10/10/2008
Eastenders Gay Kiss Threatens British Audiences
A romantic kiss between Christian Clarke (John Partridge ) and Lee Thompson (Carl Ferguson) on the British soap Eastenders has sent conservative viewers into a frenzy.
The Daily Mail reports: "In a statement the BBC defended itself by saying it was down to parents to decide whether the content of the show was suitable for children to watch. But some viewers were left deeply unimpressed. One viewer wrote on the BBC’s Points Of View internet messageboard: 'I am appalled by the display of homosexual kissing before the watershed shown on EastEnders. This is disgraceful whilst young children are watching and sets the wrong example.' Another, Pat, wrote: 'I had to explain to my seven-year-old son what was happening. He now thinks he is gay because he kisses his dad.'"
Well, apparently you didn't explain it well enough, idiot.
Said the BBC: "We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual relationships. We believe that the general tone and content of EastEnders is now widely recognised. Parents can make an informed decision as to whether they want their children to watch."
Watch the scandalous kiss that's rocking Britain, AFTER THE JUMP...
Pretty hot if you ask me. The BBC is probably getting complaints because the men aren't typically stereotyped nelly queens. Seems the bigots are always more threatened when the men are more masculine, as in the Heinz commercial earlier this year.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:55 AM EST by Andy in Great Britain, Kiss, News, Soap Operas, Television | Permalink
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This is ridiculous. Eastenders has delt with kidnapping, rape, pedophilia, murder, violence, and the audience got upset over a kiss?!!? I have to ask that one person who complained that he didn't know how to explain the kiss to his son a question. If you couldn't manage to explain the kiss to him, how did you explain the rape, kidnapping, or Child molestation plots to him?
Posted by: Devon | Oct 10, 2008 11:12:44 AM
ah, the age old tribal taboo! just what is it about two men kissing that get's 'em all worked up and bothered. i think gore vidal (another old queen LOL!) has written something about it. i recommend his series of essays on sexuality. quite interesting reading it is, too.
Posted by: the queen | Oct 10, 2008 11:13:41 AM
first off..why are these parents letting thier kids watch a soap opera...2nd - there is ALAL kinds of Heterosexual carrying-on going on,but that's OK? Eastenders has had plenty of controversial topics..drugs,abuse,violence,alcoholism,rape...ahh,but 2 people showing affection via a kiss scares these bigoted asshole parents? PRIORITIES!!!!!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Oct 10, 2008 11:16:01 AM
What REALLY gets the haters is that the kissing gay couple is put on par with kissing straight couples.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Oct 10, 2008 11:22:56 AM
perhaps it's because the Brits know the rest of the world thinks of them as a nation of "Poofters" and "shirt lifters".
Posted by: Rich | Oct 10, 2008 11:26:57 AM
"We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual relationships."
That statement by the BBC entirely sums it up. A gay kiss should be no more forbidden than a straight kiss. If parents feel they need to explain it to their kids, that's their problem. If straight people are offended, that's their problem. And if they can't cope with gay realities, they have the option of changing the channel or staring at their walls.
Posted by: Ernie | Oct 10, 2008 11:30:49 AM
Eastenders had a gay couple kiss in it 20 years ago! One of the gay characters was played by Michael Cashman who is now in the European Parliament.
This is just the usual loud and crazy nut cases.
Posted by: Gregus | Oct 10, 2008 11:34:14 AM
They were offended by that peck on the bench but nobody mentioned the slap on the ass in the bedroom? People are so weird.
Posted by: Chris | Oct 10, 2008 11:39:48 AM
Don't go fretting about it. My mum watches Eastenders, 'the Street', and Emmerdale religiously, and this didn't ruffle her feathers. In fact she thought it was wonderful to see, cos it is a lot like me and my partner Richard. Just two blokes that love each other.
Posted by: Gary | Oct 10, 2008 11:44:08 AM
I wouldn't say that this is "rocking Britain" - this is the first I've heard of it.
