Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Went down husband’s phone

666 replies

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 16:38

I’ve been down my husband’s phone and found messages between him and his male friend. It goes like this:

  • My husband sends a picture of his female colleague who he is due to stay away with for work “This is her”
  • His friend: Nice! She looks a bit like (your wife)
  • Husband: She’s 22 years old (aubergine emoji)
  • His friend: Are you going to try it on?
  • Husband: No, a few years ago maybe, but I’m more senior than her at work now, so can’t overstep the line. She’s so sweet though (aubergine emoji)
  • His friend: We’ll see after a few pints
  • My husband: 😂

OK. What do I do here? This trip was in the past and has happened, and I don’t think the woman went anywhere near my husband, however this conversation has disturbed me. I don’t want to split or anything drastic. Should I let him know I’ve been down his phone? If I do, he’ll change his password? I’m so angry. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
PeapodMcgee · 07/07/2025 17:53

Boomer55 · 07/07/2025 17:52

This. It’s normal male banter. Those who snoop always end up feeling worse off.

It's not normal male banter though, it's not ok.

Queenofkittens · 07/07/2025 17:53

Jc2001 · 07/07/2025 17:52

Can you really not figure that one out for yourself?

Of course it's self explanatory but how what when why is that phrase ever used? Lol Is it something said up north or something?

Boomer55 · 07/07/2025 17:52

Hankunamatata · 07/07/2025 16:40

Why did you feel the need to snoop in his phone?

Its grim male banter (boke) doesnt sound like he has done anything though

This. It’s normal male banter. Those who snoop always end up feeling worse off.

thepariscrimefiles · 07/07/2025 17:52

Oodlesof · 07/07/2025 16:51

You've done more wrong than him.

Did you think he will forgive you?

No she hasn't.

I'm always surprised at the outrage on here when women find out what their partners have been doing by looking at their phones when the disloyal behaviour that is revealed by the snooping is just swept under the carpet as irrelevant.

Jc2001 · 07/07/2025 17:52

Queenofkittens · 07/07/2025 17:43

What do u mean by the term 'down' his phone?

Can you really not figure that one out for yourself?

O00ps · 07/07/2025 17:51

Is your partner secretive with his phone? Keeps it very close, closes apps/chats if you are near by?

SleeplessInWherever · 07/07/2025 17:50

I’m definitely female, and also think looking through someone’s phone is bang out of order.

If you have such mistrust, justified or otherwise, split up.

I would leave my partner if I even felt I had the need to look through his things, because it would be an obvious sign something is wrong.

No3392 · 07/07/2025 17:50

Grim. Really really grim. Of him.

ALPS100 · 07/07/2025 17:50

Queenofkittens · 07/07/2025 17:43

What do u mean by the term 'down' his phone?

Pretty obvious what this means

PeapodMcgee · 07/07/2025 17:47

Completely up to you, obviously, but I could not be with someone who was so emotionally stunted or recklessly unprofessional (to be texting that), let alone someone who objectifies women as sex objects. How would that woman feel if she knew? What would his manager say? Let alone the admission that he could have possibly tried it on with others during your marriage.

Nope. He's a horrible creep.

Some.men behave like this, they are unreasonable creeps and too many women laugh it off. It's absolutely not funny.

ErlingHaalandsManBun · 07/07/2025 17:46

ginasevern · 07/07/2025 17:22

@ErlingHaalandsManBun "As for the message itself, the trip was in the past and this message seems like stupid bloke banter and if this is the only incriminating thing you could find while snooping then think yourself lucky."

Stupid bloke banter? Oooh, that's OK then. So it's fine to share a picture of a colleague without her consent or knowledge and discuss fucking her? Are you very old or do you possibly work for the Met police? Otherwise, what's your excuse and where have you been for the last 30 years?

The sharing of the photo is proper shit and would be the thing that I would be most pissed off about. No its not fine, I am not condoning it, but the message itself, well it wasn't quite that crude was it? He said 'are you going to go for it?' or something like that, not 'are you going to try and fuck her then?' He said no. But lads being lads he probably isn't going to say he won't go for it because he is happily married, or he will look like a dick in front of his mate. So he says, its because he is too senior (or whatever it was) Doesn't mean he would or has done anything.

