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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Disrespected by Husband & his friend jokes about an assault that happened to me.

134 replies

PaperClips007 · 16/04/2024 15:45

Not sure if the title gives weight to the hurt I am feeling at the moment.

It's a long one but background is needed.

My husband is the type of chap who wants to be liked by everyone, loves being the centre of attention, is sometimes the village idiot not in a malicious way. He wants to be the comedian of the group and doesn't understand that his actions and his words can have real time consequences.

He's also a bit of a chameleon, by that I mean he mirrors other people.

For example, I know if he's been speaking to a certain friend as he starts speaking like this friend with a cockney accent. Another of his friends has a big booming voice, again he mimics this. Not intentionally or knowingly, maybe it's some kind of protection that if I'm like you, you will like me.

I dunno!

With that said, he's a good kind man and doesn't set out to cause upset.
He's not an alpha by any standards and hates confrontation, and this is part of the pain and upset I am feeling these last few days.

I on the other hand trade highly on showing respect to others and will not standby and listen to anyone being disrespected whether it's said in a jokey fashion or with malicious intent. I will stand up for myself and my own ground when it's called.

A few years ago, a friend of H made a comment about did I like H new beard.
I said yes, he response "you must have a shaved pussy then" laughed then grabbed me by my waist and swung me around. I went absolutely bat shit crazy, my husband said nothing!

The above caused a load of arguments, H said he won't stop being this friend.
I honestly couldn't understand why he would make excuses "Oh that's just the way he is, he's a bit smutty".
In my world there is no excuse, totally out of order, it's creepy as fuck and rapey.
I said this man is a wrongun and after a few heated arguments, H relented, had a word with this man and I was sent a long written apology that I neither read or accepted.

Turns out this man, even though married had been stalking and harassing a female neighbor, throwing bricks at her young teenage daughters window. Set fire to her garden and served 6 months inside for this behavior.

I said then, that H really needs to revalue the company he keeps, that he has a few questionable so called friends and this chap isn't the only friend whose beyond awful.

Another friend of H with his wife, went into a tirade about another mans wife calling her a Fing C, how much he hated her, it was just awful especially as this was the 1st time I had met them. I didn't want to stay any longer in their company so I made an excuse so we could leave. Then the next thing I know, we are invited to this lady's house. And here's this man, eating the food she cooked, sitting at he table she shares with her family, he and his wife even stayed the night. Like WTAF. The woman who was hosting believes this couple to be really good friends of hers.

I said to H, clearly enough for this man and his wife to hear, his past behavior is really out of order and he needs to pull him up about it. He response was to make a joke and say "that's just him, he always speaks like that". I called a cab, I was so angry. Again, another argument about how it's not cool, he's not cool and these so called friends are a reflection of him.

Pffffffffffffffffffffffff

A few weeks ago, the Saturday before mothering Sunday to be exact. H went to the football, was in the company of a few football people he previously said he didn't like and got blindly drunk.

He was disgusting, I've never seen drunk anything like this before and neither do I want to again. As I tried to get him onto the couch, he fell off, nearly smashing his head against a glass table. As I bent to help him up H grabbed my breast and bit it.

I have no words to how I felt and was deeply upset.

In the morning, he had no recollection, was incredibly remorseful when I told him what he done. He was read the riot act by me, I had hoped he understood he sexually assaulted me.
I told him once again he needs to revalue the company he is keeping as the why did he hang out with this group, he doesn't even like and why did he drink so much, he had no answers.

Anyhow, it's only now I am beginning to reconcile what he did as it still haunts me.

This last weekend, we hired a house & went away with 4 other couples.
All the boys where in the games room, and for some reason he told them all about that weekend, what a prick he had been and how he bit my breast. That his only saving grace was my Mother was coming up and that gave him some respite.

I have No idea! why he thought this was a good time to share such a story, or why he thought it was share worthy. I would have hoped that he would have been so remorseful and too embarrassed to ever say this out loud. I just don't honestly get it.

A couple of hours later we are all having a laugh, I have no idea this conversation took place. Until one of the chaps turns to my husband, laughing and say's "have another bite of the tit" and makes a biting gesture with his mouth.

I hit the roof and went mental, absolutely mental at the disrespect and another rapey comment.

My husband said nothing, not even a mate, wtf don't speak to my wife like that.
He said, it all happened so quickly he froze and didn't know what to do.
That he was shocked at how angry I had become.

Anyhow, people soon scurried off, I've hit the roof. The offender tried to apologies, and I said I don't do apologies and I don't do forgiveness for such behavior.

The following morning, I got up to leave it was early, H wanted to leave with me and told me to keep quite as others where asleep.
Who the fuck, says that to someone whose raging, so I made it my business very loudly and very clearly to let everyone whose to freighted to come out of their rooms known exactly what I was feeling and thinking. That's he's a prick, he's mates a prick, that he assaulted me that night, that's if he's going to talk about then he should use the correct words, that I did not consent for him to tell his mates, he's friend thought if was acceptable to make a rapey joke about it. That I deserve better.

