Cheaters Share The Reasons They Cheated On Their Partners

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jul 11, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

Did you know that the show Cheaters aired until 2021? Imagine actively watching Cheaters in the 2020s. It's so etched in my brain as one of those relics of early 2000s television, where ethically dubious stars like Chris Hansen thrived. It's fun to catch bad people and expose them for their crimes, so it's no wonder shows of that format were so successful. I don't think Cheaters blurred as many lines between the police and reality TV as shows like Cops or the infamous To Catch a Predator. While they all had similar vibes, nobody ever died on Cheaters.

Cheating partners usually don't get exposed on an international platform. They might get a little pushback from loved ones, but cheating is often kept behind closed doors. Luckily for us who don't have a compelling cheating story of our own, Redditors who've been the cheater have shared the reasons why they did it, and some are more compelling than others.

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  • 01
    Font - r/AskReddit u/polyaprotic • 1d 18 NSFW People who cheated in a relationship, why?
    via u/polyaprotic
  • 02
    Font - mooninuranus. 1d Because I was a dickhead who thought sex was the same as affection. There are reasons for that but I'm not going to make excuses. That said, I've been faithful for 25 years. Reply 8.4k
    via u/mooninuranus
  • 03
    Font - Banana Brute • 1d Young and dumb, not really ready to commit and to much of a coward to break it off. ... Reply 14.3k
    via u/BananaBrute
  • 04
    Font - hestianvirgin • 1d I walked in on her with a co-worker, so I revenge cheated with someone close to her. It created a triangle of emotional damage. But I learned how to process the bad stuff in a healthier way once the dust settled from the three of us destroying each other. .... Reply 16.5k
    via u/ hestianvirgin
  • 05
    Font - zootsuitbeatnick. 1d Because I'm an idiot. ... Reply 9.5k
    via u/zootsuitbeatnick
  • 06
    Font - ogaccountcompromised 1d Because I didn't have the emotional intelligence to end it like a considerate human being Reply ... 15k
    via u/ogaccountcompromised
  • 07
    Font - journey_bro 1d ● 14 Awards Everyone keeps saying these humble and insightful things. Meanwhile tons of people cheat simply because they can, not because they are unsatisfied in the relationship and really need to end it. They simply pursue their lust without moral qualms.
    via u/journey_bro
  • 08
    Font - That aside, I come from a culture where cheating for men is the norm. Kind of like having a comare in certain settings. These guys don't cheat because they lack emotional intelligence or whatever. Rather, it's a culture of informal polygamy.
    via u/journey_bro
  • 09
    Font - And of course it's not just guys. I know several women who have cheated, some married. For some, that actually indicated the end of the relationship or marriage, which followed soon after. But for others, it was just what they did. They liked the security of the relationship but couldn't resist acting on their attraction to others. Etc. This thread would be a lot more representative if we heard more from all this crowd (instead of the regretful introspective one), but I see they are stayi
    via u/journey_bro
  • 10
    Human body - Empty_Regret6345. 1d I had no morality or ethics. Lots of insecurities. Lacked emotional control Reply 12.2k
    via u/Empty_Regret6345
  • 11
    Font - Klutzy-Respond2923. 1d Exactly this for me. I used to be a serial cheater. I know everyone thinks, 'once a cheater, always a cheater' but I've worked those issues out and have no desire to be that person anymore 590
    via u/Klutzy-Respond2923
  • 12
    Font - LesPaulPilot • 1d This is me. I cheated on pretty much every girl that I had been with, not all, but most. When my last GF found out, I could see how much it broke her and I just didn't want to be that guy anymore. So I had to make a decision, and that decision was to be a better person overall. Lots of therapy and self reflection. It helped that the next girl I met made me want to be a better BF. I've now been with that girl/ my now wife now for almost 18 years and have no desire to be t
    via u/LesPaulPilot
  • 13
    Font - vinny876 • 1d I was the other guy. A woman I'd known for a couple of years was becoming increasingly disillusioned with her husband, he was drinking too much and getting more and more emotionally and verbally abusive, we had a 2 month fling because she wanted to feel valued again. She dumped me and told me she was going to make a proper go of her marriage, she gave him 6 months to quit drinking or she was going to kick him out, he just got worse, the final straw was when he drunkenly drag
    via u/vinny876
  • 14