So yes, it seemed more like lad banter to me. Stupid immature lads banter, I agree, but banter all the same.

From what she discovered, there is no proof he did cheat, or would have. I am not defending him, but people are so quick to jump to conclusions on here and just claim the OP should LTB.

People say stupid stuff sometimes and make cheeky comments in jest, but it doesn't necessarily mean they want to do it.

Its up to the OP what she does with the info she has discovered and how much it bothers her. If she thinks he has cheated then she should confront him with the messages and see what his reaction is.

MemorableTrenchcoat · 07/07/2025 17:45

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:35

I don’t understand why the messages should be so private? I don’t have any worries of my husband finding messages about men to my friends if he were to go down my phone?

That’s up to you. If a woman posted about her partner regularly checking her phone to make sure she wasn’t cheating, the responses would be very different.

Queenofkittens · 07/07/2025 17:43

What do u mean by the term 'down' his phone?

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 07/07/2025 17:43

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:41

Yes, but no experience is entirely unique. Others may have experienced the same situation and can reflect on it in hindsight.

And for what it's worth, every man I've known who was willing to banter like this (I'm male), was also willing to cheat.

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:42

KT1113 · 07/07/2025 17:42

Agree! Presume it’s the husband under several alias’ sending the first few replies! 🤦🏻‍♀️

😂

OP posts:
KT1113 · 07/07/2025 17:42

TravelPanic · 07/07/2025 16:48

Cannot believe these responses so far!! He’s a creep and either has cheated or would happily cheat. Why on earth do you want to stay with him after seeing these?!

Agree! Presume it’s the husband under several alias’ sending the first few replies! 🤦🏻‍♀️

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:42

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 07/07/2025 17:41

No, I'd say cheating is worse. But both would be an instant relationship ender for me.

Crazy to me!

OP posts:
VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 07/07/2025 17:41

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:25

OK, genuinely interested…So you think snooping is worse than cheating?

No, I'd say cheating is worse. But both would be an instant relationship ender for me.

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:41

KrisAkabusi · 07/07/2025 17:39

You're on the wrong forum if you want to know how men think!

Yes, but no experience is entirely unique. Others may have experienced the same situation and can reflect on it in hindsight.

OP posts:
ginasevern · 07/07/2025 17:40

StandFirm · 07/07/2025 17:36

Loads of dickheads have found mumsnet and love to spew their bullshit on here nowadays. That's what the chans used to be for but their habitat seems to have dramatically expanded in the last few years.

Edited

They're called men. But dickheads is a better fit.

KrisAkabusi · 07/07/2025 17:39

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:16

Yep, I get your point. I think I just wanted some perspective on “male banter” and if this is the way men communicate with eachother?? I feel blind to it. I wasn’t sure if I was overreacting and being naive?

You're on the wrong forum if you want to know how men think!

ginasevern · 07/07/2025 17:38

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 07/07/2025 17:24

This.

Don't get me wrong, I think the husband has, at the very least, behaved like a dickhead, and at the worst, is cheating.

But as far as I'm concerned, going through your partner's phone is unforgivable. If DP did it and I found out, the relationship would be over, so she'd better be damn sure I was cheating before she did.

Maybe give the poor woman a heads up then and tell her to go through your phone.

Devianinc · 07/07/2025 17:38

PulpKitchen · 07/07/2025 17:16

Yep, I get your point. I think I just wanted some perspective on “male banter” and if this is the way men communicate with eachother?? I feel blind to it. I wasn’t sure if I was overreacting and being naive?

I think it’s just typical male banter and just wishful thinking and being stupid with your friend. Male bravado. I’d let this one go. Iy
ts just bullshit talk, they talk shit like this with certain friends and differently with other people.

Sundaycrunch · 07/07/2025 17:38

I've literally never heard the expression to "go down" someone's phone instead of "go through". Is it a regional thing? (I know this is not the point of the thread but previous comments have pretty much covered it!)

ForeverPombear · 07/07/2025 17:38

ZorbaTheHoarder · 07/07/2025 17:32

Can anyone explain the aubergine emoji? I don't get it!

Penis. He's basically saying he'd sleep with her

Swipe left for the next trending thread