A Decade of Friendship Comes to an End After Man Refuses to Cover for Best Friend's Cheating on Vacation: 'What happens in Rome stays in Rome'

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  • 01
    The next morning, Callum casually admitted what he did and brushed it off, saying, "What happens in Rome stays in Rome." He even laughed about it. Then, he asked me to back him up if Emma ever got suspicious saying, "You're my matejust tell her we were at the Colosseum all night."
  • 02
    r/AITAH u/No-Description-9170.1d AITA for cutting off my best mate after he cheated during our Rome trip and begged me to cover for him?
  • 03
    I (28M) have been best mates with "Callum" (29M) since high school. We've always had each other's backs, so when he invited me on a trip to Rome, I didn't hesitate. It was supposed to be a week of sightseeing, great food, and a break from our routines.
  • 04
    A few nights into the trip, Callum hooked up with someone he met at a bar. He's been with his girlfriend, Emma (27F), for over four years. She's an amazing person who has always treated him like gold.
  • 05
    The next morning, Callum casually admitted what he did and brushed it off, saying, "What happens in Rome stays in Rome." He even laughed about it. Then, he asked me to back him up if Emma ever got suspicious, saying, "You're my mate-just tell her we were at the Colosseum all night."
  • 06
    I told him I wasn't comfortable lying for him, and that cheating wasn't something I could condone. He got defensive, saying, "It's not a big deal—it's just a trip fling. Don't ruin my relationship over nothing."
  • 07
    When I got back to Dubai, I decided to distance myself from him. Callum called me out for "being self-righteous" and said I wasn't acting like a true mate. Some of our mutual friends are siding with him, saying I should've just stayed quiet and not made it my problem.
  • 08
    AITA for ending a friendship because of this? 3,056 704 D D
  • 09
    DrCraniac2023 • 1d NTA. If it wasn't a big deal, why does he need you to lie for him? Reply 23.9k
  • 10
    RemarkablePast2716 • 23h Right? If he didn't want the relationship ruined over nothing, he shouldn't have cheated. 1.1k
  • 11
    Boy Scientist99 • 21h Because it's not a big deal for him, but he knows it'll be a big deal to his girlfriend! 54
  • 12
    HilMickaelson • 20h You're absolutely right. I bet this wasn't the first time he cheated on his girlfriend, and he only invited OP to the trip as a way to cheat again and have someone covering for him.
  • 13
    OP, you need to tell the truth to his girlfriend. If you were the one being cheated on, you would want to know. Don't let that woman marry such a piece of trash someday.
  • 14
    He is putting her mental and physical well-being at risk. She could contract an STD from him, or he might get someone else pregnant. Apart from that, she is wasting years of her life with someone who doesn't deserve her.
  • 15
    Please, be a good human being and tell her the truth. Cut that guy out of your life. He has no morals and only involved you to cover his affairs. 1145
  • 16
    Equivalent-Roll-3321 • 21h This. Also, know you are the company you keep in many ways... nobody should normalize bad behavior they are not comfortable with. Having a deceptive friend has zero appeal. 32
  • 17
    foxyyyred. 1d 'Don't ruin my relationship over nothing' - if it was 'nothing' then why is he so concerned about you not covering for him? If it's not a big deal then he shouldn't mind his gf finding out ... also the only one who's ruined his relationship is him, not you. He made the decision to cheat.
  • 18
    Also NTA for cutting him off. I strongly believe that our vibe attracts our tribe, we are who we surround ourselves with, and if you was to stand by him and cover for him then that would make you just as bad. Not to mention by doing this, you would be enabling his behaviour. Reply 670 ↓
  • 19
    Own-Dependent2806 • 1h NTA. If he cheats and expects you to lie for him, that's not loyalty, that's just gross. Real mates don't drag you into their mess. You did the right thing cutting him off-Emma deserves better, and so do you. ← Reply 112
  • 20
    NTA Ruby_Solar 1d • Please tell his girlfriend. She deserves knowing the truth. He already doesn't like you, so you got nothing to lose. Same goes for your mutuals - what's wrong with their morals, that they don't care about a cheater? How can their girlfriends or wives ever trust them, if they don't stand their ground against a cheater and excuse his behaviour? Reply 1611
  • 21
    ZelldaJewel • 23h NTA. If 'What happens in Rome stays in Rome' includes betraying someone who trusts you, then it's a good thing integrity doesn't take vacations. You did the right thing by not covering for him. True friends don't make friends accomplices in their mess. Reply 28
  • 22
    skyyy_robinson18 • 1d NTA. You're not wrong for standing by your values and refusing to cover for someone's hurtful actions. Loyalty doesn't mean enabling bad behavior, especially at someone else's expense. Reply D 53

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