EastEnders horror as Joel Marshall violently attacks again – and leaves victim for dead

EASTENDERS has aired a horrifying turn in the toxic masculinity storyline as Joel Marshall violently attacked stepmother Vicki Fowler and left her for dead.

The incel – who is played by actor Max Murray in the BBC soap – sunk to new low’s in today’s special episode.

He was revealed to have shown an extreme adult video in school after hacking into the teacher’s laptop.

Joel went on to attack Amy Mitchell after she confronted him about leering at her throughout his sordid actions.

Amy ran home to tell her dad what had happened and it launched a row as Jack, Denise and Priya confronted Joel’s dad Ross about what his son had done.

As usual Ross defended his son, before dragging him home and confronting him.

But as Joel wound him up, Vicki sent Ross out before he did something he would regret – though she would later come to regret that.

Later Vicki thought she could get through to Joel and tried talking to him.

Matching him and counteracting all his misogynistic points, Vicki tore into Joel.

“You know what you can take your toxic masculinity and go and live with your mum,” Vicki said.

She kept pushing him as he raged about hating women like Vicki and his teacher.

“It is all a power trip and you know it,” she added.

“You get off in making women feel small. That’s why you told me I needed a good slap. That’s not wrong? That’s not disgusting?”

She added: “Do you know how pathetic that is? How weak that makes you? 

“You are just a scared little boy who throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get his own way and it doesn’t matter what you hear on your stupid little videos because my eyes are open and I can see the truth. 

“You will never be a real man because you don’t even know what it means.  You’re a pathetic little beta male, a silly little twerp. 

“And you should feel embarrassed, you should feel humiliated because I am so much stronger than you.”

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

Joel then punched her to the floor and as Vicki tried to get up, Joel mocked her and then filmed her struggle as he carried on beating her.

The thug then left the house, leaving Vicki lifeless and bloodied on the floor. But is she dead? And will Joel get away with what he’s done?