Fans had a big problem with part of Sunday's 'The Walking Dead'

"The Walking Dead" is well known for its shocking and emotional deaths. But fans are worried that the latest death on the show may be part of a serious cultural problem. 

Spoiler Alert! Only read further if you're caught up with "The Walking Dead" Season 6, Episode 14 “Twice As Far.” 

The controversy surrounds the death of Denise, Alexandria's resident doctor and girlfriend to Tara, a survivor introduced in season four. Following's Denise's death, which Vanity Fair said was part of a "troubling TV trend," many fans are using the hashtag #BuryYourGays to express their frustration following the death of the prominent lesbian character. 

Denise's death and overall arc is very different from her comic counterpart. In the comics, Denise is in a relationship with Heath. Tara, meanwhile, doesn't exist in the comics. And while Denise does die eventually in the comic series, it's actually Abraham who is killed with an arrow.

Some fans still see Denise's death as part of a larger cultural trope of unfairly killing off gay and lesbian characters on television. And "The Walking Dead" isn't the only example. 

A similar controversy came about recently following the death of a prominent lesbian character on The CW's "The 100." Fans similarly used the #BuryYourGays to voice concerns. In response to Lexa's death on the series, Feminist site Autostraddle posted an exhaustive list of 146 lesbian and bisexual women killed on television, in a lengthy examination of the trope.

While fans were outraged at Denise's death, actress Merritt Wever, who plays Denise, told The Daily Beast she doesn't necessarily see it as prejudicial, but understands the frustration for viewers of losing one of the few major gay characters on television. 

I understand if viewers watching the show really identify with the character or like seeing themselves or some part of the world that they know is real and true and valid and prevalent represented. And then to have that taken away, I definitely see how that would be disappointing in the broader scheme of things. I’m not sure that that’s what was going on here but I understand the sentiment very well and I am familiar with the [trope of] black characters or gay characters getting killed off because [they’re considered] less human or less real or less important and people aren’t gonna care as much. From my end, it didn’t feel like that’s what was happening though. But I certainly understand the concern in the wider culture.

Gay characters on "The Walking Dead" have been spotlighted in conversations before. Last year, a kiss between couple Aaron and Eric caused controversy. Additionally, comic creator Robert Kirkman spoke out about Daryl's sexuality, saying that he, actor Norman Reedus, and the writers seriously considered identifying Daryl as gay. 

"I just wanted to make it clear that I was saying that the possibility is there and I would've been fine with it, the network would have been fine with it, but we ultimately didn't do that," Kirkman previously said on "Talking Dead."

While Denise's death will be felt by fans, at least one other major character from the comics may be revealed as gay in the coming episodes. And Wever, though sympathetic to fans, feels Denise got at least a few moments of glory before her death.

"She was brave," she told The Daily Beast. "She was rewarded by getting her girlfriend’s soda and she got to experience feeling capable—even if it was only for 30 seconds."

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