Woman’s boyfriend continually calls her “dumb” in front of his friends, her boss gives him a taste of his own medicine at her work party and he’s left humiliated: “Now you know how it feels”

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Mar 29, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Relationships can make or break our everyday lives. They can either fill us with enthusiasm for living, and increase our overall mood and well-being, or they can bring us down and make us feel absolutely unworthy. Sometimes it can just feel easier to be single because no one can hurt you, no one can affect your emotions and have you spiraling in and out of waves of words, memories, hard conversations, and pain that you didn't want to deal with. Maybe he's overly sensitive, and you find yourself apologizing at every moment. Just when you want to relax, have a nice evening, or read a book to decompress, your boyfriend wants to have "the talk," and suddenly you're all emotional and riled up. Of course, not every relationship is like this, but even healthy and happy relationships don't follow a straight path. At the end of the day, communication is key. 

In the story below, the protagonist's boyfriend has been calling her dumb. He thinks he's just being playful, but that's objectively harsh and incredibly insulting. I'm not sure how she's staying with him, but she does. Fast forward to her work party, and he's doing his typical insults. Her female coworker puts him in his place, and the women have the last laugh.

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  • 01

    AITAH for letting my boyfriend get a taste of his own medicine?

    "Now he's acting like I betrayed him”
    via Pixland from Photo Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My (29F) boyfriend (27M) has this habit of constantly calling me "dumb" or "stupid". It started as a joke, and at first, I laughed along. But over time, it became his go-to way of addressing me, no matter the situation. I asked him, begged him to stop, especially in front of his friends, but he would just
    via u/C**yluvv

  • How is this her relationship? If a man I was dating said that to me once I would be walking the other direction. It's not funny, it's not a joke, and it's not how you talk to someone else. It's incredibly demeaning. The fact that he's younger than her says everything, he's obviously threatened by her and feels the need to put her down. 

  • 03
    chuckle and say, "What? But you are dumb." His friends even picked it up, and now they casually call me dumb too. It's humiliating.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 04
    I started avoiding his social gatherings because I knew I'd just be the bat of their jokes. Whenever I told him how much it bothered me, he'd just say I was being too sensitive and that it was just a joke.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 05
    Last night, I hosted a party with my work colleagues. It was important to me because I work in a competitive field, and many of my coworkers are incredibly accomplished. I introduced my boyfriend to everyone, hoping he'd be on his best behavior.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 06
    But of course, he wasn't. Barely an hour in, he started the dumb comments again. My close work friends are used to me venting about this, but one of my senior colleagues—an incredibly sharp, no-nonsense woman, was clearly unimpressed.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 07
    She turned to him and said, "Hey, you're a guest here, and you do realize who you're talking to, right? Maybe cut the 'dumb' comments."
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 08
    He just laughed, like he always does. Then later in the evening, I accidentally dropped my drink. while reaching for it, and right on cue, he loudly called me dumb again. That's when my senior. completely shut him down.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 09
    "You know, everyone in this room has either an advanced degree, multiple certifications, or years of experience in their field, including my name, who's one of the smartest and most competent people I've worked with. The only person here without those credentials is you. So if we're talking about intelligence, you're the least qualified person to judge."
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 10
    De d silence. For the first time ever, my boyfriend had nothing to say. He went completely red and barely spoke for the rest of the night.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 11
    When we got home, he was livid. He said I should have defended him, that I "let" my colleague humiliate him, and that what she said was "unnecessary and cruel." I just looked at him and said, "So now you know how it feels."
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10485123840
    via oneinchpunch from Oneinchpunch / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    He's sulking and acting like I'm the bad guy. For what it's worth, my senior later apologized to him before leaving, saying she didn't mean to be harsh but was just looking out for me.
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 14
    Now he's acting like I betrayed him, but I can't bring myself to feel bad. After years of him publicly embarrassing me, wasn't it fair for him to finally experience what he put me through? AITAH?
    via u/C**yluvv
  • 15
    No_Use_9124 • 14h ago NTA Are you sure you want to be with this person who clearly demeans you regularly, is emotionally ab ive, something your very tremendously awesome
    via u/No_Use_9124
  • 16
    colleague caught onto immediately? Your senior rocks and is wonderful. I hope she is your mentor.
    via u/No_Use_9124
  • 17
    Apprehensive-Gu... • 14h ago NTA for what happened, he more than deserved that YTA for being with someone like him. You deserve better.
    via u/Apprehensive-Gur-551
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10485122816
    via Manish Dhodi from Pexels / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    • Square-Minimum... 14h ago I'm glad she put him in his place. But why are you with someone who has publicly embarrassed you for years?
    via u/Square-Minimum-6042
  • 20
    Impressive-Rock-... • 14h ago These are the actions of someone who doesn't even like you- why the h I are you still with them? Time to prove him wrong and leave.
    via u/Impressive-Rock-2279
  • 21
    KohTai 14h ago I'm not reading pass that first paragraph. Break up with the guy. - Doesn't respect you - Talks sh about you around his friends
    via u/KohTai
  • 22
    - Doesn't respect your boundaries - Lowers your self esteem Wake The F and quit wasting the short life you have.
    via u/KohTai
  • 23
    winterharbor • 14h ago It was never really a joke. It was him projecting his insecurities onto you. Similar to why school bu ies bu y - people because they're insecure and it feeds their ego make it seem like others are below them. My best
    via u/winterharbor
  • 24
    friend's (who's actually one of the stupidest people I've ever met) does the same sh. I'll ask you exactly what I've asked her: what the f you doing with someone who puts you down? are
    via u/winterharbor
  • 25
    NTA for this encounter, but you're being an a h le to yourself by staying with this guy.
    via u/winterharbor
  • 26
    • eyleenrwise 14h ago NTA!! If he respected you, he would've stopped calling you dumb the first time you said it bothered you. Instead, he doubled down, let his friends join in, and dismissed your feelings.
    via u/eyleenrwise

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humiliation boyfriend drama work relationships girlfriend lol Party love workplace reddit thread Reddit funny dating
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