EE: over 60 complaints over the Stella & Ben storyline

carmelina · Post by **carmelina** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:56 pm

FURIOUS EastEnders fans have complained about the “upsetting” bullying of youngster Ben Mitchell.

Sixty viewers criticised the BBC after Tuesday’s episode saw Ben (Charlie Jones) kicked to the floor by yobs as scheming Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) looked on and laughed.

Stella has been waging a hate campaign against lover Phil Mitchell’s son, including burning him with a hot spoon and abandoning him in the London Dungeon.

Enders chiefs are working with the NSPCC on the controversial storyline.

Spokeswoman Lucy Plosker said: “We know viewers could consider this storyline disturbing but we aim to reflect the reality of bullying.

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Post by **Skylace** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:34 pm

Bullying is terrible and horrible and difficult to watch. Yet so many people ignore it. Now that it's in their face on a tv they're upset?! Please. People should be more upset about the real life bullying that goes on that is even worse then what Ben is getting on the show.

Twirley · Post by **Twirley** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:44 pm

Skylace wrote:Bullying is terrible and horrible and difficult to watch. Yet so many people ignore it. Now that it's in their face on a tv they're upset?! Please. People should be more upset about the real life bullying that goes on that is even worse then what Ben is getting on the show.

Well said, Sky!

Post by **eefanincan** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:49 am

You're right Sky. Perhaps the storyline is meant to bring bullying to peoples attention.... and if people are discussing it, then maybe they'll work to stop it.

Post by **Skylace** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 2:52 am

eefanincan wrote:You're right Sky. Perhaps the storyline is meant to bring bullying to peoples attention.... and if people are discussing it, then maybe they'll work to stop it.

I would hope so. I had mentioned this story to my husband and he just shook his head and said that in England the attitude to a thing like bulllying is if you ignore it, it's not there so when it's brought to people's attention they don't like it. I thought that made perfect sense as I know we can be that way about certain things in the states as well. It's easier to hide your head in the sand then to face the problem.