewers have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on the storyline, with some saying the soap may have gone too far.
“Lily’s not a young teen deciding to keep her baby after having consensual (if ill-advised) sex. She’s TWELVE, well below the age of consent and not old enough to understand the consequences of pregnancy and childbirth. And no one’s explaining it to her either,” penned one watcher.
Meanwhile, others defend the show’s ability to reflect real life dilemmas, as one user wrote: “People moaning about another teenage pregnancy storyline. It still happens in real life. So why not another story.”
Let us know which option you voted for and why in the comments section below.
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