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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend lying about sexual assault?

29 replies

Bnxybee · 20/07/2022 19:12

Before I get flamed for this, please read it through.

A close friend of mine is notorious for twisting the truth at times. Not massive lies, just small exaggerations to turn the attention back on her. I’ve caught her out several times but didn’t want to confront her as she mostly does it when she has an audience - and I don’t want to embarrass her.

Last month she rang to tell me she had bought us two tickets for a nightclub event. She mentioned they weren’t cheap but didn’t want money. I’ve not been one for clubbing since I had DS (3) but agreed to go and thought it was kind of her to buy the tickets (I needed cheering up). Anyway, she confessed on the phone yesterday that she’d originally bought the tickets for her and a guy she’s casually seeing but he didn’t want to go so she asked me instead. That’s not the impression she gave me last month but l guess that irrelevant now.

We went to the event a fortnight ago and I felt she was so inappropriate with DH (who decided to join us last minute). She showed him a spare pair of thongs she had brought with her “just in case” and kept drawing attention to her dress, I.e., “are you sure this dress looks alright?”. She did look stunning. She’s naturally pretty anyway but also has a lovely figure and spends a lot of money and time on her appearance. She then started talking about her various sex toys and, in a totally unrelated conversation, invited DH to visit Denmark with her as they both share a cultural interest in the Faroe Islands.

A totally wasted 21-year-old squaddie sat on our table, interrupting their conversation, and started chatting her up. I thought I detected some jealousy off DH but wasn’t sure. I went downstairs to the toilet and when I came back DH had got him kicked out of the club for groping her arse. She was laughing and said she wasn’t bothered but DH was acting like her knight in shining armour and ranting about how he won’t tolerate sexual assault (fair enough). I made sure she was okay but in all seriousness DH seemed more upset than she was. I was uncomfortable with the way they were both behaving all night. At one point she even linked his arm and said, “don’t worry I’m not assaulting you.”

When DH and I got home, I let rip. He told me he was uncomfortable with the way she had behaved towards him but doesn’t know why he’s to blame? Apparently, she had put her arms around him coming down the stairs (when I wasn’t looking). When I was outside having a cigarette, she asked him if he liked how she looked. She also kissed another woman and asked him if it was “hot”? I confronted her about it the following week and she argued that she only asked him how her dress looked because I’m a “people pleaser” but DH would tell the truth. She then said DH hadn’t told me the context of the conversation. Apparently it was a “rhetorical question” because a strange man was staring at her.

She became tearful and said she was so grateful DH was there as she was sexually assaulted. She said the 21-year-old man had put his hands in her knickers and since that incident she’s been too scared to leave the house. She asked in a really quiet and scared voice if she did something wrong there, too? She said her family have been worried sick about her. (I’d avoided her all week and she knew something was up). DH said the drunk squaddie had touched her bum but nothing more. Even so, it’s unacceptable, but he told me he never witnessed anything more unless he didn’t see or is lying. I would never accuse anyone of lying about stuff like this but I have little doubt she’s told mutual friends that she was assaulted and then falsely accused of coming onto DH. It goes against everything I believe to accuse a woman of lying, but I don’t think I believe her.

A close friend of mine (and an ex friend of both her and DH) told me that she stopped being friends with both of them when she realised what narcissistic individuals they both are and that the reason she never visits me, is because they’re both still a huge part of my life.

Since then, my friend has brought me flowers and has offered to take me out for the day, etc. She says she’s still shaken by that experience and won’t go back to that nightclub. All the stuff with DH has been swept under the rug.

AIBU to let it go as I don’t have the energy for anymore conflict?

OP posts:
Frankie2018 · 20/07/2022 19:23

You have a DH problem. As for the friend, cut her off quick

SavoirFlair · 20/07/2022 19:26

It feels like you’re judging this woman far more harshly because she is attractive and flirtatious with your DH.

it is possible for both things to be true - that

a) Your “friend” is flirtatious and dramatic and targeted your DH who responded overzealously to defend her

and

b) she was actually sexually assaulted. And you should believe her

Poppyseed14 · 20/07/2022 23:34

Have you posted this same story before OP?

Bnxybee · 20/07/2022 23:43

Poppyseed14 · 20/07/2022 23:34

Have you posted this same story before OP?

Yes I have but since then she’s told me she was seriously sexually assaulted and is scared to leave her house. I don’t know what to make of it tbh.

OP posts:
Lunadreamer · 20/07/2022 23:50

I'd listen to the friend who says they don't like your friend or DH.

tillytown · 20/07/2022 23:51

He touched her, she was assaulted. A lot of people who are sexually assaulted play down what has happened to them until it gets to much and all comes out, so maybe stop accusing her of lying

Tothemoonandbackx · 20/07/2022 23:54

I put YABU in the stance that No, you shouldn't let it go. If it was a sexual assault, the club should be informed (they'll have cctv), and she should go to the police (they may find the man that did it), you could be her confidant and go when she explains what happened to her, if its as serious as she says it was, surely she'll want to let the police know so they can catch this culprit, her family should be fully supporting her in this too....I mean....she could be an advocate for women that have experienced sexual assault, and get this man behind bars, she's got nothing to loose by telling the truth.....right????

EmeraldShamrock1 · 20/07/2022 23:59

Putting the sexual assault claims to one side for a moment - She sounds like a nightmare flashing her spare knickers and discussing sex toys with someone's husband, I wouldn't be her friend after that night out.