I can't say I watch the soap operas, but I thought gay kissing was pretty much routine these days? Didn't Eastenders do the gay thing back in the '80s?
The Daily Mail may in in a funk, but that's no surprise - today the gays, tomorrow the immigrants, Monday will be all about teenage pregnancy; by Tuesday, it'll be our turn again.
Posted by: Rory | Oct 10, 2008 11:56:52 AM
Pat, if your seven year old son is kissing his father like THAT I think you may have bigger problems to worry about...
Posted by: Jason | Oct 10, 2008 12:01:35 PM
God, I miss Eastenders. Damn BBC America stopped showing it after we had watched it for like 14 years or more. Refuse to watch BBC ever since.
Posted by: John | Oct 10, 2008 12:07:09 PM
Jason,
VERY funny and sadly true.
Posted by: Jake | Oct 10, 2008 12:11:20 PM
Oh heavens to mergatroid !!!!!!!!
Posted by: Marc | Oct 10, 2008 12:14:51 PM
Its just the Daily Mail (aka Daily Bile, Daily Heil, Daily Liar, Daily Hate) getting its nickers in a twist and trying to create an issue where one does not exist.
Unfortuanlty, the right-wing nut jobs and groups that exist in the UK have been taking a leaf out of the US right-wing and makig alot of noise. The Daily Mail is just an echo chamber for the few sado's with nothing better to do.
Posted by: EvilEuropean | Oct 10, 2008 12:26:55 PM
Yeah, there's been hardly any uproar about this. The Daily Mail will print nearly anything. I don't think EastEnders has ever had a single week when people didn't call in to complain about something, but as far as I know the BBC only pay attention when the complaints reach the thousands.
Posted by: randommer | Oct 10, 2008 12:29:18 PM
"The Daily Mail may in in a funk, but that's no surprise - today the gays, tomorrow the immigrants, Monday will be all about teenage pregnancy; by Tuesday, it'll be our turn again."
Absolutely. The usual few nutcases who get offended at the drop of a hat + Daily Mail, arguably one of the worst rags in the entire world and it's SENSATIONAL EXCKKKLUSIVES!! = much ado about nothing. Except they are all secretly havng wet pants because it was a very hot kiss between attractive masculine men as opposed to the usual mincing "safe" gay stereotypes. And like the poster above said, it's fine to show heterosexual adultry and "oops I made a mistake pregnancy to someone who's not my husband". I wonder how these parents "explain" that away.
Well played, Beeb! PS: these folks' kids - who will be watching teenage soaps like Hollyoaks in their own bedrooms - will already have witnessed several gay kisses between young men. And will probably know more than their ignornat, hysterical parents. These parents are just lazy,. They don't want to have to explain variety.
Posted by: EM | Oct 10, 2008 12:31:19 PM
In principle, a gay kiss is no more difficult for a child to understand than a heterosexual kiss. Problems arise when parents (and maybe other adults) have only been explaining romantic relationships to kids in heterosexual terms. But parents who have made this mistake and presented a false image of reality to their children can't expect the rest of the world to play along, just so their children won't get confused.
Posted by: borut | Oct 10, 2008 12:36:22 PM
OMG! Who's gonna save the children?!?!?!?
Posted by: Tweety | Oct 10, 2008 12:45:56 PM
EastEnders has done several gay storylines over the years and this is what the fuss is all about? What concerns me is why are parents letting their young children watch EastEnders in the first place? The show is not suitable for children! So if someone had trouble explaining to their seven-year-old son why two guys were snogging, whatever did they say to the same child about wife beater Trevor and his raping his own wife? I've been watching EastEnders for 20 years and that was by far the most graphic storyline.
Posted by: Tim | Oct 10, 2008 12:46:39 PM
"Please remember, the Lord ain't the only one with eyes." says the old lady... well, he's certainly giving a great big wink toward the gay community with this one! Nice to hear a clip like that is causing waves.
