EastEnders fans praise Zack Hudson announcing his HIV diagnosis

EastEnders viewers praised Zack Hudson for telling Whitney Dean that he was HIV positive during Tuesday’s episode.

Zack, played by James Farrar, has been fighting to let his ex know about his status because he feared how she would react.

The couple were devastated by the death of their little girl earlier this month, after doctors revealed she had Edwards syndrome.

They’re not together anymore, but Zack finally decided to tell Whitney (Shona McGarty) about his diagnosis.

As Whitney struggled to instantly accept the news from Zack, viewers took to Twitter to praise his handling of the situation, with many insisting that Whitney could have handled things differently.

Fearful: Zack has been fighting to let his ex know about his status because he feared how he would react (Shona McGarty portrayed as Whitney)

One person wrote: “I hope Whitney accepts Zack’s HIV diagnosis and helps him get over it. These days with treatment his levels become undetectable and cannot be transmitted.”

Another viewer tweeted: ‘Proud of Zack for telling Whitney about HIV! I get that she was hurt because he never told her, but I didn’t like the way Whitney reacted.

Someone else posted: ‘So glad Zack finally told Whitney the truth. I wish he didn’t take it so badly. I think he didn’t tell her earlier because he’s embarrassed how he got it, and he was being like his own enemy! He will feel down now. HIV made no difference to the baby!’

“Zack finally being honest with Whitney about HIV,” another viewer wrote along with a smiley face emoji.

Unimpressed by Whitney’s reaction, one person wrote: “Whitney hasn’t considered Zack’s feelings on this thing about having HIV.”

While someone else posted: “Whitney needs to think about someone else for a change and think about what Zack had to deal with finding out he had HIV.” I understand that she’s upset that he lied, but calling him a coward is disgusting.

Someone else wrote: ‘I just caught up with #EastEnders and I’m sorry but Whitney was HORRIBLE AND SELFISH in the scene where Zack tells her she’s HIV+! It’s not about YOU, Whitney! Also, that dialogue about her asking if Zack was with/infected from a man… brilliant way to break the EE stigma!’

Whitney was upset that Zack hadn’t told her about his HIV status and asked if it had affected her late baby’s health.

Opinion: As Whitney struggled to come to terms with the news from Zack, viewers took to Twitter to praise his handling of the situation, with many insisting that Whitney could have handled things differently.

When he insisted that this had not been the case and the doctors confirmed it, she was angry that he had spoken behind their backs without telling her.

Earlier in the episode, Zack was seen meeting with a doctor who told him that once his medication had brought his viral load to an undetectable level, he would not be able to transmit HIV.

She was advised to use protection and told that any couple could consider taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that can reduce the chance of getting HIV through sex or injection drug use when taken according to what is prescribed

The news delighted Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), who had gone on the date with him because he thought it meant he and Whitney could be together.

But when Zack told Whitney his diagnosis, she was shocked and asked him to leave her house.

Conversation: They’re not together anymore, but Zack finally decided to tell Whitney about his diagnosis.

Zack was seen starting his HIV medication in January while consumed with guilt for keeping Whitney in the dark about his condition.

He has been overwhelmed with shame over his HIV diagnosis and kept it to himself at first, only telling part of his problems to his sister Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Call THT Direct on 0808 802 1221 for HIV support or email info@tht.org.uk