EastEnders fans fume over Walford's 'ignorant' reaction to Zack's HIV diagnosis

25 April 2023 , 20:13

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Zack Hudson opened up about his HIV diagnosis (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Zack Hudson (James Farrar) was forced to reveal his HIV diagnosis in the Queen Vic after being goaded by Ben Mitchell ( Max Bowden ) and EastEnders fans were left furious with some of the residents' responses to the health admission.

Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) immediately questioned whether Zack should be working at his restaurant because of his diagnosis and told his head chef to take some time off before Zack hit back and quit.

Meanwhile, Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley), Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths) and Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) expressed ignorant and archaic opinions as they shared incorrect and misinformation surrounding HIV.

The Walford residents questioned Zack's sexuality before incorrectly assuming the chef also suffered from AIDS.

Martin Fowler ( James Bye ), who lost is brother to AIDS and is Zack's best friend on the square, defended the chef while Felix Baker (Matthew James Morrison) blasted his family for their views.

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

Zack was forced to explain why he refused to fight Ben Mitchell (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders viewers were furious with the Walford residents as they took to Twitter to slam their ignorance.

One fumed: "'What are our customers gona say?' Really Ravi? Pretty sure firing someone for having HIV isn't legal FYI #Eastenders."

Another tweeted: "Harvey being ignorant there. #eastenders," while a third added: "For a fella who put his back out getting into a ring, Harvey certainly has alot to say for himself! Muppet #Eastenders."

Writing in an EastEnders forum, one Reddit user said: "The way Karen acted about Zach's HIV was so uncomfortable."

Zack was helped through his diagnosis by friend Sam Mitchell (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

However, another viewer praised the BBC soap and suggested it was important to show beloved characters expressing outdated and prejudiced views in order to show on screen how they will educate themselves.

The fan wrote: "I reckon the episode was very well written, very honestly written. It's left the door open for some good teaching for the characters, while also showing that there is very much still prejudice about.

"The younger generations are certainly going to be giving the older ones shit for being ignorant about these kind of things, just like Felix and Nugget already have."

Later in the episode, Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) scorned his father for throwing away food in the restaurant kitchen over contamination fears while in the Queen Vic Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) proudly declared her support for her brother.

If you have any questions about HIV, you can contact Terrence Higgins Trust’s free and confidential helpline THT Direct. Call 0808 802 1221 between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Charlotte McIntyre