Fast forward to today, H is feeling incredibly sorry for himself, sleeping in the spare room, wall of silence etc. I've told him how I feel, that's he's not the man I thought he was and if he really cared as much as he says he does. He would never have shown such disrespect or let his friend speak about me and in front of me in such a way.

Whilst my anger is now sub-siding from what it was and sadness is now sweeping in. I don't think I can get past this.

He's sworn he will get it sorted, speak to his friend and will make it up, win my trust back, blah blah blah. But I just don't think this is possible as I'm not sure how he can correct his actions and believe his words said must of been in a tone that allowed his friend to think his comment was permissible.

I will add we are both in our early 50's, so no excuse for being a young man who doesn't know better. This is both our second marriages, we've been together for 9 years, my first husband was abusive in both words and fists, the stress of this marriage left me in hospital with a serious illness.

Maybe because of my past I'm more sensitive as well as more aware of the actions of some men and therfor more on my guard.

But I just don't see how how I can navigate the above. Prior to this, we had been in a really good place, our relationships was very loving and couldn't have been better.

He swears he didn't tell the story to make a joke out of it, that he didn't think it would cause me so much upset.

There is obviously a pattern here, and AIBU for not personally not wanting to wait around for a next time?

Thanks for readying, I know it's a bit long winded x

OP posts:
BabySnarkDoDoo · 16/04/2024 15:48

This is a genuine LTB situation. The reason he doesn't want to stop being friends with horrible and abusive people is because he is one himself. I'm sorry for the way he's treated you, you deserve much better.

Dareisayiseethesunshine · 16/04/2024 15:51

Bloody hell op ltb. He sounds vile...

LaurieFairyCake · 16/04/2024 15:51

I just wouldn't feel safe around him again 🤷‍♀️
and why would I stay in an unsafe situation

The company he keeps is frightening

Chatonette · 16/04/2024 15:51

Toxic masculinity. The lot of them.

KreedKafer · 16/04/2024 15:52

I'm sorry, but your husband is much of a misogynist as his mates.

He may not be an 'alpha male' but he clearly enjoys the company of men who hate women. There's a reason he's choosing those men to hang out with and there's a reason he says nothing when they humiliate you. He's shown you who he really is many times (not least when he assaulted you) and you keep putting it down to him following the crowd, but he's not following the crowd - he's part of it.

My DP is also not an 'alpha male' and he'd rather die than have mates who talk about women like this. Actually, thinking about it, my brother IS an 'alpha male' and he would also die rather than have mates who talk about women like this.

Motnight · 16/04/2024 15:55

This is awful, Op. I couldn't get past this personally. Your DH is a weak man and an abuser.

PamPamPamPam · 16/04/2024 16:00

BabySnarkDoDoo · 16/04/2024 15:48

This is a genuine LTB situation. The reason he doesn't want to stop being friends with horrible and abusive people is because he is one himself. I'm sorry for the way he's treated you, you deserve much better.

Edited

This. He had literally assaulted you and then used the assault in conversation with his piggy mates to be the big man.

He doesn't respect you, he doesn't stand up for you, he doesn't respect or stand up for women. He spends his time with men who abuse and assault women and see them as wank fodder and caricatures.

It wouldn't surprise me if he tells his mates all about your private life as well.

An immature, juvenile, abusive specimen all round.

Maybeicanhelpyou · 16/04/2024 16:00

Oh my, im the same age as you, and ive honestly never heard anything like this. I’m surrounded by alpha males, but they all love themselves and respect women.
This man has shown you his true colours, believe what he has shown you. Im sorry.

Farahfawsett · 16/04/2024 16:00

Why do you keep blaming your H's friends for being a "bad influence" when he violently sexually assaulted you in your own home, when none of his friends were there to "impress" with his actions and then he bragged about it to another group of men?

Your H is the problem here, not the company he keeps.

Why are you staying with him? He seems to be getting worse.

But the biggest question is, why are you blaming other people for things a grown man (your H) has chosen to do?

Summerhillsquare · 16/04/2024 16:02

Once is a mistake, thrice is a pattern.

Poppybetty · 16/04/2024 16:03

I'm really sorry you are going through this. You have been sexually assaulted by your husband and I don't believe this will be the last time it happens. He is absolutely as disgusting and horrible as his friends, he has no respect for you or your feelings and for your own safety you need to start planning how to get out of there. Is there anyone supportive you can confide in? There is no need for you to calm down or get over this. Use your anger to propel yourself away from this man.

Newestname002 · 16/04/2024 16:05

@PaperClips007

He and his friends are the same. He is comfortable with them because he's the same as them.

You've heard the phrase "Birds of a feather flock together" - sounds very true here, doesn't it? His words and his actions with his mates are completely disrespectful to you and you absolutely don't have to try and downplay how it makes you feel. 🌹

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 16/04/2024 16:09

Stop blaming the friends, when he's the problem. He's rapey and vile.
I'd be divorcing.

