Yahoo News Emmerdale star won't let her kids see Rhona rape scene
Emmerdale star Zoe Henry won't be letting her children watch tonight's dark scenes, which will see her character Rhona Goskirk suffer a brutal attack.
Rhona will face a horrifying ordeal in tonight's episode when her abusive partner Pierce Harris violently attacks and rapes her after they argue on their wedding night.
Viewers have seen Pierce cross the line with Rhona a number of times before, but the scenes will be some of the most disturbing and violent in the show's history.
However, Zoe has explained why it is essential that the soap pushes the boundaries to explore the issue of marital rape, but admits she won't be letting her young children watch the episode.
Speaking to The Mirror, Zoe said: "I'm the mother of a 12-year-old girl and in the next five years she'll be growing up and moving on. It's more relevant than ever for me now.
"My kids won't be watching the episode, because I'd find it a bit difficult. But I will probably sit down and talk her through it when I have some time.
"This is why soaps are relevant. We tell important stories about relevant things, often things like non-consensual sex, underage sex, teenage pregnancy – the soaps have covered them all."
Zoe also admitted that she was concerned when some fans questioned whether Pierce's previous abuse was rape, given that the characters were in a relationship.
She said: "With this, there really is no grey area – non-consensual sex is rape. It doesn't matter if you know that person or you don't know that person.
"In that earlier episode a lot of the audience thought Pierce crossed the line, but interestingly a lot of the audience thought he didn't cross it because they were in a relationship.
"Where do you even begin to debate that? It is really, really difficult. That's why this is hugely important."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.
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