EastEnders delivered yet another jaw-dropping moment this week when Jack Hudson and Vicki Fowler unexpectedly locked lips, sending shockwaves through Albert Square and causing an online meltdown among viewers. The kiss happened shortly after Zack stepped in to protect Vicki following her frantic attack on Damon, smoothing the situation over so she wouldn’t face any serious consequences (Digital Spy, 2025).

Back at home, Vicki finally let her guard down and opened up about her trauma in the aftermath of Joel’s violent attack—an incident that has left her deeply shaken and searching for emotional stability. As Zack listened compassionately to her fears, anxieties and lingering distress, their emotional connection shifted into something far more charged, and a subtle moment of comfort quickly evolved into flirtation.

Their chemistry escalated as they moved into the hallway, and to the shock of viewers, Zack and Vicki shared a passionate kiss that immediately raised eyebrows across Walford.

Fans Plead With EastEnders: “Please Stop This Zack and Vicki Storyline!”

Just as the kiss intensified, Kathy walked in and caught them in the act, leaving all three stunned and scrambling for excuses. Zack and Vicki brushed it off as a moment of weakness—“a moment of madness”—but the damage was already done. And Kathy wasn’t the only one horrified.

Viewers on X (formerly Twitter) wasted no time expressing their discomfort, with many calling for the storyline to end immediately.

“Vicki and Zack? Ugh please stop!” one fan posted.

Another wrote: “Wrap up this Vicki and Zack nonsense, we don’t want it.”

A third viewer declared: “Vicki and Zack give me the ick. Sharon is their sister — it’s weird!”

Even more chimed in, with another fan adding: “This Vicki and Zack stuff needs to stop and we can all pretend today didn’t happen.”

The overwhelmingly negative reaction has sparked lively debate among long-time watchers, with some arguing that the romance feels forced, inappropriate or simply unnecessary given the characters’ family ties and emotional circumstances (The Mirror, 2025). Many believe the storyline risks causing unnecessary drama, especially with Sharon certain to explode when she learns what happened.

Are Zack and Vicki Actually Related?

Despite the visceral reaction from fans, the storyline does not technically cross any taboo lines. Zack and Vicki are not related by blood, even though the situation is understandably awkward.

Vicki Fowler is Sharon’s adoptive sister through Den Watts, who is Vicki’s biological father. Sharon raised Vicki as family during their years together at the Queen Vic. Zack Hudson, on the other hand, is Sharon’s biological half-brother through her father Gavin (BBC, 2024).

This makes Vicki and Zack siblings only through Sharon, not through each other. While Sharon may strongly disapprove—and fans are already horrified—the romance itself isn’t incestuous and doesn’t break any actual family ties. But, as many viewers have pointed out online: just because they can doesn’t necessarily mean they should.

Should Zack and Vicki Become a Real Couple?

With EastEnders writers leaning heavily into emotional turmoil this season, it’s no surprise they’re pushing boundaries and pairing characters who test viewer expectations. Some fans argue that the kiss could be an interesting exploration of trauma bonding, given Vicki’s vulnerable state after Joel’s attack (Radio Times, 2025). Others feel the show is manufacturing drama rather than building meaningful arcs.

What happens next remains unclear—whether this moment will spiral into a full romance, or whether Zack and Vicki will immediately regret crossing the line. But one thing is certain: Sharon will not take the news well, and the fallout could become a defining storyline of 2025.

Where do you stand on Zack and Vicki’s potential romance? Should EastEnders explore it further—or shut it down immediately?