S4 E21 “Fallacy”

I’ve seen a lot of posts talking about this episode and based on the comments, I already know what I’m about to say isn’t going to sit well with a lot of people.

I didn’t see anyone defending Eddie or speaking on his behalf. I saw people judging the way he reacted when he found out about Cheryl. To me, that reaction is valid. I see what Cheryl did to him as sexual assault. The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. I 100% believe Cheryl not disclosing the fact they’re trans to Eddie is wrong. When it comes to men, one thing they don’t play about is their sexuality. Being tricked into being with someone that isn’t who you think they are isn’t only humiliating but a huge betrayal. Cheryl put Eddie in a situation where had he known the truth, he wouldn’t have consented to. To me that’s sexual assault. Had Eddie known Cheryl was trans, he wouldn’t have entertained anything, and you could tell that from his reaction. I’m not saying trans people should scream to the whole world that they’re trans, but I think the person who you’re planning on being intimate/in a relationship with has the RIGHT to know, that way they can make a true decision whether or not to be with you. But hiding your identity and basically tricking the man to be with you without them knowing you were born male is very wrong, and believe it or not, that’s how a lot of them end up dying. It starts to become a safety issue for yourself if that information isn’t disclosed early on. Cuz one day, you’re going to play that game with the wrong guy who doesnt care about anything and end your life. I’m also speaking from a position where I see all over the internet trans people thinking it’s funny to not tell the guys they’re with that they are transgendered. They actually believe it’s none of their business. Which baffles me cuz what do you mean it’s non of their business, they’re being intimate with you. Most men feel betrayed by that because that’s a huge piece of information you’re keeping from them. It’s not a little secret, it’s literally a deciding factor to them wanting to be with you or not. And by not being truthful, you take that choice away from them. Meaning, the decision they make prior to learning the truth isn’t actual consent.

And because of withholding the truth, that lead to all the tragedies that happened in the show.

I also don’t understand the people who blamed Olivia and Eliotte when the show made it clear that they didn’t know. They thought Eddie knew. It sucks that they ended up doing the same job Cheryl should have done from the beginning. Why are people upset at them for that? You think it’s not okay that they pre-disclosed Cheryl’s identity, but see nothing wrong with the fact that Cheryl basically lied to Eddie for however long their relationship was about a huge secret like that? Eddie deserved the right to know. And Cheryl basically saying they were going to tell Eddie after the operation is even more wrong. You’re telling me you were going to wait until y’all had sex to basically tell the man the truth.

Like I said, due to the comments about this episode I’ve seen, I already know I’m going to be an unpopular opinion, but I’m just writing this in case for anyone who haven’t considered the pov I presented. And I say everything with love and hope my message came off the way I intended it to.