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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DH friends want to discuss me, I want to be there, AIBU (TW)

739 replies

Anon8761 · 13/07/2026 23:25

NC.

This may be outting but I don't really care at this stage. It's also late so forgive any typos and I'm sorry if I forget anything and end up drip feeding.

TW: Mentions past sexual assault.

Me and DH married 5 years together 9.
DH has a friend group who meet weekly for food or a particular hobby they all enjoy. DH met most of these friends in school, they've been friends 30 years.

I was out one evening at a social event. I saw one of these friends sat on his own. We were at a bar type place. I text DH and asked if I should invite him to join me and friends. DH said of course, he even said he was happy friend (B) was there as if I became anxious or anything, he'd have my back. Sort of 'B is one of my people.. he'll look after you!' mentality.

I have PTSD. I was spiked and raped at 17 by 2 men. So social situations in bars can be difficult at times.
I'm 33 now, but still struggle quite a bit with flashbacks and things. I've worked immensely hard with EMDR therapy to try and overcome my difficulties. So, with that in mind DH was happy B was there.

I invited B over and almost immediately he said he was surprised to see me there 'because of what happened to me (the rapes)'
I was shocked. I didn't even know he knew.

He then proceeded to tell me the whole 'inner circle knew'. That DH had told them all.
Worse still, he carried on discussing my trauma at the table, at the bar, he wouldn't stop digging.

He even asked if DH satisfied me in bed.
He asked if I enjoyed sex more before my trauma or after. (He was unaware the age I was raped. But regardless. It made me VERY uncomfortable).

The list goes on... And on..
He said 'sorry if this is making you uncomfortable' mid way through but then continued?? So I don't think he was actually sorry.

This was ALL within ear shot of my friends, whom don't know my trauma, because it's private. Ultimately he made my whole evening about the worst time of my life, ever. He made me feel it defined me again, when I've worked tirelessly.. to be me and recover.

I end up leaving the social. A few friends text me to see if I am ok after as said I looked uncomfortable.
I told DH.

DH was angry. Has told his other friends. DH wants to never see B again.
However, other friends in this stupid inner circle now want some sort of meeting with them and DH and B.
To discuss this.. issue. To 'work through it' because it will make life difficult with their meet ups.

DH said to one friend, 'but what if it was your wife? And I'd said this, you wouldn't want a discussion would you?' And he agreed but still is pushing this, 'discussion' 'incase the friendship is salvageable'.

DH still wants to cut B off, but is willing to discuss because his friends keep asking him to.
But I'm so hurt, B attended our wedding etc.. he was supposed to look out for me that night, but instead made me feel unsafe and uncomfortable.

And quite frankly, why are these men planning on sitting around to discuss this? I feel vulnerable enough now. I feel upset enough.

So, I said to DH, if they plan on discussing this, I want to be there. DH said 'but I do have your back on this.' but I've asked DH to instead invite them to our house and I will send DC to my mums, because.. I don't know, I want minimum an apology before I ask B to leave.

DH said his friends are likely worried I will make them uncomfortable. But AIBU? I don't like the idea of them sitting and discussing it, especially B.

Sorry I'm a bit heartbroken.
Thanks.

OP posts:
SummerPeonies2026 · 14/07/2026 14:58

So the boss says to dh your performance/time keeping etc has been really poor
recently, and dh no doubt says eyed downcast that things are really difficult at home, you know how it is.

Dh knows his boss is never going to challenge him on that, or push the subject after his disclosure. My fucking god op. What kind of man does this?

It is being used as a catch all excuse in every area of his life, he has probably realised it has helped no end as he escapes scrutiny. Meanwhile you are entirely unaware at home.

I would be packing his bags.
He has been dining on this for years. Saint dh dealing with his poor Mrs at home.

No wonder his friends felt they could joke in YOUR house about rape, and why B was so comfortable causing so much harm to you in public, they all know what he is doing to you. They also mock dh for the limp weak leech that he is - this is so terribly toxic at any stage of your recovery, and for your dd. I am so sorry.

RigsbysCat · 14/07/2026 15:00

Anon8761 · 14/07/2026 14:22

It seems everyone knows.
Bar me...

DH has told people like his boss, years ago. He had YEARS to tell me he'd told him... Another man.

He said it was Incase he needed to leave in an emergency? And his MIL as she looks after our DC?!

I don't understand. I'm so disappointed. I am actually lost for words. Sorry.

Dear God OP, this is an absolute outrage.

This was not his information to share among all and sundry, how dare he? I am speechless and incensed on your behalf.

Only you can decide if you can ever move past this colossal betrayal of trust and what if any actions you'd require from him to be able to do this.

Is he facing up to the hurt he has caused you in any meaningful way?

Seriestwo · 14/07/2026 15:01

BrickProblems · 14/07/2026 14:49

Also anyone who thinks it’s fair for a woman who’s been victimised by men to then be discussed without her consent in an all male environment is on crack. They just want to get together, reaffirm their bond, make it your fault/blame you for being touchy, and move on and expect you to abide.

