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AIBU?

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DH told his friend he thinks his ex is more attractive than I am

181 replies

Grilledy · 12/11/2025 02:31

DH and I have been together for 7 years, married 3 and we have a 1 year old DS. DH is loosely friends with one of his exes, not super close, they don’t meet up alone, she’s married. They stayed friends as he claimed that he realised their personalities weren’t compatible in a relationship but were good in a friendship. I’ve met her, she seems nice enough.
I have always had slight issues with her, mainly as when DH and I were still dating he failed to mention that he had ever been with her (he told me he had been single for 5 years, really he had been single for 2, with her for 2 then single again for 1. This caused an argument at the time but he said he didn’t mention as it was only our second date and he didn’t want me to question their friendship as it mattered to him. He also admitted a few months in to our relationship that he had kissed her while drunk on a night out, but it was very early days for us.
I let it go, we’ve been great since and I have never really doubted his devotion to our family. Our marriage isn’t perfect but who’s is?

Anyway tonight I was talking to one of his friends who I’ve become friends with too, she told me she wasn’t trying to cause drama but that a few weeks ago DH and all his friends had been out, including his ex and DH apparently said to several of his friends “ex is fit though, she was always fit” someone then asked if she was more attractive than me and he apparently replied “yeah for sure but it’s not all about looks”. Obviously this has left me a little stunned. While I appreciate it’s normal while in a relationship to still be able to appreciate that other people are attractive, something about him being so forthcoming about thinking his ex is more attractive feels really hurtful and wrong.
I’m not necessarily shocked he thinks that, I’ve always felt I’m quite plain and his ex is objectively gorgeous, however I’d never have thought he’d say that.
I asked DH about it, he apologised and said he was drunk, reassured me that he thinks I’m gorgeous, and told me it was a stupid and untrue thing for him to say.

I don’t want to make a big deal out of it but it’s keeping me awake it hurts so much. This will sound silly and I know that but it’s triggering a lot of insecurity. I don’t know if anyone will relate to this but sometimes I feel like when we all go out together, he just behaves different around her, not in a show off way, he just seems very relaxed with her and I always notice the way he looks at her, sometimes it’s like he has to do a double take when she walks in etc. She is married and seems like a lovely woman and I don’t think she would cheat on her husband and I’d hope DH wouldn’t cheat on me but now I can’t get this thought out my head that he may have settled on me.
I also worry that personality wise I’m just a bit boring for him, sometimes his friends including his ex send little videos into the group chat (which I’m part of) and they might be dancing around or just doing something silly or teaching their kids 2000s pop music etc. in the car or whatever and he will say things like “god I love the way they just have fun with life”. I’m quite highly strung, more so since having DS but I was never really the fun travel stories, adrenaline activities, clubbing type of person DH and his friends/ex are.

AIBU to be really worried? Should I just accept the apology and move on or is this a bigger deal than I want it to be?

OP posts:
DRose3 · 12/11/2025 03:14

I would be mortified at DHs comments on that night out, and really hurt. I know what you mean by the way he looks at her - it’s not in your head. And yes, you should point it out. As if we don’t have eyes. It’s humiliating having a partner fawn over someone else.

I don’t know what to suggest. Work on yourself, go to the gym, find some attractive guy friends to hang out with.

Glitchymn1 · 12/11/2025 03:09

It’s impossible to know if you need to be worried, you say they don’t meet up alone, she’s married. He seems to hold a light for her, very clearly finds her attractive. I wonder who finished the relationship. It’s a disrespectful thing for him to say, no doubt about it and can see why you are hurt.
Personally I’d want to know he said this rather than have the group chatting about it and me blissfully unaware… But are you sure he’s staring at her on nights out or is that insecurity.
What’s your marriage like generally? It seems you are all quite young? He’s got one thing right- it’s not all looks, you know the saying.

winter8090 · 12/11/2025 03:01

She’s not your friend. She should never have told you this. Especially following it up with I don’t want to cause drama. What exactly did she think it would cause!

I would also feel uncomfortable with the whole ex situation. Do you have another friend group? I would be hoping the friendship with this circle drifts.

Trust your gut instinct on your marriage. Is it right?

WaryHiker · 12/11/2025 02:55

This man has disrespected you from the very start of your relationship, so this latest thing can't have come as all that much of a surprise.

Most people wouldn't have got past the initial thumping great lie about having been single for five years, let alone him cheating on you by kissing her - drunk or not. You say you have poor self-esteem, which is probably why you didn't dump him on the spot, which was your first mistake.

I think the standard you have already accepted from him is the standard you're always going to get from him. It's up to you what you want to do about that.

It's obvious you would never consider leaving him, given that you got together with him while he was waving so many red flags. At very least, I would be insisting on going to couples counselling and talking through these issues with an independent third party. I would hope this would give him enough self-awareness to pull back very heavily from contact with this woman. But I'm not convinced he's a decent enough person for this to happen.

Grilledy · 12/11/2025 02:37

Nevernonono · 12/11/2025 02:36

Why on earth did your “friend” tell tales to you! No, he shouldn’t have said it, but telling tales on him was ridiculous.

Watch her, she’s trouble.

I think she is a bit of a drama llama, she loves to gossip so I generally keep my distance but she is part of the wider group so hard to avoid totally and generally she’s very friendly and nice if you just want a chat. Not someone I’d say is my best friend but someone I get on with okay.

OP posts:
Nevernonono · 12/11/2025 02:36

Why on earth did your “friend” tell tales to you! No, he shouldn’t have said it, but telling tales on him was ridiculous.

Watch her, she’s trouble.