‘It was a tough watch’: Coronation Street fans horrified as unconscious Amy is raped by Aaron in devastating scenes as viewers praise actors for highlighting important issue
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Coronation Street fans were horrified when an unconscious Amy Barlow was raped by her housemate Aaron Sandford in devastating scenes on Friday.
The soap opera addressed the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline in which Amy passed out after having too much to drink.
Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney and James Craven for highlighting such an important issue, but admitted it was a “tough watch”.
During the episode, Amy and Aaron drunkenly kiss as they return to their shared flat, after he has a fight with his girlfriend Summer and despite her rebuffs, he makes the decision for her that they will have sex.
As they head to the bedroom, Amy walks away from him drunk and unaware of what is happening, but Aaron continues to undress her.
Tough: Coronation Street fans were horrified when an unconscious Amy Barlow was raped by her housemate Aaron Sandford in devastating scenes on Friday
Major Issue: The soap opera addressed the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline in which Amy passed out after having too much to drink.
Sharing their thoughts on Twitter, fans of the show said: “Amy and Aaron’s story on the run has made me very uncomfortable, however it is a very important topic to highlight.” Tonight’s episode was done very well.
Another added: “I’ve seen people complaining about the new consent story that started on tonight’s #corrie with Amy and Aaron.”
“It’s a very important story that needs to be highlighted, I can’t wait for the next few weeks episodes, I’m going to get some great stuff from @ElleJMulvaney.”
A third person wrote: “I don’t like where this is going, he seems too into Amy.”
“As soon as Amy passed out or said she was feeling sick, then Aaron should have stopped and gotten Amy some water and left her alone.”
The story will address issues surrounding non-consensual sex as both teens wrestle with the consequences of their night together.
As Amy slowly begins to recall the details of the night, she realizes that she did not consent to the sex and was raped.
But Aaron repeatedly insists that they both consented to the sex, and tells Amy that she did nothing wrong.
Thoughts: Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney and James Craven for highlighting such an important issue, but admitted it was a “tough watch.”
Awareness: The story will address issues surrounding non-consensual sex as both teens wrestle with the consequences of their night together.
As Amy struggles with her emotions and realizes that she couldn’t consent to sex and was raped, Aaron tries to convince her that they both wanted it to happen and that he didn’t do anything wrong.
With the participation of family and friends and then the police, viewers will see the different reactions and understandings of the non-consensual sexual activity as both teenagers wrestle with what happened that night.
The story is expected to open conversations among family and friends about the issues surrounding sexual activity among young people, including consent, awareness, respect and education.
The Coronation Street researchers have worked alongside The Schools Consent Project, a charity established in early 2015 that sends legally trained volunteers to schools to deliver workshops on the legal definition of sexual consent.