Here is whose fault this is:

  1. your husband
  2. B
  3. the rest of them

Here is whose fault it isn’t:

  1. you

Reposting this from Brick because it is important

ChaosNegotiator · 14/07/2026 15:06

This is horrific, I'm so sorry. I really think I would struggle to get past this. It goes well beyond needing to share with one or two people to get support (and even that should only have been with your explicit permission).

He really does seem to have been gossiping about it to everyone in his life and the only reason I can imagine is that he feels it makes him look like some kind of heroic do gooder. It's disgusting.

Tableforjoan · 14/07/2026 15:07

This is gross. Your dh has basically taken your trauma and made it his whole life to outsiders.

How he always needs extra care attention time and forgiveness even at work because you know just in case. Because of what happened to the mrs you know…

I find that creepy. Why is what happened to you sexually years before you met so important to your dh’s entire life. Why does his boss and his mates and his mum need to know. Why has he given them all the details.

Did dh know about it before you got married? Before you got engaged?

Did he just want a woman to play protector to, to make him look good to his peers.

Sassylovesbooks · 14/07/2026 15:10

I'm sorry OP, that your husband has turned out not to be the man you thought he was. Your husband told his boss, 'in case he needed to leave work early'...so he's disclosed your personal information, and in the process has probably made you out to be mentally unstable. So he's used your trauma as a convenient excuse should be wish to bunk off early?! He's told his Mum, to a degree I do understand that but it should have been something you consented too. As I said further up thread, your husband has likely told all in sundry, and it appears sadly I am correct.

Your husband is making extremely poor excuses as to why he's chosen to tell all these people your personal information. No one needed to know. You told him, in confidence because he's your husband, and you trusted him. It should have never gone any further than your husband.

Could it be that he wants to be seen as the 'good guy', 'the hero', 'the loving husband who protects his wife' etc because it gives him a ego boost, and he likes the attention?

The only appropriate response, is for your husband to walk away from the friendship group. How can your husband remain in a friendship group that B is part of? If he does, then he's minimising what happened to you and B's behaviour. In which case, I couldn't stay married to him.

GrantMyWishes · 14/07/2026 15:12

Good grief! Has your DH got verbal diarrhea OP, as it seems he can't stop himself blabbing about your personal trauma? I suspect that just about everyone he's ever talked to since meeting you, knows at the rate he's been going. I honestly don't think I could continue my relationship with him after this, as he clearly doesn't have any idea of what is appropriate to share with others, and probably discusses your sex life with his mates too.

I'm SO sorry.

KiwiFall · 14/07/2026 15:14

No, your husband’s boss didn’t need to know. If something had come up and he needed to leave in an emergency all he had to say is “sorry family emergency I need to leave”. Nor your MIL (as looking after the children WTF has that got to do with anything?!) unless YOU wanted her to know. I stand by my previous comment that he’s been telling everyone to make him look like a hero as your saviour and reducing you from your past trauma.

Passingthrough123 · 14/07/2026 15:14

Anon8761 · 14/07/2026 14:22

It seems everyone knows.
Bar me...

DH has told people like his boss, years ago. He had YEARS to tell me he'd told him... Another man.

He said it was Incase he needed to leave in an emergency? And his MIL as she looks after our DC?!

I don't understand. I'm so disappointed. I am actually lost for words. Sorry.

Can he really not see that it wasn't his story to tell, and that he's breached your right as a rape victim to lifelong anonymity?

Sorry, but this would be it for me. He's a trauma thief who's been dining out on your ordeal for years to elicit sympathy for himself. It's sickening.

SusieMyersonAndAssociates · 14/07/2026 15:17

I’m so sorry OP. I have been through a similar trauma in my past and the thought of so many people knowing just turns my stomach. It really does seem that we can’t trust any of them 😔

Daleksatemyshed · 14/07/2026 15:18

What a bastard, he's used your suffering as gossip and social currency Op. I hope you're fucking furious by now because it's time to stop be reasonable, it's time to verbally rip his head off. My God, I'm so sorry Op

Gardenisablooming · 14/07/2026 15:19

The only reason that comes to mind is he wants to appear to be your fucking hero. To everyone else because sadly your needs come last.

The nail in the coffin imo that he told his dm and his boss. All about him.

Ihaveneedofwaternear · 14/07/2026 15:19

I'm so sorry your husband has done this, OP. You must be so devastated.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 14/07/2026 15:20

Does he think it makes him look more exciting or something? Unbelievable.

Who else has he told? Give him one chance to literally list everyone.

I’m sorry but I wouldn’t be able to get over this. These are a number of conversations over the years with a number of unconnected people, not one of whom needed to know.

He has been working and presumably has the money to say ‘look, I need to talk to someone about this, if I pay for a few counselling sessions are you okay with that?’

And does he not have the strength of personality to say to his friends ‘why the hell are you joking about rape?’. Why can’t he say it anyway, why does it have to rely on what happened to you, they shouldn’t be joking about it under any circumstance.

