Emmerdale fans were left reeling after a recent storyline from the Yorkshire Dales-based soap featured blackmail and violence toward beloved character Vinny
Emmerdale’s “disgusting” Vinny storyline has sparked serious backlash among ITV viewers.
One viewer has lodged a formal complaint with Ofcom following a recent episode of the Yorkshire-based soap. In the controversial episode Vinny Dingle, portrayed by Bradley Johnson, told a member of an online support group named Mike that he has been grappling with his sexuality and had even previously tried to kiss a male friend.
Currently, Vinny is engaged to Gabby Thomas. Mike chose to exploit Vinny’s vulnerability and resorted to blackmail before launching a physical attack on him at his home. The storyline sparked outrage and one furious viewer took to X/Twitter to complain.
They expressed their disappointment in the plotline and wrote: “I’ve fired off a complaint to Ofcom – disgusted with how, what used to be a family show, has morphed into something that seems to be trying to to show as much violence and depravity as it can squeeze into each programme. 7.30pm is far too early to show this sort of muck.”
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Someone else criticised the storyline, tweeting: “This storyline is disgusting, Vinny reaches out to a support group and gets a homophobe and blackmailer, what sort of message is that sending to anyone questioning their own sexuality and wanting to seek out help,” reports Leeds Live.
Another typed: “I knew there was something fishy about that bloke when Vinny first met him, but I wish Emmerdale hadn’t got as dark as this. I much prefer the old.”
Others expressed sympathy for the character and said they “knew Mike was dodgy,” and that there was “no need for such violence”. Another unimpressed ITV viewer stated: “Appalling, disgusting storyline. Why don’t you just get Tarantino or Guy Ritchie to direct. Vinny was a lovely character.”
Another tweet defended Emmerdale writers: “You know that if people don’t like what they’re watching, then turn your tv over, miss the episode. These things happen in real life, pity it was Vinny getting pulverised, it should have been John, just saying. Great camaraderie with Manpreet and Ruby.”
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