‘It was a tough watch’: Coronation Street fans horrified as unconscious Amy is raped by Aaron in devastating scenes while viewers praise actors for highlighting important topic
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Coronation Street fans were horrified when unconscious Amy Barlow was raped by by her flatmate Aaron Sandford in devastating scenes on Friday.
The soap tackled the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline which saw Amy pass out after having too much to drink.
Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney and James Craven for highlighting such an important topic but admitted it was a ‘tough watch.’
During the episode, drunk Amy and Aaron kiss while back at the flat they share, after he has a row with his girlfriend Summer, and despite her rejections, he makes the decision for her that they will have sex.
As they head into the bedroom, Amy rolls away from him intoxicated and unaware of what is happening, but Aaron continues to undress her.
Tough: Coronation Street fans were horrified when unconscious Amy Barlow was raped by by her flatmate Aaron Sandford in devastating scenes on Friday
Important topic: The soap tackled the issue of non-consensual sex in the hard-hitting storyline which saw Amy pass out after having too much to drink
Sharing their thoughts on Twitter, fans of the show said: ‘The Amy & Aaron story in corrie has made me feel so uncomfortable however it’s such an important topic to highlight. Tonights ep was done so well.’
Another added: ‘I have seen people moaning about the new consent storyline that kicked off in tonight’s #corrie with Amy and Aaron.
‘It’s a very important storyline that needs highlighting, I can’t wait for next weeks episodes, going to get great stuff from @ElleJMulvaney.’
A third person penned: ‘I’m not liking where this is heading he seems too keen on Amy.’
‘As soon as Amy passed out or said she felt sick, then Aaron should have stopped and got Amy some water and left her alone.’
The storyline will tackle the issues surrounded non-consensual sex as both teens struggle with the fallout of their night together.
As Amy slowly begins to remember details from the night, she realises that she didn’t consent to the sex, and was raped.
But Aaron repeatedly insists that they both consented to the sex, and tells Amy that he did nothing wrong.
Thoughts: Viewers of the ITV show praised actors Elle Mulvaney and James Craven for highlighting such an important topic but admitted it was a ‘tough watch’
Awareness: The storyline will tackle the issues surrounded non-consensual sex as both teens struggle with the fallout of their night together
As Amy struggles with her emotions, coming to the realisation that she wasn’t able to consent to sex and was raped, Aaron tries to convince her that they both wanted it to happen and he did nothing wrong.
With family and friends and then the police becoming involved, viewers will see the different reactions and understandings of non consensual sexual activity as both teens battle with what happened that night.
It is hoped the storyline will open up conversations between families and friends about the issues surrounding sexual activity amongst young people, including consent, awareness, respect and education.
Coronation Street researchers have worked alongside The Schools Consent Project, a charity established in early 2015 which sends legally trained volunteers into schools to deliver workshops on the legal definition of sexual consent.
