EastEnders fans have been left scratching their heads after Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) made a comment about Gray Atkins' (Toby-Alexander Smith) victims. The scene aired as part of the build-up to Gray's return to Walford.
Context of the Controversy
In recent episodes, Chelsea's son Jordan was rushed to hospital after being hit by a car driven by Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). Chelsea needs money for Jordan's medical fees and mentioned that Gray's nan Sheila has been sending cheques for years, which she hasn't cashed. In yesterday's episode, Chelsea argued with sister Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu) after Libby checked if Sheila's phone number still worked. Chelsea stated she would never accept help from anyone related to an evil man and reminded Libby about Gray's three victims, saying, 'Some were my friends, some still with family round here.'
Fan Reactions
This comment sparked confusion on social media, as many fans do not recall Chelsea having strong friendships with any of Gray's victims. One user wrote, 'some were my friends' aight boss. Another said, 'Am I the only one who doesn't remember Chelsea being friends with Chantelle, Tina or Kush?' A third fan asked, 'since when was she even friends with chantelle???' Some suggested Chelsea could have said Gray tried to kill her friend Whitney or tried to kill her instead.
Timeline of Events
Chantelle Atkins was killed by Gray on September 18, 2020. Chelsea returned to Walford on December 25, 2020. Three days later, Gray murdered Tina Carter. On April 19, 2021, Kush Kazemi became Gray's third victim. Chelsea and Kush likely knew each other, but their friendship was not highlighted on screen. Kush was previously in a relationship with Chelsea's mum Denise Fox (Diane Parish) while Chelsea lived away. With only a few months between Chelsea's return and Kush's death, it's possible they developed a bond off-screen, but not a deep one.
Gray's Return
Toby-Alexander Smith will reprise his role as Gray soon. The character is in prison for his crimes, so his comeback will be brief.
