The latest Game of Thrones episode, The Last of the Starks, had some contentious issues to say the least.

Firstly, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) ‘virgin-shamed’ Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) before she slept with Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). We also saw the murder of Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel), which left just one main character of colour in the show – Greyworm (Jacob Basil Anderson).

Now, a conversation between Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and The Hound (Rory McCann) has prompted actor Jessica Chastain to call out the show for using rape as a “tool” in storylines.

The scene in question started with Sansa taking a seat next to the Hound at Winterfell, reflecting on the rape and abuse she endured at the hands of Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson). “None of it would have happened if you had left King’s Landing with me,” said the Hound. “No Littlefinger, no Ramsay, none of it.” Sansa responded: “Without Littlefinger, Ramsay and the rest, I would have stayed a little bird all my life.”

Game of Thrones: “Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger,” says Jessica Chastain