Coronation Street aired an episode tonight that featured distressing scenes.
As fans tuned into the ITV soap this evening, the episode showed boyfriend and girlfriend, Seb Franklin and Nina Lucas, getting attacked by Corey Brent and his friends.
The first episode in tonight's double bill, which started at 7.30pm, showed Seb (played by Harry Visinoni) being repeatedly kicked on the floor and Nina, played by Mollie Gallagher, getting chased.
The pair were attacked because Nina is a goth and the bullies who targeted them called Nina a 'freak'.
It is reported that Coronation Street writers were advised on how to tackle the sensitive story line by Sylvia Lancaster OBE, whose daughter was murdered for being a goth in August 2007.
Sylvia, who has set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, was asked by bosses to help with the hate crime storyline and has worked behind the scenes to help develop the character of Nina.
Some viewers have said the scenes made them feel 'sick' and felt they shouldn't have been aired before the 9pm watershed.
@EliseMcC2019 posted: "Too violent for this time of night. I feel sick #corrie #coronationstreet."
@Maxamoochie said: "Not a good storyline Corrie, so upsetting and heartbreaking. Too early to show that level of violence and when you’ve actually witnessed violence at that level it’s really not good."
But many people have took to Twitter to praise Coronation Street for airing the storyline, as it helped raise awareness of these kinds of crimes.
Some viewers even said the story line reflected their own experiences.
@bbettiekaren said: "Being part of the alternative community this story on #Corrie is hitting me so hard.
"I’ve never gone through that... just the odd comment that I shook off but what happened to Sophie and Rob was horrific and I cannot imagine going through that because you were brave enough to be different from “the norm” and be yourself.
"I’m glad Corrie are bringing light this heartbreaking story too!"
Another Twitter user, @Hed_F1 commented: "Thank you for this storyline. I hope more people can see we are still humans who deserve respect.
"Never give into the abuse. Be who you feel comfortable being. Sophie Lancaster would be proud of the awareness you are raising about us."
@jameswarrender added: "Violent attackers don’t wait until after the watershed. I was attacked a few years ago and left fearing for my life. I would rather we would all be aware of such things rather than start a moan about real life events being shown before 9pm."
@mule_eggy said: "This s*** happens far too often. People saying this is too much for a soap at 19.30 should walk in the shoes of the kids this happens to.
"There is no watershed for them when they are being attacked/bullied walking home from school #coronationstreet."
@NatalieDrury2 commented: "Reminder that this happens to many people and it does not make it right just because you are different."
While @emmab24601 tweeted: "A very difficult episode to watch tonight but the reality is that sadly these events happen every single day."