    Font - Blister693 1d I was selfish, I can think of a hundred reasons why I did, but in the end I was just selfish. I do not have many regrets in my life but that one will stay with me forever. A life lesson learned the hard way. Reply 2.2k
    via u/Blister693
  • 15
    Font - Daetok_Lochannis. 1d My ex-wife was incredibly abusive and controlling, and she used violence and the police to keep me from leaving her. Women around me started to sympathize and approach me, and I was so starved for affection that I didn't even hesitate. Reply 946
    via u/Daetok_Lochannis
  • 16
    Font - tilttovictory. 22h When people say "it's never okay to cheat" or "it's never the person who was cheated on fault". There are stories like these that plainly point out how complicated these situations can be. Brother (or sister) I hope you're in a better place because that sounds so horrible. ... 449
    via u/tilttovictory
  • 17
    Eye - vanroy241090 - 1d Reason given was, 'one last fling before the ring'. Reply 1.2k ...
    via u/vanroy241090
  • 18
    Font - Koko-bear 1d 6 Awards Bartender here, and I have had this conversation with SOOOOO many cheater's. What I can tell you, is people who cheat in relationships, often have other "cheat type" issues. Often trying to make a fast buck by screwing others over financially, gambling issues, or other dramatic/toxic maneuvers. They often can have a Need to compete, or out-do the people they are closest with. They often are terrified of the other spouse cheating on them first. They often present siza
    via u/Koko-bear
  • 19
    Font - People almost never cheat up, but almost always cheat down. If they are with a clever, responsible, organized spouse, they cheat with a dumb irresponsible hot mess. If they are married to a textbook perfect skinny churchgoing Barbie doll, they often cheat with a curvy, thick dark mouthy girl with tattoos (Not that there is anything wrong with that Type). But they are going for the opposite of what they married and present publicly. I can tell you, if they never have cheated, they are less
    via u/Koko-bear
  • 20
    Font - The people getting cheated on...it's never their fault. They couldn't have done anything better than they already did. I see amazing people get cheated on, it truly has nothing to do with them. It's the cheaters own issues, that determine if they cheat, nobody else's. People often cheat to feel powerful, in a world where they feel powerless. People often cheat because of mommy/daddy issues. Military guys are often encouraged to cheat by their buddies, because those guys don't want to be t
    via u/Koko-bear
  • 21
    Product - If your person cheats on you, don't leave them for the act, leave them because they are selfish, and they Chose the act over the importance of you, and your family...and that level of stupidity is a real red flag Of things to come. But there is one thing even more toxic you must run from. The person who never cheated, but said they did...to hurt you.
    via u/Koko-bear
  • 22
    Font - In my years of bartending, several SEVERAL women came to confront me about my affair with their husband THAT NEVER HAPPENED. No, these women were not trying to trick me, or being paranoid. I confronted the men, and they had told their wives they were sleeping with me. Men also tried hitting on me, and I ignored it, and they told all their buddies they slept with me, or could have slept with me and didn't. These kind of rumors could have ruined MY very healthy relationships, and I'm lucky
    via u/Koko-bear
  • 23
    Font - Outrageous-Dare2755 • 1d He had a side chick who was my best friend (she thought we were in a poly relationship but it was just him who wanted us both) so I cheated on him with her and stole his side chick Edit: I told him I'd be okay with it if it wasn't just him who got to date my best friend and I and that us girls also got to date. He told her I was okay with it just being him dating us even though it was really me she wanted to date and he was just an extra since I was dating him at
    via u/Outrageous-Dare2755
  • 24
    Font - Designer_Candidate_2 . 1d I did, twice. Once was in high school. I had just gotten out of my first relationship, that looking back now, was pretty abusive. I wanted to be with anyone I could. Dated a nice girl for a while and wanted more, so I cheated. I hurt a good person and it sure as hell didn't help me at all. Then once in college. Dating a girl I had dated in high school. Again, I lacked emotional maturity. I started talking to a girl on tumblr who lived on the other side of the wor
    via u/Designer_Candidate_2

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toxic relationships ask reddit relationship status relationship-drama askreddit cheat relationships cheating cheater subreddit reddit thread Reddit cheated on toxic relationship
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