SantasRubiksCube · 16/04/2024 16:09

Sorry op but your husband sounds just as vile as the rest of them, I assume he knows your past history of being abused yet used that story of his awful behaviour towards you to big himself up to all his great (not) mates. He's not going to change his friendship group, he's already made umpteen excuses for them. You try to make it out like all his friends are the ones at fault but it's almost like your H is worse, not only is he a wet blanket when it comes to defending you against disrespect but it sounds as if he looks up to these so called men and would bend over backwards just to be accepted as one of them. You sound like a strong person, you don't need to surround yourself with such toxic people.

nadine90 · 16/04/2024 16:10

There is little more unattractive than a man with no spine. You don’t have to be an “alpha male” to call out shitty behaviour and tbh, the fact he wants to be friends with that kind of scum tells me that he’s probably much the same when you’re out of earshot. If any of the men in my life heard shit like that coming from a friend, well they would no longer be their friend.

His assault on you was unforgivable. I have never in my life, however drunk or angry, felt any desire to bite someone! That is not normal, it’s barbaric! Alcohol is not even close to an excuse. As pp said, he has shown you who is, believe him. You are not safe with this man. Get out, while you still can. I’m so sorry op. You don’t deserve any of this ❤️ xxx

Waffleson · 16/04/2024 16:10

I don't think the friends are the problem, it's the DH. I can't believe he bit you. That wasn't the fault of his friends. I've been blind drunk before and I have never, ever hurt another person, nor has my DH. The fact he told his friends and they made a joke of it says a lot about the lot of them.

Greywitch2 · 16/04/2024 16:11

Flee with the craws, get shot with the craws, as my granny used to say.

You are known by the company you keep. And he keeps company with sleazy, toxic, inadequate little men who like to show off and put women down.

It would be enough for me to begin divorce proceedings. It's not a one off, is it? It's a repeated pattern of disrespectful behaviour towards women. Including you.

StarlightLime · 16/04/2024 16:13

I hate how some people describe disgusting behaviour by their total arsehole partner and still feel compelled to preface it with "he's a good, kind man" 🤔
You have no idea what a decent man looks like, op. Sorry.

Tempnamechng · 16/04/2024 16:13

I'm sorry that you had to go through this op. Don't let anyone tell you that your past trauma has made you sensitive; I think it has just made you aware and taught you to listen to your gut.
I would be contacting my solicitor, being a nice guy when he is sober isn't good enough.

MartinsSpareCalculator · 16/04/2024 16:14

Why are you so insistent that these people influence your husband, rather than this being who he actually is??

He sounds like a dick.

Planesmistakenforstars · 16/04/2024 16:16

Birds of a feather flock together. But in this case it's more that shit attracts flies. Your husband is one and the same as the misogynistic, abusive men he keep company with. There is no point in having yet another conversation, where he flaps his mouth and tells you the things you want to hear. He is not going to change, because this is who he is at heart.

JamesPringle · 16/04/2024 16:18

This isn't happening because of his friends, it isn't because he's desperate to be liked and is afraid of confrontation. He isn't standing up for you because that is who he is. An absolute, complete bastard who has manipulated you into thinking he's not really a prick, it's just his mates...

I'd consider reporting him for assault, and there is no way, NO WAY, I'd spend another day with such a bellend.

pikkumyy77 · 16/04/2024 16:18

It might have been true that you DH is just a weak, chameleon, of a man—in fact that probably drew you to him—but he chooses who he associates with so you end up with this Beta asshole who imitates the most awful people and who has no sense of integrity or personal ethics to limit the damage.

”We are who we pretend to be so be careful of who you pretend to be” —Kurt Vonnegut.

You won’t be able to fix this by speaking up for yourself or calling this out in public. He thinks he is too weak—and so he is too weak—to change.

SuncreamAndIceCream · 16/04/2024 16:20

He's friends with creepy, obnoxious, toxic, sleazy men and won't stand up for you = he approves of this behaviour. He thinks it's something to aspire to.

He's weak and immature. I actually feel a bit ill at how he behaves. It's like a deep seated personality disorder.

I have to say I'm really impressed with how you have dealt with these incidents. Lots of women would have frozen, played nice, not made a fuss. I don't know how you managed it but bloody well done.

I'm afraid the next step is to get rid of the husband.

MonsteraMama · 16/04/2024 16:27

Your husband is almost worse than the misogynistic twats he hangs around with. He's like the weaselly kid who'll hold your hands behind your back so the bully can batter you.

I hope you realise all of this means he values the opinions of these pigs over your feelings. He told a story about sexually assaulting you to amuse them, because he knows they're the kind of people who find sexual assault funny.

He's a disgusting pig and you shouldn't want to get past this, you should be kicking him out on his cowardly, boot licking arse.