Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you forgive this?

181 replies

charlotte82 · 07/12/2025 11:57

Hello, I desperately need other people’s perspectives as my mental health has taken a battering and I’m struggling to know what to do.
Been with husband 18 years and we have two children together.
He has been sacked from his job due to sexual harassment. We’ve never had issues with anything before, or him with work.
Hes been saying sexual words at work, saying that colleagues are attractive and fit and in good shape. Comments on customers bodies, saying her boobs are massive, she’s really fit and attractive. This one girl at work has raised this all about him but there are witnesses to the comments. Apparently he’s quite touchy feely with her, only stuff like hand on shoulder when talking, brushing her hair away to look at her earring etc. But she obviously feels so uncomfortable to have brought it to this point.
He hasn’t cheated and I don’t believe he has or would! Although on the flip side I would never in a million years have thought that he’d say these things at work either.
This is a massive trigger for me, cheating and trust issues. It’s plagued me for my whole life and I did have therapy when younger due to boyfriends cheating on me etc.
How am I ever going to be able to move past this without constantly thinking now that he’s looking at other people or I’m not good enough, slim enough etc.
Please, please tell me what you’d do in my situation. My head is scrambled and I don’t know what is the right thing to do for our children and my own well-being.

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 07/12/2025 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Hoping this is sarcasm, otherwise WTF?

Frugalgal · 07/12/2025 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

A bit of fun???

Are you quite mad?

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/12/2025 13:43

Sortalike · 07/12/2025 12:02

He hasn't been sacked because of a few comments, he's not telling you the truth there's more to this which he's hiding.

Edited

This

polly613 · 07/12/2025 13:42

Oh God. He’s one of those creeps at work :/. I don’t have any advice tbh. Not ideal at all.

Mothership4two · 07/12/2025 13:36

He hasn’t cheated and I don’t believe he has or would!

Obviously he would, where did you think this is all leading?

How am I ever going to be able to move past this without constantly thinking now that he’s looking at other people or I’m not good enough, slim enough etc.

I know this is all new and raw, but why would you want to compete for this sex pest? I don't think I could ever move past this.

Like other posters have said, there is probably more to this. He has shown you who he is and has betrayed you over and over chasing other women

Thepeopleversuswork · 07/12/2025 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You think sexual harassment of women by men in the workplace and a man losing the family’s income through selfishness are “a bit of fun”? I would hate to hear what you consider a dealbreaker…

ColinOfficeTrolley · 07/12/2025 13:30

No. Couldn't forgive it. My husband losing his job, the source of family income, because he couldn't help himself from objectifying women. Fucking gross.

Dappy777 · 07/12/2025 13:28

TheMorgenmuffel · 07/12/2025 12:00

He's not cheated, he's done something even worse! He's a sexual predator. That is, should be, unforgiveable.
He's a piece of shit and I'm so sorry.

Yes, I’m sorry too OP. You sound like a sweet and vulnerable person. Hope you find someone better. XX

Joeninety · 07/12/2025 13:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Pippa12 · 07/12/2025 13:26

Rizzz · 07/12/2025 13:18

Is this new behaviour or has he always been like this?

I think only his friends and ex colleagues would be able to answer that.

If he hadn't have been sacked, the OP wouldn't know about any of this right now.

Perhaps it's worth doing some digging?!

If this happened with my DH I would, because it would absolutely blind side me and OP stated there have never been any problem like this.

KaleidoscopeSmile · 07/12/2025 13:20

Rizzz · 07/12/2025 12:18

How on earth have you managed to turn this into all about you and whether you cant 'trust' him and whether he might cheat on you???

He's a sex pest whose made a young woman feel so uncomfortable she's been forced to take the huge, brave step of reporting him.

Do you really want to live with a letch like that even if you could guarantee he'd never cheat on you??

Jesus, raise you standards!

How on earth have you managed to turn this into all about you and whether you cant 'trust' him and whether he might cheat on you???

At a wild guess I assume that she's devasted and doesn't know which way to turn? Have a bit of empathy for THIS victim for fuck's sake

Schoolchoicesucks · 07/12/2025 13:19

Has he asked you to forgive him? And if so what has he asked you to forgive? Losing his job and being unable to financially support his family? Or sexually harassing his colleagues and clients at work?

You do need to try and stop yourself from fretting about whether you are sexually attractive enough for him. And start thinking about whether you want to remain married to him. You can take your time with this. Reflect on whether he has accepted responsibility for his actions and is taking steps to change his behaviour. How he acts to your friends, family, you and your kids.

Lean on family and friends and get through Christmas for the kids.

Start making some decisions in the new year based on what you want and not out of fear for what you think he wants or will do.

Rizzz · 07/12/2025 13:18

Pippa12 · 07/12/2025 13:14

Is this new behaviour or has he always been like this? I only ask as I’m a nurse and on very rare occasions disinhibited behaviour has been related to neurological conditions. I have experienced men losing absolutely everything and then finding out months later they have a neurological condition.

