The BBC has robustly defended itself against a barrage of complaints over a 'disturbing' scene in its new drama The Jetty.
Launching on BBC One in July, the series wrapped up at the month's end. The four-part thriller, starring Jenna Coleman as the astute Detective Ember Manning, had audiences hooked from the start.
Yet, a particular sequence in The Jetty's opening episode provoked some viewers to consider switching off due to its distressing nature. The BBC has now addressed the numerous grievances about the scene, stating it was "intended to be shocking" while providing context for the narrative.
In the contentious scene, Amy introduces a new acquaintance to her home. She confides in her friend about her family's financial woes and their drastic plan to euthanise their horse, Kingpin, to collect insurance money.
The scene escalates as Amy is depicted briefly stimulating the horse manually before exiting the stable. This graphic portrayal sparked outrage among viewers, prompting a wave of complaints, reports the Mirror.
Social media was abuzz as the episode premiered in early July, with one viewer commenting: "That scene with the horse was just gross #TheJetty," while another questioned the necessity of such content. "Turned my stomach," decried another viewer. "I'm ready for turning off. No likeable characters."
The BBC defended their controversial new drama in a statement on July 25, saying: "The Jetty is a post-watershed, detective thriller which also explores power imbalances and troubling behaviour in sexual relationships. Amy is a complex character who experiences abusive behaviour but also behaves in an abusive way herself. The scene is intended to be shocking and establishes how distorted Amy's own sexual boundaries have become and how transgressive her behaviour is. The act is implied, and not shown on screen."
They further clarified their stance on sensitive content: "We always aim to make sure that any such scenes are never gratuitous and are filmed and edited in such a way as not to exceed viewer expectations. Information is provided to viewers to make them aware of such content where appropriate."
Despite the controversy surrounding one particular scene, "The Jetty" has captivated audiences across the nation. The gripping series follows Detective Manning as she delves into a mysterious fire at a holiday home in a picturesque Lancashire town, which may be linked to a cold case of a missing person.
