EastEnders Fans Confused As Bosses Seemingly Forget That Steven Beale Is Gay
EastEnders’ fans were left over the moon last Friday when Lauren Branning finally returned to Albert Square, with the big twist being that she’d brought black sheep Steven Beale back from New Zealand with her instead of his brother, and her boyfriend, Peter Beale.
Yesterday’s episode soon made it clear that the two were hiding a “big secret” and although most viewers guessed pretty quickly that Lauren and Steven were secretly in a relationship, many dismissed the idea when they remembered that Steven had rather dramatically come out as gay a few years back.
…Which is why they were so perplexed when the episode came to an end with the two enjoying a massive smooch in Dot Branning’s living room to the sound of those famous ‘doof doofs’.
For those who can’t quite remember, Steven has always been a little bit unhinged and he sent shockwaves across the square when he tried to kiss his Uncle Christian as a teenager, when Christian obviously rejected his advances and spoke to his nephew about being gay Steven denied it before accusing his uncle of trying to seduce him.
It didn’t take long for the truth - including Steven’s sexuality - to come out, with the character eventually being flown off to New Zealand to live with his biological father after kidnapping Ian, accidentally shooting Jane in the stomach and attempting to smother Pat Butcher.
Yeah, Steven has a lot of storylines under his belt already.
Still, viewers can’t quite get on board with the sudden change to his sexuality, with Steven being decidedly gay and not bisexual just a couple of years back, and many took to Twitter to rant about the massive plot hole:
But Steven’s gay? What’s he doing kissing Lauren? #Eastenders
— Kie (@KieranBxtch) May 31, 2016
WHAT HAPPENED TO STEVEN BEING GAY?! #eastenders
— Jason (@JasonZebras) May 30, 2016
Er…isn’t Steven gay? Is that a genetic thing with the Branning girls? #EastEnders
— Caroline Newell (@CarolineNewell1) May 30, 2016
What happened to Steven being gay #EastEnders
— Zoe Welch (@ZoeWelch1) May 30, 2016
Steven and Lauren ain’t together are they? Swear he were gay when he was last axed #EastEnders
— Daniel Fielding (@DanielFielding) May 30, 2016
Did I imagine Steven being gay, that defo happened right? #Eastenders
— Joshua Kekana (@JoshuaKekana) May 30, 2016
Did New Zealand un gay Steven? #EastEnders
— Emma Salters Austin (@emmajaustin) May 30, 2016
What makes all of this even more confusing is the fact that Steven appeared to flirt with Johnny Carter at the Queen Vic, so what’s the deal?
Has Steven since realised that he is bisexual? Or is he secretly gay and leading Lauren on, putting her in a remarkably similar situation to her sister Abi Branning and her relationship with Ben Mitchell…
Either way, we’re sure that there are going to be fireworks in Albert Square this summer.