Disgusted Corrie fans are demanding action from soap bosses after villain Corey Brent got away with the murder of Seb Franklin in shock scenes on Friday night.
Some TV viewers have even threatened to turn off and boycott the soap after the verdict saw Corey literally get away with murder while Keely Neelan was found guilty in the dramatic double bill.
Horrified fans took to Twitter after the soap aired to share their anger to Coronation Street bosses about the verdict - which they believe is sending the "wrong message" on hate crime.
READ MORE : How Corrie's Sally Carman fought back from Covid to film dramatic scenes
Soap bosses says there is still much more to come on the storyline - which was inspired by the real-life tragedy of Sophie Lancaster who died after a hate attack back in 2007.
The soap worked closely with the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, launched by Sophie's mum Sylvia to challenge prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures, with the intention of encouraging more people to come forward to report hate crime.
But after Friday night's soap verdict, some fans were saying the verdict was sending the "wrong message".
One said: "Sorry but this is not on. Hate crime is rarely reported for fear if it not being taken seriously and now you go and get him off scot free? It's too much stress for those who have experienced it for real. Poor form #Corrie "
Another said: "What’s wrong with soaps rightly showing domestic abuse and hate crime then letting people get away with it? Defeats the whole purpose of doing the storylines and people speaking up."
A third said: "Have to admit I’m raging! What a wasted opportunity for #corrie to bring such an important storyline to justice for the sake of dragging out the drama. Really can’t be arsed watching now."
A fourth posted an emotional tweet saying: "You have just insulted every actor that was involved in that tragic storyline. Every single person in real-life that has had to go through trauma like that. You have taken a tragedy and turned it into a farce."
A fifth said simply: "Everyone boycott this show until the outcome is changed."
Others believe fans need to stick with the soap as they feel sure that Corey will get his comeuppance in the end.
Soap fans were shown in flashback scenes for the first time at the end of August what had really happened to Seb when he was repeatedly kicked and left for dead by Corey, after Kelly and their pals had picked on Seb's goth girlfriend Nina for her alternative style.
And actress Sally Carman, who plays Seb's devastated mum Abi Franklin, has tonight revealed that Abi will seek her revenge on Corey in dramatic scenes that will air during a special October "super soap week".
One Corrie fan wrote: "Kelly went down but there's bound to b a twist to this storyline & Corey will get his just desserts!"
Another said: "I'm trying not to be too hasty.
"I'm hoping there's a twist of fate and it's discovered that the jury had been tainted by Stefan or Stefan has a change of heart. #corrie Right...RIGHT?"
To get the latest email updates from the Manchester Evening News, click here.
