Employee loses job opportunity after former coworker exposes them for taking credit on a project they didn't earn: 'I didn't badmouth her, just gave a factual example'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Oct 14, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

If you've ever had a coworker steal your ideas, you know there's nothing more infuriating than watching them take a victory lap on your hard work.

That's exactly what happened to one woman whose coworker, Leah, swooped in to present her award-winning ad campaign and somehow took all the credit. The woman kept quiet to stay professional, but karma always catches up in the end.

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  • Months later, Leah applied for a job at her new company. Unfortunately for Leah, guess who was asked to give the reference? When her creative director asked for an honest opinion, her former coworker told the truth: Leah was talented, but had a bad habit of overstating her involvement in team projects.

    Leah didn’t get the job and immediately accused her old coworker of ruining her career and being unprofessional. Ummmm, isn’t it more unprofessional to lie about your contributions in the first place?

    Some people call it sabotage, but we call it accountability.

  • Cheezburger Image 10563675392
    via Vitaly Gariev For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.


     

  • "AITA for refusing to recommend my former coworker for a promotion after she took credit for my work?"

    I (30F) used to work with "Leah" (28F) at a mid-sized ad agency. We were friendly coworkers, not besties, but we grabbed lunch and collaborated often.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • About a year ago, I created a campaign that ended up landing one of our biggest clients.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • The credit presentation? Leah gave it. At the time, I didn't make a scene. She brushed it off as a "team effort," and our boss seemed to think she led it.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • I was frustrated, but I didn't want to burn bridges. Fast forward: I left the company six months ago for a new job at a larger firm.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • Recently, our creative director here asked if I knew Leah because she had applied for a senior role on my team.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • Cheezburger Image 10563675136
    via Vitaly Gariev For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.


     

  • He said, "You worked with her, what do you think?" I was honest. I said she's creative and hardworking, but has a tendency to overstate her involvement in team projects.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • I didn't badmouth her, just gave a factual example. He thanked me and moved on. Now Leah texted me saying she didn't get the job and heard from a mutual friend that I "badmouthed" her.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • She said I "sabotaged her future over one misunderstanding" and that I "should've been professional enough to let it go." I told her being professional includes being truthful when asked for a reference.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • Now mutuals are split, some say I was fair, others say I could've been more diplomatic.
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • AITA for being brutally honest when asked for a reference?
    via ReasonableNet9454
  • AdventurousDate2201 NTA. You didn't "sabotage" her, you gave an accurate assessment when directly asked. Integrity doesn't mean sugarcoating. If her career depends on people never mentioning her behavior, that's on her, not you.
    via AdventurousDate2201
  • grayblue_grrl You mean she expected you to do more for her than she did for you? Wow. How surprising./s NTA
    via grayblue_grrl
  • Bonnm42 NTA I would have added "People who act professionally don't steal and take credit for other peoples work. If they do, they usually understand they burned that bridge and will not get a good reference from the person they screwed over."
    via Bonnm42
  • BlueInFlorida NTA What exactly do liars expect? I guess they tell themselves that "everyone does it" so it's okay.
    via BlueInFlorida
  • Delicious_Ad4769 NTA. She would likely create a toxic work environment if she continued with her selfish attitude and no one wants that. This is all on her. Karma is a bitch
    via Delicious_Ad4769
  • Chris45925 Also she was applying for a job in a senior role ON YOUR TEAM! I would not have wanted to work with her again and risk a repeat of the same behavior. Your company doesn't need this behavior either. You are certainly NTA
    via Chris45925

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credit employee presentation coworkers petty revenge entitled people karma workplace job interview team
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