"I really need to go."
The BBC’s EastEnders is one of the UK’s most popular soap operas, and one of its current stars is Aaliyah James.
Aaliyah plays Avani Nandra-Hart in the show. She is the feisty daughter of Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) and Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy).
With so much popularity, it is unsurprising that EastEnders fans wish to catch a glimpse of their favourite actors.
However, a video recently circulated on X, showing Aaliyah James being stopped by a TikTok user.
It seemed Aaliyah was on her way to work when the fan stopped her for a chat.
The young actress was clearly in a rush, but still interacted with the fan.
In the clip, a male voice told Aaliyah: “I know you’re in a bit of a rush, but I am following you on TikTok. Are you not following me back?”
Visibly puzzled, Aaliyah replied: “Uh, I don’t know. What’s your name on TikTok?”
The user answered: “Khalid. You need to follow me. I put a video of you on, and it got 70,000 views.”
Aaliyah did not respond clearly to this. Shortly afterwards, the man said:
“Your work is amazing, Avani. What’s that look for?”
Aaliyah said: “That look is for me not following you. Send me a message, and I’ll follow you.”
The man went on to say: “Your work is amazing. You need an Oscar or a BAFTA.”
Aaliyah then wrapped up the interaction and said: “Stop it, stop it. Look, I’m not going to lie. I really need to go.
“But it was lovely to meet you.”
this poor lady ? the eastenders team needs to step in cos it’s gotten weird pic.twitter.com/GWaVytpeUW
— ericeffiorg? (@ericeffiorg) July 28, 2025
The clip attracted negative comments from netizens who slammed the man for allegedly distressing Aaliyah James.
The account that shared the clip on X wrote: “This poor lady. The EastEnders team needs to step in because it’s gotten weird.”
One fan wrote: “This was scary to watch. She looks so uncomfortable.”
Another added: “This was hard to watch. Why do people do this?
“He also sounds like an older male, which makes it even more concerning.”
A third viewer said: “I’ve seen this guy on TikTok, and he’s very odd.
“I’ve met the cast myself, but never have I ever been like this with any of them.
“If they are in a rush, I don’t expect them to stop, but they always say hello.
“She looks so awkward, and I don’t blame her.”
Aaliyah James made her debut as Avani in EastEnders in October 2023.
Her storylines have since included forming a relationship with her father, being subjected to a humiliating strip search, and a friendship with Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman).
More recently, Avani found herself pregnant with Joel Marshall’s (Max Murray) child.
Initially, Avani planned to abort the baby, but later agreed to allow her grandmother, Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal), to raise it.
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