EastEnders star has a message for fans ‘disgusted’ by gay kiss
EastEnders actor Harry Reid has responded to fans who tweeted their disgust after his character locked lips with another man.
Reid, who is the latest actor to play teen murderer Ben Mitchell, shared an on-screen kiss with newcomer Jonny Labey (Paul Coker) during an episode this week.
The pair flirted extensively and later shared a passionate kiss – despite Ben still dating Abi Branning.
A number of Twitter users said they were “disgusted” with the pre-watershed kiss, claiming it was “out of order” and “disgusting”.
Responding to the tweets, Reid shared a picture on Instagram of infamous gangster Ronnie Kray, who was openly bisexual.
He wrote: “It’s upsetting to read the negative tweets about the gay kiss in last night’s episode of @bbceastenders, I only want to ask one question.
“Would you of called Ronnie Kray disgusting? #whatwouldronniesay”
He added: “Note: I’m not biting, it just needed pointing out;)”
Mitchell was previously at the heart of a love triangle with Sam Strike’s character Johnny Carter and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald).
Sam Strike quit the soap earlier this year – claiming: “I didn’t really feel like at the time my character was necessarily needed in EastEnders.”
Reid previously explained of his character’s sexuality: “Ben is a conniving bloke.
“He will come across as though he wants to change, but at the same time as he’s with Abi, he is very interested in Johnny.
“I think he’d quite like a secret gay life in which he can sleep with men, but on the outside, he is this straight guy who is with his girl.
“It’s a ‘better image’ for the Mitchells – that’s all it is. If he was a Beale, it probably wouldn’t be a problem, but because it is the Mitchell family, Ben thinks he needs that image of him with a woman by his side – whereas in the background he can do what he wants.”
“I think it’s good that they have incorporated this into the script as it’s something that needs to be covered.”
The soap is also set to introduce its first transgender character.
