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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is a red flag?

22 replies

orangemangop · 10/04/2026 09:24

I’m seeing a man, been in a relationship with him for a couple of months and I thought he was green flags all the way… until he told me about his exes

first ex was his first love, teenager to early 20s (4 yrs). He said they split as she wasn’t able to have kids but fell pregnant and had an abortion that she couldn’t live with. Somewhere along the line she suggested a threesome to repair the relationship but then couldn’t handle him “having too much of a good time with the other woman”. Something about this just feels off.

second ex he was with for 9 years, owns a house with. They never had kids due to her career taking priority. He said they were “if it happens it happens” but he “put a stop to it” when he discovered a web of lies she’d been telling. Those lies were about her wracking up debt, but yet everything they bought was in his name as she had poor credit, so presumably he knew about he debt??? They split 6 months after the lies, with him saying he stopped loving her for those 6 months but “stayed to help her” as she was in a lot of debt.

she wants him to sell the house or buy her out, as she had to move back in with her family. I asked why she left not him and he said “it’s my house”. She had parents she could live with; whereas he wouldn’t live with his dad as his dads a hoarder and they don’t get on well enough.

hes now saying he’s going to just basically ignore it all for another year while he figures it out, because he can’t remortgage (fixed contract at work makes it difficult) and doesn’t want to sell due to the price of rent and him having to downsize. That makes sense but it irked me, as she’s suggested she’ll get solicitors involved and he mocks her to me, saying she’s stupid and will waste her own equity and solicitors won’t do anything etc… he complains she’s called him selfish and delusional… he says she’s crazy, a nightmare of lies and he wish he’d never been with her… he said she called him a narcissist but he thinks she’s the one with narcissistic traits

he volunteered all of his within the first couple of weeks when all I asked was how long he’d beeen single…

Turns out they broke up in May 2025, though seemingly friendly until Oct 2025 when all of a sudden he deleted her from social media (he told me he did this). He was seeing a woman short term for a month in Nov 2025, single and lonely Dec 2025 and met me New Year’s Eve…

i assumed he’d been single a while not 7 months…

he then said he’d talked badly about his exes because that’s what you do with a new woman because she won’t want to hear nice things about exes??? I said that was childish… he’s 36 for gods sake…

also doesn’t add up that they hadn’t had sex in 9 months but were trying for a baby and he stopped trying when he found out about the debt (6 months before they split)…

not much adds up with him and things change, but if I ask him he says I remember things differently!!

also seems very quick to move on?

AIBU - seems legit
YNBU - red flag

OP posts:
TittyGajillions · 10/04/2026 09:34

There isn't one single green flag about that man, move along .

whattheysay · 10/04/2026 09:37

Yes, his ex said he’s a narcissist I suggest you believe her

toomuchfaff · 10/04/2026 09:37

that man is a walking red flag, red oozes from every pore in his body, he is enveloped by a red flag aura.

Run dont walk, block him on everything.

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 10/04/2026 09:38

Hes telling you what he thinks you want you hear- none of it us his fault etc etc- and it all sounds dire. Red flags galore. Get rid before you become the latest in a line of 'crazy exs'.

takealettermsjones · 10/04/2026 09:39

Even if he's right and she's crazy (spoiler: she's probably not) - why would you get involved in drama if you don't have to?

TheMillionthBeautyAddict · 10/04/2026 09:39

Throw him back! Yuck the threesome comment alone was enough!

Silverbirchleaf · 10/04/2026 09:40

Whether it’s a red flag or not, it’s given you the ick so ditch him.

toomuchfaff · 10/04/2026 09:45

In everything he is the victim, its always someone elses fault, never his.

No accountability. No self reflection, no self awareness - just everyone elses fault.

On the other hand, why would you want to be involved with a man who only attracts crazy women? surely that makes you crazy too (hint.. it doesn't), he's got such bad luck to only be attracting the crazy women.

Nodlikeyouwerelistening · 10/04/2026 09:47

He’s horrible! She’s stuck living back with her parents unable to move on with her life because he’s lording it up in HER house (she owns it too!) and he’s wrong btw, if she takes him to court to force a sale and wins (which she will by the way because there is no good reason that it can’t be sold, ie. No kids etc.) then he will pay her legal costs through his portion of the equity. If he continues to drag his feet the court even have the power to hand full responsibility of the sale to her, where she can dictate the price and everything else. He’s a fool.
Run a mile. This guy has issues.

Cantgetausername87 · 10/04/2026 09:48

Yeah this guy doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. Run away - you don't even owe him an explanation this early on x

pictoosh · 10/04/2026 09:53

Yes it's all very messy but none of it his fault. Of course. He's just a well-intentioned soul.

Suspect his ex might tell a different story. You are right to sit up and take note.

Catza · 10/04/2026 10:04

he then said he’d talked badly about his exes because that’s what you do with a new woman because she won’t want to hear nice things about exes???

That alone would be enough reason to can the whole thing. He's admitted to lying and gave you an excuse. This will be his pattern going forward. It's a no from me.

tamade · 10/04/2026 10:05

@orangemangop Been together a few months, green flags all the way, but he unloaded all of that baggage within the first couple of weeks.

Has something just happened to tip you over the edge? if you accepted his side of the story for maybe 6 to 10 weeks and now wonder if he is a bit off?

If you don't like him any more you can dump him for any reason, especially if he might be narcissistic.

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/04/2026 10:08

Throw him back.

yeesh · 10/04/2026 10:12

🗑️

Swiftie1878 · 10/04/2026 10:14

Yuk!

L0V315 · 10/04/2026 10:51

We is a wanker, get rid

IntheMoodforWong · 10/04/2026 10:53

Sounds like he's lying about pretty much everything to me. He probably ran up the debts himself.

Dinosaursloveunderpants1 · 10/04/2026 11:02

From the info you've provided, it's a no from me.

Do you have children? Do you want children? I find it odd if he wants kids and he's 36 but doesn't have any.

L0V315 · 10/04/2026 11:14

*He

Bunnybackinherwarren · 10/04/2026 11:27

Anyone who claims their ex is crazy needs avoiding..
When my dh's ex moved out of his house he helped pack up her stuff, wished her well and she went on her way.
She is still with om...

Whosthetabbynow · 10/04/2026 11:34

Too messy for my liking.

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