EastEnders' Ash clashes with Harvey over racism
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The following article contains themes of racism that some readers may find distressing.
EastEnders spoilers follow.
Ash Kaur has dealt first-hand with racism in new EastEnders scenes.
The BBC One soap aired an issue-based episode on Thursday (October 14) where the doctor faced multiple instances of racial tension as she tried going about her normal routine.
Related: 9 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
Ash was already stressed about her assessment when she was faced with outright racial prejudice as a patient refused to be treated by her because she wasn't white.
While Ash put on a brave face and asked nurse Sonia Fowler to take the patient's blood, she grappled with the horrible racist insult.
Ash could barely even process the pain from that experience before finding out she was being written up for a workplace violation for not reporting her badge was missing.
By the time Ash finished a miserable day at the hospital, she called a cab to take her back to the Square — and, by chance, neighbour Harvey Monroe was her driver!
Ash confided in Sonia that she was worried about running into Harvey because she'd been "a little bit sick" in his cab earlier in the week after a night out.
Harvey certainly remembered that night as well, immediately complaining to her about how she'd acted the last time he'd driven her.
Related: EastEnders' ratings struggles and shorter episodes addressed by BBC drama boss
But, then Harvey crossed a serious line when he told Ash: "I don't know why I expect anything different. It's always the same with you lot… You think you know it all. You got no manners."
When Harvey realised what he'd said, he tried to clarify that he was talking about "youngsters", but Ash understandably was sceptical.
"That's not what you meant. At least have the guts to say it," she insisted.
As the two continued their confrontation in the street, Ash told him: "I'll call you exactly what you are: a racist pig. I'll be sure to tell everyone around here what kind of man you really are."
The fallout from this shocking incident will continue in upcoming episodes.
EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage.
Readers can donate to besea.n (Britain's East and Southeast Asian Network), UK anti-discrimination group Stand Up to Racism, and End the Virus of Racism, which is committed to addressing racism against East and Southeast Asians.
Readers in the US can donate to Asian Americans Advancing Justice, AAPI Women Lead, and Stop AAPI Hate.
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