Fans have praised the 'powerful' but ‘heartbreaking’ scenes on EastEnders this week, during which Keegan Baker was attacked by racist thugs after his ex Tiffany stirred up a racist attack with a social media post.
Her current love interest, the nasty Aaron Monroe (Charlie Wernham), stirred up a knuckle-dragging gang to descend on the Queen Vic, who were soon in a verbal confrontation with Keegan (Zack Morris) and Isaac (Stevie Basula).
The words quickly turned physical outside the pub and Keegan was battered, ending up in ICU.
Viewers were appalled by the turn of events and took to social media to share their disgust in the plot that was directly related to the Black Lives Matter global protest movement of the past 18 months.
One fan was particularly upset about the attack, writing on Twitter: “why does my favourite boy keegan always have to be in pain this isn't fair I hate this show”
why does my favourite boy keegan always have to be in pain this isn't fair I hate this show #EastEndersDecember 3, 2021
Another put all the blame on Tiff and her rabble-rousing post about Christmas lights and protecting her ‘culture’: “Lola offering Tiffany some harsh home truths. Now you're listening Tiffany but it's too late. You should of defended Keegan rather then defending Aaron the idiot”
There was sympathy for Tiff from some quarters. One wrote: “I think Karen's words to Tiff were really sad, so was throwing the Ted away! Tiffany realises she still loves Keegan & she's obviously v sorry.”
I think Karen's words to Tiff were really sad, so was throwing the Ted away! Tiffany realises she still loves Keegan & she's obviously v sorry. 😥💔 #EastEndersDecember 3, 2021
Not only was there hope that Keegan would pull through, but that he and Tiff might actually reunite.
“I really hope Keegan and Tiffany will get back together!!!!!!!!!” wrote one viewer.
Another said: “The fact that it took Tiffany seeing Keegan like that for her to admit that she still loves him.”
The fact that it took Tiffany seeing Keegan like that for her to admit that she still loves him. 😢 #EastEndersDecember 3, 2021
Keegan’s father Mitch won all the plaudits from viewers on Friday, when he explained to Tiff exactly why her social media post was so destructive.
In an intense, powerful monologue, Mitch said: “When you think about it, some white bloke round here sitting in a dump of a flat struggling to make ends meet, hearing all this stuff about white privilege and Black Lives Matter. He starts thinking, ‘Hold on, I aint privileged. Why don’t my life matter?
“They read some rubbish online and all that anger comes boiling out, you know?”
Fans praised the way the soap handled the incendiary issue, one posting: “All this racist going down with Keegan is really hard to watch. Props to #EastEnders for telling this type of story.”
Another wrote: “Keegan doesn’t deserve none of what happen to him. The quote from Mitch was so powerful”
Keegan doesn’t deserve none of what happen to him. The quote from Mitch was so powerful #EastendersDecember 3, 2021
We know Maisie Smith is leaving EastEnders, so the longed-for reunion with Keegan will be brief if it happens. But maybe, if or when she returns to Walford, there will be better things in store for them…