I'd have been pissed off with DH (pre assault) for involving himself happily in her flirtatious manner.

Now for the assault and I might be flamed her but you've no choice but to take her word at face value as you weren't there ATT.

DH is a witness.

If this club incident happened some time ago, why are you still friends with her?

Angiemumof5 · 21/07/2022 00:02

i Would be thinking back to that night and her actions after the sexual assault incident, was she in distress, did she want to leave etc not sure that snogging another woman and asking another man if it was hot or asking him about her appearance sounds like a woman in distress to me tbh

Luredbyapomegranate · 21/07/2022 00:05

Well I think the degree to which she was assaulted is less a concern for you than the state of your marriage and friendship group.

I would certainly let her go, and have a very serious think about your DH. You all sound very childish - it’s is noticeable that you are using a provocative question about this woman to draw attention to a post that is not about her.

This woman’s assault is something for her to deal with, with the help of people with whom she has a straightforward relationship ie not you.

kittenkipping · 21/07/2022 00:08

I don't think it's a mutually exclusive scenario. She was flirtatious and perhaps over the live with your dh.

She also got sexually assaulted by the other guy- your dh , who you believe in that he said that she was in appropriate with him, but who you don't believe when he said "he won't tolerate sexual assault " and felt it was bad enough to get the guy thrown from the venue? Is he trustworthy or not? He told you both things and you are cherry picking which to believe asked in the fact that you are upset at your friends behaviour and jealous that you suspect your dh enjoyed/ engaged in it.

kittenkipping · 21/07/2022 00:09

Over the line not live

Bnxybee · 21/07/2022 00:29

@Angiemumof5 She wasn’t in distress and was laughing and making light of it whilst trying to calm DH down.

it was when I confronted her about her behaviour with DH that she brought it back up. The thing is… this isn’t the first time. She fell out with a mutual friend years ago. We saw said friend on a night out (4 years ago) and she said hello to both of us (probably hoping to extend an olive branch). By the time we’d reached the beer garden, this mutual (ex) friend had apparently grabbed her arm aggressively as she walked past. None of us saw anything but she insisted that she had grabbed her arm in a threatening manner. I clearly remember thinking she was lying but she managed to get another friend and her (then) boyfriend all fired up.I kept a bit of distance after that but we eventually got close again.

also, I’ve never known anyone to have so many (alleged) stalkers.

OP posts:
sidheandlight · 21/07/2022 00:31

get rid of her out of your life.

Bnxybee · 21/07/2022 00:43

@kittenkipping i have no doubt she was assaulted as the man groped her. It was right for him to be thrown out by bouncers. Whether it was a quick grope or more full on, it’s not okay regardless. Just want to clarify.

OP posts:
purpleboy · 21/07/2022 00:55

So your basically thinking she is playing up how the assault made her feel to get out of owning her own bad behavior with your DH?
If she makes you feel sorry for her then you won't be angry at her?

She sounds a hot mess. I wouldn't be friends with someone who disrespected my marriage in that way, but I also think you have bigger issues with your DH who very happily went along with it.

Bnxybee · 21/07/2022 01:03

@purpleboy in a nutshell

OP posts:
Hoolahulahoop · 21/07/2022 01:04

All I know for sure is you don't need her in your life. Drama llama. Attention seeker. Yeah some man grabbed her bum. Your dh stepped in. You know she has form for lying.

Holly763 · 21/07/2022 01:06

She sounds manipulative and an absolute nightmare! The man probably did grope her but sorry I don't believe she was that upset about it after listening to your story. I know it's terrible to say but she sounds like the biggest attention seeker going and your DH fell for it. She uses her looks to get what she wants which is attention-simple. She also sounds like a user and a shit friend so I'd drop her like a hot potato.

Luckymummytoone · 21/07/2022 01:18

Yep what holly and purple boy said!

why doesn’t your other friend like your dh?

Vikinga · 21/07/2022 01:45

The problem with liars is that when they tell the truth, noone believes them. Her behaviour towards your DH was totally unacceptable. She's not your friend. If she was assaulted more seriously then let her deal with it.

As for your DH it is difficult to know. He didnt do anything did he? (Bad I mean)

BabyIncomingg · 21/07/2022 01:55

It doesn't matter the extent to which she was sexually assaulted - it's irrelevant. She's a shit friend and behaved fucking awfully. She repeatedly touched your DH without consent, flirted with him, was sexually inappropriate and prioritised her ego over your marriage. It makes no different whether she was assaulted or the extent of the assault. Her behaviour with respect to your DH and the assault against her are entirely separate issues. Cut her out of your life. Being the victim of assault isn't an excuse to do whatever the fuck you like, hurt other people and carry on with no consequences.

Sorchamarie · 21/07/2022 01:55

I voted you are being unreasonable, purely because you don't appear to be considering ending this friendship, which I seriously think you should be doing. She was incredibly disrespectful of you with her behaviour towards your husband. Absolutely no excuse for that.

Marvellousmadness · 21/07/2022 02:02

You are married to a lousy worthless and useless man who LOVESSSS her attention.

That and she is nuts
So I'd suggest to get rid of both :)

Meraas · 21/07/2022 02:08

Sounds like ‘friend’ and ‘D’H enjoy flirting with each other, which I find gross.

I think your close friend has the measure of them both.