Emmerdale viewers were shocked to find out Matty Barton had been brutally attacked in prison off-screen.
The fan favourite portrayed by Ash Palmisciano has been embroiled in a devastating prison storyline after he was wrongly accused of stabbing Samson Dingle (portrayed by Sam Hall) at the Hide – the work of the teen’s new transphobic pal, Josh.
During Tuesday’s trip to the Yorkshire Dales, aired on July 9, 2024, Matty struggled behind bars as he came face-to-face with Robbo, an inmate who attacked him with a wave of transphobic hate after finding out about his gender identity through Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson).
Things went from bad to worse when Matty’s mother Moira (Natalie J Robb) received a call about him and she was horrified to learn her son had been beaten behind bars.
Matty’s cellmate Les was revealed to have attacked him in a huge prison set up (
ITV)
Matty was found in hospital with a few broken ribs and a broken eye socket as Moira and Amy tended to him in tears. Meanwhile, viewers of the Yorkshire-based program were puzzled when they realised they hadn’t caught a single glimpse of the assault.
“7.30pm so we don’t get to see the punch up”, one viewer commented on X, otherwise known as Twitter while another added: ““Matty’s been rushed to hospital” We haven’t seen anything?!” A third fan chimed in: “Not seeing Matty being beaten is a blessing. I really didn’t want to see it.”
But as the episode drew to a close and Matty received a visit from inmate Les, who tried his best to protect him in prison before he was confirmed for release, viewers learned there was more to the situation than meets the eye.
Matty spoke to Les, letting him know that his hard work had been all for nothing – confirmation that the attack had actually been a set up, which the pair came up with in an attempt to get Matty away from danger.
Viewers of the long-running show had more thoughts about the storyline, although a few of them still had their doubts. “I quite like Matty’s cell mate. I was quite worried he was going to be an a******* and would give him a hard time but he seems to always be looking out for him”, one of them jumped in.
Another TV fan took to the social media platform as they admitted to being sceptical: “Just can’t really see Matty asking Les to hurt him.” What is really going on with Matty and will he ever find a reprieve in prison?
After the shocking revelation of Matty’s brutal attack in prison, fans of Emmerdale were left reeling. The beloved character, played by Ash Palmisciano, faced a wave of transphobic hate from fellow inmates, leading to a devastating assault that left him hospitalized. The news of Matty’s injuries sent shockwaves through the Yorkshire Dales, especially to his mother Moira and friend Amy.
Viewers were left puzzled by the decision to keep the actual assault off-screen, with many taking to social media to express their surprise and disappointment. Despite not witnessing the attack, the aftermath provided a twist in the storyline that left fans intrigued.
As Matty’s cellmate Les was revealed to be involved in the attack setup, questions arose about the true intentions behind the incident. Was it all a ploy to protect Matty from further harm, or is there more complexity to the situation than meets the eye?
With speculations and doubts circulating among fans, the future of Matty’s prison ordeal remains uncertain. Will he ever find safety and solace behind bars, or are more challenges and dangers lurking in the shadows?
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Source: CNN