Woman threatens to sue after entitled acquaintance ruins designer purse with Jell-O shot prank: 'To say I was livid was an understatement'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Apr 18, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

One underrated benefit of being in a relationship is how it can expand your social circle, but it also has the potential to be a huge downside as well. There is every chance that even the most well-meaning and caring of partners will be acquainted with people who bring very little positive things to your life or theirs.

While it is true that there is no obligation to get along amazingly with every individual that you meet, being exposed to those who have an issue with you can be a real headache. It often ends up having bigger consequences than just plain old annoyance. Some people revel in provoking others and then making them look like the bad guy, and if you are on the receiving end of this, it can be insufferable. When such an individual is tied to the social circle of your partner, it can only make things more complicated.

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  • 01

    WIBTA For Considering Suing My Boyfriend's Friends For Destroying My Purse?

    I'll try to keep it short and sweet. I recently bought an authentic designer purse. I realize the privilege I have to do so, but I work an extremely demanding job that requires I work very long hours and get compensated well to do so. It's something I've wanted my entire life and I've finally reached a point where I can afford to do it. Not super relevant, but I grew up poor so in a way it was cathartic to me to buy something frivolous that I really wanted which is partially why it means so much
    via catdog_XXII

  • One woman found herself stressed over this exact scenario after she was the recipient of an unwelcome prank by a friend of one of her boyfriend's friends. When she and her partner went to his friend's house to hang out, this man slipped Jell-O shots in her purse when she wasn't looking. She didn't realize until they got home, by which point the shots had melted and stained the inside of the purse.

    She was especially upset as this was an expensive designer purse that she had spent time saving the money for, and she wasn't sure if it could be properly restored. She was considering suing the man, but wasn't sure if this would be taking things too far.

  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10495184384
    via Muneeb Malhotra

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03

    "The entire inside was stained a splotchy pink shade"

    We were hanging out at my boyfriends friends house after the dinner and I hung my purse on the chair behind me. At this point I trusted everyone in the house and wasn't really concerned about it. We've all been hanging out for years now. We moved to another room right next to the one we were in to play a game. When I came back, my purse was right where I left it. When we left for the night, I grabbed it and thought it felt heavier but didn't look inside of it until I went to unload it when we go
    via catdog_XXII
  • 04
    I attempted to clean it to no avail. My boyfriend reached out to the group chat that has about half of his friends in it and asked if anyone knew who had done it. One person admitted they saw someone do it and told us who. It was one of the older members of the group who is known for messing with peoples belongings, but never to this degree. For example, when we went swimming last summer he filled the pockets of my shorts up with Chex mix. It was annoying but didn't really damage anything. Also
    via catdog_XXII
  • 05

    "I asked for money to either repair the bag or replace it"

    I asked him for money to either repair the bag or replace it and he claims he does not have that much money. He says the bag "looked cheap" so he didn't think it would be a big deal even if the shots had leaked. I know that he has ample assets (multiple sports cars, a million dollar home, etc.) and can find a way to compensate me for what he had damaged. When I pointed this out, he told me that it was MY fault for bringing around an expensive bag and that something could've easily been spilled o
    via catdog_XXII
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10495184640
    via Musta Mohamed
  • 07

    Commenters took her side.

