EastEnders Children in Need sketch branded transphobic
After a record-breaking Children in Need 2017, the BBC may find itself in hot water over its EastEnders special sketch.
The all-star spectacular took its usual trip to Albert Square to help raise money for charity, but not everyone was impressed with the soap's contribution.
While it was full of all the usual fun and frolics of the night, one BBC employee was less than happy with the sketch's alleged transphobia.
[CN transphobia] Here's #ChildrenInNeed doing a transphobia "man in a dress" gag. Who could the bride be? The veil is lifted ... and it's Robbie. Vincent recoils, and turns to the camera, with a disapproving look.
I wish my employer would not do this. :-( pic.twitter.com/hko6TTk3ms- Rachel 'Tabloid Wet Dream' Evans (@rvedotrc) November 17, 2017
Professional software engineer Rachel Evans, who works on the BBC's iPlayer platform, explained her issues with the sketch.
The skit saw Richard Blackwood's Vincent Hubbard dressed as a groom, with the musical medley leading to him tying the knot.
However, as Vincent pulled back the veil, his bride was revealed to be none other than Dean Gaffney's Robbie Jackson.
Check out the behind-the-scenes video below.
Evans criticised the BBC for seemingly suggesting that trans people are undesirable.
Absolutely. If the message from #childreninneed2017 / #childreninneed is that trans people are worth less, then presumably our help and donations are not wanted.
I would swear at you again CIN, but actually I'd rather you just got with the 21st century and stopped the bigotry. https://t.co/hP3LSJXFqn- Rachel 'Tabloid Wet Dream' Evans (@rvedotrc) November 17, 2017
"I wish my employer would not do this. :-(" said Evans.
"The message from #childreninneed this evening is: if you're trans, you're horrible, you're undesirable. You are not worthy of love."
She added: "Trans kids, if you're watching #childreninneed and now feeling more hated, more scared... I'm sorry.