EastEnders has come under fire – again – for ‘casual racism’ aimed at Masood Ahmed.
In last night’s episode, Mick called Masood for advice on how to cook a curry for Linda.
Furious viewers took to social media to share their horror and disgust as Mick turned to Mas for ‘a few tips’ – and made some ill-judged comments.
“Why are you asking me?” Mas said (slightly unfairly, we must admit, given he used to run the Argee Bhajee and Masala Masood) .
“Why am I asking you? You’re the main man. Anything Indian…” Mick said.
“I’m from Pakistan,” Masood pointed out.
“They don’t have chicken korma in Pakistan?” asked Mick.
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“You won’t find a chicken korma in the whole of South East Asia, mate,” Mas said.
But Mick wasn’t giving up.
“What is it like the 11th commandment, is it?” he joked. “Thou shalt not eat chicken korma?”
Unimpressed, Mas informed Mick that chicken korma is a British dish, then he told him to “open a jar” and hung up.
The fans were shocked by the comments.
“In all Masood’s years he’s never had as many jokey references to his race and religion as he has recently,” one viewer pointed out.
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“The casual racism creeping into #EastEnders is really awful,” said another.
Other fans wondered if this was all leading somewhere.
“Is it part of a plotline or are you throwing it in to make some kind point?” asked one viewer.
“Is EastEnders doing a racism storyline?” asked another.
Others wondered if it was a class thing, with one fan saying: “Sorry to break it to you but casual racism is no longer typical of any class in 2018.”
It’s not the first time recently the show has been criticised for racist comments.
Karen Taylor told launderette owner Mr Papadopoulos to “go back to where he came from”.
She also exchanged some questionable ‘banter’ with Masood when they were in competition for the job at the launderette.
“Since when did racism become funny?” one fan complained at the time. “No need for it.”
EastEnders continues tomorrow night at 7.30pm on BBC One