AIBU to think I can have a male friend

[Gothamsgirl]

I'm in a long term relationship - over 4 years and getting married in September. A few months ago I Linked with a bloke I knew 20 years ago, there was an attraction and flirting but nothing came of it back then, we exchanged mobile numbers and texted a few times - he wanted to meet for coffee, but that never came off for one reason or another. I'm an honest kind if person so told my fiance....he hit the roof!
I thought he trusted me but he says men and women can't be friends I disagree. I should add that the bloke says he has a girlfriend who lives abroad... What do you think?

I'm sure you'd be perfectly ok with your fiancé meeting up and texting someone from his past whom he fancies, wouldn't you OP?

YABU in this instance OP. It's the fact that you made contact so recently that makes it questionable. Even if you'd actually been together in the past, but ended up as friends and met DH2B later on I'd say YANBU. Did you initiate the recent contact?

I made contact with a long-ago ex (about 12 yrs after being with them in late teens). Tbh we should only ever have been friends, and were only together for a few months. If I got together with someone now and they banned the friendship I'd think that unreasonable. But if I was with someone now and chose to make contact out of the blue that is a whole different scenario!
You need to look at your reasons for getting in contact after so long.

Of course men and women can be friends, most of my oldest friends are men (friends for 25 years plus) and they are utterly platonic/adore them like brother type friends.

However you are not describing a 'friend' so yes YABU. My DP has tons of female friends and I am not remotely threatened by any of them - but if he had an 'attraction and flirting' with someone then I would not be happy at all.

Your fiances negative reaction to the situation is fair enough - but his belief that 'men and women can't be friends' ? If he means generally women should only have female friends and men only male friends then that is very, very odd and should set very loud alarm bells off with you IMO!

Having a male friend is fine in the same way a man having a female friend is fine.
Flirting with them however isn't ok!

I do have male friends but I don't flirt with them

nothing came of it back then so is this suggesting you would like something to come of it now?