A woman says she’s starting to question her new relationship after noticing a pattern that makes her feel humiliated whenever she’s around her boyfriend’s friends.
The couple has only been dating for about two months, but she says his behavior in public is beginning to feel less like harmless teasing and more like something intentionally hurtful.

The “Jokes” Started in Front of His Friends
According to the woman, the first incident happened while they were out with some of his coworkers.
While everyone was eating snacks, her boyfriend suddenly commented that she shouldn’t eat too much because she was “a bit chubby.”
Some of his coworkers laughed, which made the moment even more uncomfortable. One of the men at the table tried to defend her, but she says he ended up getting teased as well.
The comment caught her completely off guard.
More Public Embarrassment
A few days later, the same thing happened again while they were hanging out with another group of his friends.
This time, he began telling people that she “can’t cook anything without burning it” and joked that she’s “basically useless in the kitchen.”
The problem, she says, is that she cooks almost every day—and he’s never complained about her cooking before. In fact, he has even shared photos of meals she made with his coworkers.
Everyone laughed at the story, but she says the moment felt humiliating.
His Response When She Spoke Up
After they got home, she finally told him that the comments had embarrassed her.
Instead of apologizing, he laughed and told her she needed to “learn to take a joke.”
Then he added that if she didn’t want to be teased, she should “stop being so sensitive.”
What makes the situation confusing, she says, is that he acts completely different when they’re alone. In private, he’s affectionate and supportive, which makes her question whether she’s overreacting.
But the pattern keeps repeating whenever other people are around.
Why the Post Struck a Nerve
The story sparked a strong response online, with many commenters saying the pattern sounded less like joking and more like public humiliation.
User Jolly-Chemical9904 wrote:
“If he does this at 2 months, what will he do at 2 years? 10?”
Others pointed out that teasing a partner in front of others—especially about weight or competence—can be a way of putting someone down socially.
User Dogzillas_Mom summed it up bluntly:
“There is no such thing as teasing. That’s the word bullies use to justify bullying.”
A Pattern That Made People Concerned
Many readers said the contrast between his private kindness and public mockery was especially troubling.
Some suggested that he might be trying to gain social approval from his friends by putting his girlfriend down.
For the woman who posted the story, the biggest question remains whether she’s overthinking the situation—or if the “jokes” are actually a warning sign this early in the relationship.
Based on the reactions online, many readers think the answer is already clear.
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