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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:
OriginalSkang · 14/07/2026 00:21

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:12

I’m maybe going to go a bit against the grain here, and say that, while I appreciate that what happened was traumatic and awful, maybe you don’t have to see it as such a humiliating private thing to discuss.

Now, I’m not saying that what B did at the bar was ok, AT ALL. But, going forward with the other friends - you have nothing to be ashamed of. What happened is not a reflection on you and it does not define you.

Choosing to talk about one’s grief is personal (if say, you were bereaved) you wouldn’t necessarily want to talk about all the details and you shouldn’t feel pressured into a conversation you don’t want to have by someone who’s overly interested in the morbid details. But that doesn’t mean you have any reason to feel personally ashamed of the pain or the experience.

I don’t know if your DH was young when he told them, of you’ve been together 9 years it’s possible he told them early on and didn’t really know how to make them understand how serious he was that he didn’t want them making certain jokes. So I’d forgive him.

I don’t get why your DH’s friends can’t accept that he doesn’t want to be friends with B or why they need to discuss anything. But if you want to be part of that conversation and you want an apology fair enough. 💐

This is a horrible post. Where did the OP say she felt ashamed?

OriginalSkang · 14/07/2026 00:23

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:21

I do get that, I just think, after all the work the Op has done, it’s important to remember that she has no reason to feel ashamed. That, even though you might not want people to know (which is fair enough) she doesn’t need to feel embarrassed or humiliated. She has done nothing wrong.

Sorry, what reason do you think that this guy was asking her these questions? You think a man asks a woman in depth questions about her rape in public because of morbid curiosity? He was traumatising her. Its nothing to do with shame

YeastAndCheeseInfatuation · 14/07/2026 00:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:24

OriginalSkang · 14/07/2026 00:21

This is a horrible post. Where did the OP say she felt ashamed?

I didn’t mean it to be horrible at all, and you can feel free to report it. I am actually trying to help the Op to deal with her feelings that she has expressed without joining a chorus of voices saying they’d hate for anyone to know that. What these friends have been told is no reflection on her whatsoever.

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 14/07/2026 00:25

SafetyLady · 14/07/2026 00:07

I hope your DH now realises that he should not have told them. He's used your trauma as a 'reason' why they shouldn't make poor taste comments, as if there had to be a justification that was serious enough, rather than just requiring them to behave like decent human beings in your home. Which any parter deserves, not just one who has had something very horrible happen to them!
No, they don't get to discuss his behaviour to you behind your back if you don't want that to happen.

What's B going to say? He didn't mean it "like that"? You've taken it the wrong way?
Seriously, is there any explanation that would be acceptable?

But if you're not a witness, they get to persuade /peer pressure your husband into giving him another chance, quite likely without even fully acknowledging how bad it was.

Yes, they'll feel uncomfortable if you are there. Good, they should!

The "D"H sounds utterly spineless. He says he has OP's back, but folds at the slightest pressure from his friends, whether he's asking them not to tell offensive jokes in his home or whether he's rightly decided to cut off a "friend" who turned out to be a repugnant human being.

YeastAndCheeseInfatuation · 14/07/2026 00:25

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:25

OriginalSkang · 14/07/2026 00:23

Sorry, what reason do you think that this guy was asking her these questions? You think a man asks a woman in depth questions about her rape in public because of morbid curiosity? He was traumatising her. Its nothing to do with shame

No, of course not, and I said it wasn’t ok AT ALL and compared it to being overly interested in morbid details. I was just trying to make the point that pain doesn’t have to be humiliating for the Op

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 14/07/2026 00:25

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:21

I do get that, I just think, after all the work the Op has done, it’s important to remember that she has no reason to feel ashamed. That, even though you might not want people to know (which is fair enough) she doesn’t need to feel embarrassed or humiliated. She has done nothing wrong.

Sure, but ultimately the issue is her DP has zero respect for OP's privacy and trauma

It is all very well saying OP has nothing to. E ashamed of - that's true - but even knowing this event is being discussed by her husband's friends would bring it back to life and re-traumatise many people.

Not being ashamed doesn't make the terrible violation of the experience go away

Imbusytodaysorry · 14/07/2026 00:26

@Anon8761 “B” is a creep . He was getting off on talking to you like that it’s shocking .
Why did a group off men choose that as their subject. .
I don’t think I could be with your husband either.
Op you deserve so much better

TheSmellOfSea · 14/07/2026 00:26

How bizarre. They all sound very strange. Dh included.