Is this new behaviour or has he always been like this?

I think only his friends and ex colleagues would be able to answer that.

If he hadn't have been sacked, the OP wouldn't know about any of this right now.

Sassylovesbooks · 07/12/2025 13:16

I suspect that what you have been told is the tip of the iceberg. There must have been overwhelming evidence against your husband, for him to have been fired. Not only has he been saying sexual comments to colleagues, but he's said similar about customers. He's made one colleague so uncomfortable with comments, and 'innocent' looking touches, that she felt she had to report your husband. I bet this colleague is younger and most likely in a lower position in the company too. He's at best a creep but at worst a sexual predator who gets kicks out of making young women feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. As others have said, if this behaviour is completely out of character, there's a very slim chance there could be medically something wrong. However, I doubt it, I rather think he's perfectly aware of his behaviour, and all comments are said deliberately. He can't be so stupid to think that these comments are acceptable within the modern day work place? In my view his behaviour is much worse than an affair. An affair is consensual between two adults who are both attracted to each other. This isn't consensual at all, it's your husband thinking he's entitled to make comments about colleagues and customers bodies and attractiveness, making them feel uncomfortable. Going forward.. your husband needs professional help to understand why he's behaving in this way, and why he thinks it's acceptable. As for your relationship, I couldn't forgive him for this. It's just appalling behaviour, there's no excuse or reason to justify it either.

IrisPallida · 07/12/2025 13:15

Rizzz · 07/12/2025 12:18

How on earth have you managed to turn this into all about you and whether you cant 'trust' him and whether he might cheat on you???

He's a sex pest whose made a young woman feel so uncomfortable she's been forced to take the huge, brave step of reporting him.

Do you really want to live with a letch like that even if you could guarantee he'd never cheat on you??

Jesus, raise you standards!

Completely agree.

Raise your standards OP, this isn't about you and your insecurities but rather that your partner is very simply a disgusting creep.

Pippa12 · 07/12/2025 13:14

Is this new behaviour or has he always been like this? I only ask as I’m a nurse and on very rare occasions disinhibited behaviour has been related to neurological conditions. I have experienced men losing absolutely everything and then finding out months later they have a neurological condition.

AwfullyGood · 07/12/2025 13:13

I wouldn't want anything to do with him.

He's vulgar, predatory and lacks boundaries.

It's far worse than cheating as these women were not willing participants.

Millytante · 07/12/2025 13:13

Rizzz · 07/12/2025 12:23

How in God's name is that cruel?

This man has pestered a young woman sexually to this point and no doubt made her working life an utter misery.

It shouldn't matter to the OP whether he cheats on her or not.

If he doesn't, she's still married to a nasty sex pest.

All true, but surely to God you can see OP is feeling flayed alive by this business.
She may have been conditioned over the years by his general social demeanour too, so that she automatically diminishes his line-crossing in her mind in order to maintain her equilibrium. No doubt he’s always insisted there’s nothing objectionable is his interactions with women.
Who knows; but OP sounds pretty low right now, and her concerns might be a bit jumbled up, but wouldn’t anyone’s be?

Lndnmummy · 07/12/2025 13:12

There is no way on earth I'd tolerate this. Apart from the humiliation of having a husband who is ogling over young women (Eugh/Ick etc) I could not forgive him putting our children at risk financially, in a cost of living crisis, due to being a pervert.

OldPosterNewName2025 · 07/12/2025 13:12

This isn’t about cheating.

Rizzz · 07/12/2025 13:10

usedtobeaylis · 07/12/2025 13:08

Would it not be a bit weird that it was apparently only ever in work and so heavily focused on this one woman? Come on, it's not an illness.

Oh no, he's also commented on how massive a customer's boobs are.

Such a charmer.

jay55 · 07/12/2025 13:09

I doubt the company went straight to fired, he’ll have had warnings and chances or has done worse than he’s saying.
I’d not forgive, no.

Thepeopleversuswork · 07/12/2025 13:08

bumptybum · 07/12/2025 12:59

Because if the behaviours are genuinely out of character and everyone who knows him agrees then it would be ridiculous not to seek some check to see if there has been something medical going on. Mini strokes, tumours, early onset dementia and mental health breakdown can result in weird behaviours.

only once this is ruled out can anyone know how to move forward. The OP has dc with him so regardless of whether she chooses to leave or stay there needs to be a ruling out of any medical issue. That they share dc is a life long connection

Of course it’s out of character.

He’s hardly going to behave like this around his wife and kids is he?

If the OP goes down this road she’s handing him an exquisite get out of jail free card!

He can’t use some incredibly spurious health justification to shield himself for the consequences of his being a sex pest.

usedtobeaylis · 07/12/2025 13:08

Would it not be a bit weird that it was apparently only ever in work and so heavily focused on this one woman? Come on, it's not an illness.

Mikart · 07/12/2025 13:06

He's a fucking disgrace