'EastEnders' Viewers React As Paul Coker's Death Revealed To Be Result Of Homophobic Attack

Not everyone was happy with 'EastEnders' over the storyline.

The shocking death of Paul Coker in ‘EastEnders’ was revealed to have been a homophobic attack in Thursday’s (21 July) episode.

Earlier this week, viewers were left stunned when Jonny Labey’s character was killed in a seemingly random attack, that also left his boyfriend, Ben Mitchell, in a critical condition.

As Ben dealt with the news of Paul’s death in the most recent instalment of the BBC soap, he also confessed that the attack had been rooted in homophobia.

Ben Mitchell
Ben Mitchell
BBC

Confiding in Johnny Carter, Ben admitted: “When we left the club, we were taking selfies and laughing about something stupid. These four blokes starting following us, saying, ‘come on, you faggots’.

“Paul said I should just leave it - but I didn’t, did I? I had to start mouthing off like I always do. Paul’s dead, and it’s my fault.”

Paul and Ben revealed to their neighbours they were an item earlier this year
Paul and Ben revealed to their neighbours they were an item earlier this year
BBC

The police are still under the impression that Paul’s death was the result of a mugging, leaving viewers wondering whether Ben will reveal what really happened, as fans of the show reacted to the shocking truth on Twitter:

I've wanted #EastEnders to do a homophobic attack storyline for ages but Christ on a bike did they have to make it so heartbreaking? 😭😓

— B E G L E Y (@JosephBegley) July 21, 2016

#EastEnders Not Ben's fault I knew this was going to turn out a homophobic hate attack felt so bad for Ben,

— Ibrahim Banks (@TheShowOff85) July 21, 2016

Nah Paul was killed by some homophobic twats, are you kidding me? He didn't deserve to be killed of like that! #EastEnders

— Fifty (@PersonallyShady) July 21, 2016

#Eastenders is so important right now. Unflinchingly examining the aftermath of a homophobic hate crime. Horrific viewing but necessary.

— Elly (@EllOnEarth) July 21, 2016

omg when Ben revealed it was a homophobic attack😭 glad Eastenders is bringing up this topic #EastEnders

— fads (@omgitsfaduma) July 21, 2016

Poor Ben💔 it's not your fault that Paul died. He was a victim of disgusting, homophobic abuse. I hope this story educates people #Eastenders

— Jade Evans (@enchantedbyfilm) July 21, 2016

@bbceastenders thanks for the storyline. Showing how nasty some people are against LGBT. Homophobic people nowadays. #EastEnders
🌈

— Owen Doherty (@doherty120) July 21, 2016

However, others were critical of ‘EastEnders’ for not concluding the episode with an advice line for any viewers who were going through something similar themselves:

So a #homophobic attack and murder didn't deserve a helpline for all victims of this abuse @bbceastenders #eastenders

— David Andrew Sammon (@david_sammon) July 21, 2016

@bbceastenders why wasn't a helpline no. provided after a homophobic motivated murder on #Eastenders for the 3rd time!?

— Daryl Gordon (@Daryl5353) July 21, 2016

Eastenders currently have a hard hitting storyline on homophobic violence, and there's no advice line offered at the end? What's that about?

— Stephen Howie (@SoulfulScotsman) July 21, 2016

A homophobic hate crime and no BBC Action line details?! Disgusting #EastEnders @bbceastenders

— Glenn Doig (@5H17_the_bed) July 21, 2016

Disappointed that @BBC and @rte didn't provide helpline numbers for people affected after @bbceastenders this eve 😡 https://t.co/zIyJ8it2Jr

— JC Irwin (@irwinjc) July 21, 2016

@BBCOne You run a storyline where characters are victims of a homophobic hate crime yet there's no action line number? Hmmm.. #EastEnders

— Lee Hayman (@HEELHayman) July 21, 2016

Speaking about the storyline Jonny previously said: “A lot of the really emotional stuff happens after I leave and all of my last scenes are very happy. It was quite strange because Lin and Roger were filming a lot of the reactive parts and then coming back to film all the upbeat stuff with me.

“It was quite odd! But watching Lin and Roger do their scenes was really hard.”

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