EastEnders has sparked concern from viewers and an animal charity after an episode aired showing a character buying a pet rabbit.
Scenes which aired on the long running BBC soap earlier this month showed Isaac Baptiste, played by Stevie Basaula, surprising Martin Fowler and wife Ruby, played by James Bye and Louisa Lytton, with a rabbit.
The bunny was intended as a gift for the couple’s son, Arthur – however the other characters are shocked by the surprise.
The Sun reports that over 200 viewers complained about the scenes, with some fearing animals shouldn’t be given to people who have not asked for them.
In the scenes, which aired on June 8, Isaac, who is battling with schizophrenia after he stopped taking his medication, said: "I read this thing online ages ago, that animals as pets and that help kids deal with grief.
"It gives them something to take ownership of and gives them some control back."
While his girlfriend Lola Pearce, played by Danielle Harold, told him: "Babe, you can't just buy other people's kids a rabbit."
The Rabbit and Welfare Association Fund took to Facebook to complain about the scenes.
They wrote: "We are getting complaints about the EastEnders storyline featuring a rabbit.
"This is from one of them which sums it up perfectly and we can't put it any better ourselves."
The complaint read: "I watched EastEnders in dismay last night. For no particular reason, one of the characters who is a teacher bought a single rabbit as a surprise pet for a child who had not even expressed an interest in getting a rabbit.
"Are we happy with this messaging the BBC is now sharing with millions of viewers? Surely all the work of the RWAF is in vain if the BBC is sharing exactly the opposite welfare message but with much greater public access."
While one viewer tweeted when the episode aired: “#EastEnders not keen on the cruelty of the rabbit situation...#encouragingkidstogetrabbbits #toomamyneglectedrabbits #verycomplex15yearcommitment #notgood."
Mirror has contacted a BBC spokesperson for comment.
In April, EastEnders defended itself from complaints after some viewers took issue that the show included a Covid-19 vaccine storyline.
Over 100 viewers complained when a scene showed Patrick Trueman, Suki Panesar and Karen Taylor – played by played by Rudolph Walker, Balvinder Sopal and Lorraine Stanley – discussing the vaccine.
The scene showed Suki and Karen clash over the risks of vaccines with Suki confronting Karen saying: "don’t tell me you’re one of them anti-vaxxers?"
She added: “Scientists have worked so hard on this, but you reckon you know better? How’s that PHD working out for you Karen?”
Viewers were divided at the time, with one tweeting: “OMG now Eastenders is pushing vaccines...ffs can we get a break from the endless Covid talk.”
The BBC said in a statement at the time: “EastEnders, whilst a fictional drama, has a long tradition of reflecting real life and this exchange aimed to reflect the conversations that some people in Britain are having.”