    nickisfractured Small claims court 10000% he will learn his lesson
    via nickisfractured
  • 08
    insurancelawyerbot Am lawyer; not your lawyer. Advice is correct. You will need several things: 1.) evidence of the value of the purse. Find your purchase receipt. 2.) proof that the dumb guy damaged the purse. You'll need testimony of someone who saw him do it OR him admitting that he put the jello in your purse. And that's it. You prove damages + liability and = verdict. Good luck OP.
    via insurancelawyerbot
  • 09
    ManicMondayMaestro I would likely go to small claims over this since he obviously can pay. He's a adult responsible for his actions. I think it's relevant to know the amount you're talking about. Designer could be $300 or $3000, or much more. NTA.
    via ManicMondayMaestro
  • 10
    catdog_XXII OP It was $2,800. My understanding is if it can be cleaned costs would be around $400, if it cannot repairs could be anywhere from $700- it just needing to be replaced. I am taking it in to be looked at tonight and I'll have a more solid answer.
    via catdog_XXII
  • 11
    norismomma Yes - intentionally damaging personal property is something you can sue for. Do it. Not an a h le IMO.
    via norismomma
  • 12
    Sufficient_Metal_912 NTA what kind of grown man still plays pranks on people and if you're going to play some kind of dumb destructive prank at least have the decency to back it up if you ruin something that belongs to someone what if they had spilled all over the interior of your car?
    via Sufficient_Metal_912
  • 13
    catdog_XXII OP I'm shocked it didn't because they were borderline liquid by the time I found them. The fact it didn't soak through to the exterior of the bag or on the friends furniture or in our car is shocking, but speaks to the quality of the interior of the bag I suppose.
    via catdog_XXII
  • 14
    Organic-Willow2835 First, you do not need to EVER defend a purchase you make with your hard earned money as privilege. Second, with jerks like this guy, often the only way they'll learn not to be an a is for it to bite them in the pocketbook. If he refuses to compensate you for the full repair and restoration of your bag then yes, sue him. Especially since you now have evidence of him admitting to purposefully destroying your property. I really hope this friend group ejects him. People who wilfu
    via Organic-Willow2835
  • 15
    Margrave 16 He needs to be taught a lesson forcibly that he should've learned in his teens. I would also go out of my way to poison the entire friend group against him, pointing out how immature this whole thing is and asking everyone if they really want someone like that around. Small claims wouldn't be enough for me personally. But I'm petty as if you deliberately mess with me. f
    via Margrave16
  • 16
    Alanna TheLioness 1983 Point out the inherently destructive nature of his "prank", and make them think about what happens next time if he doesn't stop. What if he destroys someone's phone or laptop because he didn't realize it was in his target bag? What if someone had expensive medicine in their bag? What then? Make the conversation change from a discussion about a "prank" to a discussion about "deliberate destruction of personal property".
    via AlannaTheLioness1983
  • 17
    justafancymom I genuinely don't think you're an AH at all. This would send me into a spiral and I'm glad your partner is as mad as you are. If you have the means, do it. If you have any friends who are attorneys (or even use Al???), draft up a letter as if you're letting him know a suit is coming for damages and see what the reaction is then ― if you're afraid of taking it so far as your boyfriends relationships will be affected. That should scare him into taking action and rectifying the situat
    via justafancymom
  • 18
    Editing to add: take the purse to the brand's boutique or call their customer service. They often have services that can fix these issues. It does take 6-8 weeks from experience but it's a price I'd personally pay to be professionally fixed- if they can fix it. Or take it to a cobbler and see if they can clean it for you. But take it to the brand and see what they say. Sometimes they'll recommend someone local to repair any damages if they can't. Worth a shot! Good luck and that guy.
    via justafancymom
  • 19
    ingeridt NTA. This isn't just about the money it cost you to get that purse, but about all the work you've put in to get in the position that you're in. Also has his friends talked to him about his "pranks"? And if so why haven't they ditched him?
    via ingeridt
  • 20
    Affectionate-Mine917 If the rest of the people in this friend group think you're wrong for being upset and asking for compensation for having your property ruined then they are not really your friends. I bet these individuals would be singing a different tune if it was their expensive property that had been ruined. This group thinks his comfort is more important than yours. S ks to hear, but it's the truth. You don't want to ruin your BF's friendships, but honestly why would you want to subject
    via Affectionate-Mine917
  • 21
    The old idiot barely apologized, called your purse cheap looking, and only minimally and indirectly admitted fault. You and the friend group are severely downplaying how f*cked up this dude is. He has a history of putting food in people's belongings, unless you are 3 years old or younger, that is unhinged behavior. You are NTA - please continue to stand up for yourself because clearly none of these others will stand up for you and this idiot guy will never learn his lesson without real consequen
    via Affectionate-Mine917
  • 22
    thecuriousblackbird NTA Dude's got some kind of issue with you. My guess is that you're successful and earning a lot of money. I don't care if your bag was from a thrift store or Target, what he did is vandalism and destruction of property. Definitely take him to court if he won't pay. Also who is he to decide what looks "cheap"? How many bags has he bought? I bet he couldn't tell you the name of one bag designer.
    via thecuriousblackbird
  • 23

    The woman provided updates and clarification.

    Update: I had my appointment to have the bag looked at. They would be able to mostly repair it, however it's likely that the liquid seeped through the lining and may have damaged the bag beyond repair. They wouldn't know until they really got into it. Even so, the smell of crusty old jello and liquor would likely linger and deteriorate any resell value the purse may have in the future. For these reasons, I will be going after him for the entire value of the purse. Thank you to the person who men
    via catdog_XXII
  • 24
    To answer some common questions: 1. Why don't I kick this guy from the friend group? Easiest answer here is that it isn't my friend group. This man is a family friend of one of my boyfriends friends. He truthfully isn't around much, but it seems like whenever he is he causes problems so I'm not sure why he is still invited, even occasionally. My boyfriend and I made it clear we would never be in the same place as him ever again, which kind of puts the ball in everyone else's court.
    via catdog_XXII
  • 25
    2. Does he not like you or does he torment everyone? He has a weird fixation with me mostly, but he does also torment most of the women in the group. I mentioned this in the comments but it may have gotten buried, but during my first interaction with him I had left my phone out while I had quickly gone to the bathroom. At some point he snatched my phone up, went SOMEWHERE else in the house, took a picture of his , and replaced my phone in the same spot. I found the picture a few hours later when
    via catdog_XXII
  • 26
    3. Did he steal anything? No. As I had mentioned he's wealthy and I don't think he'd really do anything like that, he doesn't seem like the type to get a thrill from theft, rather he wants to annoy women. I only kept my credit card, a small amount of cash, car keys, and a sentimental keychain in the bag. Everything was sticky and coated in goo, but everything was also there.
    via catdog_XXII

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