Posted by: Shane | Oct 10, 2008 1:17:25 PM
Yes, LOVE is Sooooooo OFFENSIVE !! Jeez !!
Posted by: Ty | Oct 10, 2008 3:49:18 PM
1. I loves me so wrinkly, pruney, salty Dot!
2. I'm glad to see some new hawtness on Eastenders.
3. Now bring back Grant for some 3some actions. Schwing!!
Posted by: Princess Superstar | Oct 10, 2008 4:50:24 PM
Shhhhh... just for readers of Towleroad I did a count up of actual complaints to far... just 45 to date. Far short of what the Daily Mail claims. It's more than usual but not a huge number.
My favourite follows;
"I'm not a homophobe but the sight of two men kissing made me sick to my stomach and I had to turn off"
Posted by: *BBC Insider* | Oct 10, 2008 5:30:05 PM
and I guess that the BBC viewer sees affection and love to be fundimendtly unchristian goals?
Posted by: richard s | Oct 10, 2008 5:49:29 PM
I'm glad BBC continues to push for the British to be open minded. This is a country that has legalized same-sex union we are talking about, but the people seem to be still ignorant about it.
But as usual, papers do like to sell more papers by making a kiss such a big deal when there are other issues to talk about. We shouldn't pay too much attention to this but just enjoy the kiss.
Posted by: Alfred | Oct 10, 2008 5:53:58 PM
Didn't Tony and Simon kiss when they were a couple, I could have sworn there was some action or at least a kiss back in the day. EE needs some spice beyond Ian being shocked to discover what Jane has been doing instead of going to the gym. I see everyone's favourite Walford bitch, Janine Butcher is back, sad to hear Aunt Pauline has cancer.
Posted by: Jocko | Oct 10, 2008 5:55:15 PM
How silly this "controversy" is. You can't even see their mouths.
Posted by: gay as life | Oct 11, 2008 12:36:39 AM
Doesn't EastEnders get about 10 million viewers? 45 complaints is not, by any stretch of the imagination, significant.
Posted by: Rory | Oct 11, 2008 11:50:39 AM
"EastEnders" is a show that features equal or more amounts of (99% heterosexual) bed-hopping as most American soaps. Anyone who complains that "kids might see this" does a LOT of explaining, I shouldn't wonder.
Posted by: Red Seven | Oct 11, 2008 2:53:32 PM
"In principle, a gay kiss is no more difficult for a child to understand than a heterosexual kiss. Problems arise when parents (and maybe other adults) have only been explaining romantic relationships to kids in heterosexual terms. But parents who have made this mistake and presented a false image of reality to their children can't expect the rest of the world to play along, just so their children won't get confused."
Borut NAILED it! Best freaking comment ever! Exactly what I would say, had I been just as clever with words. Please marry me Borut. ;)
Posted by: TheNiebur | Oct 11, 2008 8:39:29 PM
This show is called "Eastenders" and a lot of eastender Londoners watch it. I'm not surprised that someone got offended. It's like have a gay kiss on BET movie night.
Posted by: Caligula | Oct 12, 2008 2:13:20 AM
Pat, wrote: 'I had to explain to my seven-year-old son what was happening. He now thinks he is gay because he kisses his dad.'"
Well, why would it be any different with a kiss between a woman and a man. Would she have to explain to her son it's OK to kiss mommy as long as you don't shove your tongue in your mom's throat?
Please.... anyone that uses the pathetic and moronic argument that Pat uses is stupid, bigoted, dumb and absolutely homophobic. Assholes! I am sick and tired of pandering to people with no brain, so, Pat, here's a message: "Fuck you you moron!"
Posted by: CK | Oct 12, 2008 7:53:37 PM
Plus which there are so many gay men living in the real East End -- with the White Swan and all -- this plot does make sense.
Posted by: David B. | Oct 14, 2008 7:19:30 PM