SylvanMoon · 14/07/2026 15:42

Gobsmacking. Have you challenged him as to what kind of "emergency" he envisioned this having happened in your past would cause him ever having to drop everything and leave work for? Or how it would affect your MiL looking after your DC? I would be fuming right now. And it's him I'd be putting on the hot spot. In what universe did he ever think telling all and sundry your private hell would be helpful to you?

MinnieMountain · 14/07/2026 15:45

I'm so sorry OP. He's an utter cunt.

My DS only needed telling ONCE when he was 7 that he wasn't allowed to talk to others about certain aspects of my having had cancer. And what happened to you is way more traumatic and personal.

MissFancyDay · 14/07/2026 15:47

Anon8761 · 14/07/2026 14:22

It seems everyone knows.
Bar me...

DH has told people like his boss, years ago. He had YEARS to tell me he'd told him... Another man.

He said it was Incase he needed to leave in an emergency? And his MIL as she looks after our DC?!

I don't understand. I'm so disappointed. I am actually lost for words. Sorry.

Ahhhhh I'm so sorry love.

I wish I could support you in person. But do know there are many women here who are beyond outraged at where you find yourself today.

I just hope that your husband turns this around, realises the enormity of his betrayal and makes some sort of amends. If you still want him to of course.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 14/07/2026 15:48

Anon8761 · 14/07/2026 14:22

It seems everyone knows.
Bar me...

DH has told people like his boss, years ago. He had YEARS to tell me he'd told him... Another man.

He said it was Incase he needed to leave in an emergency? And his MIL as she looks after our DC?!

I don't understand. I'm so disappointed. I am actually lost for words. Sorry.

This is absolute BS nonsense.

Absolutely disgraceful and a huge breech of trust.
Just an awful awful thing to do

This is jaw dropping lying awful - i hope you are getting support IRL

What he has done is such a violation
Given he has done ot on repeat so many times he is clearly "getting something out of it"... playing the good guy, garnering 2nd hand sympathy....something

godmum56 · 14/07/2026 15:51

OH OP there's not coming back from this is there? I am so sorry you have wasted 9 years of your life with a moronic arsehole. I hope you have got some genuine in real life support. We are all here hand holding.

thepariscrimefiles · 14/07/2026 15:53

BeardySchnauzer · 14/07/2026 14:28

But how much detail has he gone into?

its totally bizarre - if he genuinely felt he would need to leave work at short notice (did he ever?) he didn’t need to give details beyond his wife being unwell generically

its almost like he is revelling in being adjacent to such an awful crime and second hand victim hood

I agree with this. It's as though he actually loves the drama and notoriety of what happened to OP and telling other people about it makes him feel more interesting and exciting. He'll also enjoy the vicarious sympathy.

MageKing · 14/07/2026 15:54

If you were realy struggling and did routinely or potentially need your Dh to rush home at short notice.... it still would be uncessary to diclose this level of detail.

I agree with the poster who said he seems to be dining out on your trauma. And he's either making it about him - seekign sympathy and support from everyone he knows because it's SOOOOOO hard for him to manage his feelings about this trauma that happened to you or, worse, he's using it to paint you as some traumatised victim who behaves erratically/is unreliable.

God, it's mental.

MsJinks · 14/07/2026 15:55

He’s wearing it like some badge of honour or to make himself ‘interesting’ and a main character, or even to skive at work I guess. Never has a boss needed to know such information btw.

At no point as he thought about you or even the general social norm of not discussing someone else’s very private information.

I assume he responded appropriately and was supportive when you told him - and has never appeared to he this type of guy- makes it harder now though I know.

He needs to understand what an almighty fuck up he made of this and how very wrong it has all been - if you do see any way through this, or even if you don’t as you have kids together.

It’s the worst thing to find everyone knows something so personal about you - it’s all on him though for being such an absolute dickhead (not the word I wanted to use) so keep your head up high and be proud of how far you’ve come whilst taking time to consider next steps. 💗

outerspacepotato · 14/07/2026 15:59

Tell B to go to hell.

Your husband basically uses what happened to you as story fodder and work excuses.

I'd divorce. This is massively toxic any way you look at it.

SummerPeonies2026 · 14/07/2026 16:02

It seems he has integrated your trauma into his identity and life story as if it’s his own, seeing the value of a poor me story, and wheeling it out every now and then for shock, attention or to excuse his behaviour when he needs it. What abject weakness of character to use the deeply personal and sensitive life changing trauma that you shared with him in GOOD FAITH like this. Trusting him enough to tell him the most difficult parts of your history, and he has monetised and used it like a currency to buy favour/ease and attention.

I can feel tears in my eyes imagining the pain of this for you op. To have the very man you thought loved you. Even the fact you questioned whether he would hate you creates alarm bells, because you know you can not rely on him. Not at all.

I don’t know how he can turn this around at this point. This is who he has always been.

ilovemykindle · 14/07/2026 16:11

Divorce divorce divorce