EponymousEponine · 14/07/2026 00:27

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:21

I do get that, I just think, after all the work the Op has done, it’s important to remember that she has no reason to feel ashamed. That, even though you might not want people to know (which is fair enough) she doesn’t need to feel embarrassed or humiliated. She has done nothing wrong.

As a survivor of rape, there is a certain look that comes into people's faces when you disclose your experience to them. OP is absolutely within her rights to choose who she does and does not want to disclose this information to. I know from experience that it changes how people see you - whether they mean to or not. Its just a fact.

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:28

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 14/07/2026 00:25

Sure, but ultimately the issue is her DP has zero respect for OP's privacy and trauma

It is all very well saying OP has nothing to. E ashamed of - that's true - but even knowing this event is being discussed by her husband's friends would bring it back to life and re-traumatise many people.

Not being ashamed doesn't make the terrible violation of the experience go away

Yes I am quite aware that nothing makes the experience go away.

My comment was for the OP, and I hope she finds some value in it, and sees what I meant to say in a supportive way. It was not intended to cause offence to anyone.

OtterlyAstounding · 14/07/2026 00:29

B is a creepy pervert. End of. He was interrogating you for his own voyeuristic enjoyment. I wouldn't be surprised if he did know what age you were, and was just pretending not to, given his line of questioning, and the fact that your trauma seems to be a very present piece of knowledge amongst your DH's friends.

I'd also struggle to trust your husband and any of his friends again after that; not only are his friends the kind of people to make jokes about sexual assault/rape, but he clearly usually laughs along with them, and only stopped them because you were upstairs.
There was absolutely no need for your husband to tell them about your trauma – he could've just told them not to make gross jokes. Or even, if peer pressure usually gets to him, not to make gross jokes in earshot of my wife – no need to mention what happened to you. Most women don't like jokes about sexual assault.

If he did want to confide in a friend for emotional support for himself, or to help him support you better, then he should've asked you first, and picked someone who wouldn't spread it around the group.

I'm sorry, OP. It's weird – unless the revelation about yor trauma only happened a few weeks ago, it seems like B at least must mention your rape fairly frequently with his friends for your DH's other friend to immediately guess that was the issue. Or it comes up between them all in general now and then? Which is strange, because sadly it's hardly uncommon for a woman or girl to have been sexually abused or raped, and it's all long in the past so what on earth is there for them to discuss? Is your DH bringing up your emotional state/well-being with them?

And what do they all want to talk about with your DH and B?? It seems pointless, as he was just an outright creep.

smooththecat · 14/07/2026 00:29

I am a survivor myself. Your DH does not have your back and can’t be trusted, I’m sorry. It’s just not something you share socially, whatever he gives as a reason for doing it. You will continue to be retraumatised if you stay in this situation. I’m not focusing on the friend because the core problem here is caused by your husband. They’ve already been to your house saying terrible stuff and then this guy in the pub who is a potential psychopath. If your husband wants these people as friends, why?

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:30

EponymousEponine · 14/07/2026 00:27

As a survivor of rape, there is a certain look that comes into people's faces when you disclose your experience to them. OP is absolutely within her rights to choose who she does and does not want to disclose this information to. I know from experience that it changes how people see you - whether they mean to or not. Its just a fact.

I am aware of that too. The trouble is that it had already been done, and I was attempting to help mitigate the feeling of humiliation the Op has, instead of joining a chorus of people saying “yes, that’s outrageously humiliating”. There’s no reason it should be for her. She has done nothing wrong

krustykittens · 14/07/2026 00:30

So, it all came out because DH's friend were making rape jokes while you were in the house and told them to pack it in,d in case you heard? And then one friend decided to question you in detail about it and how it affected your sex life, including asking if your DH satisfied you?! Fuck me, they sound like a creepy, rapey bunch! Your DH needs to shut down any discussions and preferably, get some new friends. Stay the hell away from the lot of them!

user1471557598 · 14/07/2026 00:31

You do know this is all on your husband? Irrespective of all else he was the one that betrayed your trust- don’t forget that….

pikkumyy77 · 14/07/2026 00:31

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 13/07/2026 23:50

Ugh, B is absolutely disgusting. Your DH has your back, clearly. But also understandably doesn't want to lose his whole friendship group. In the context of why he told them, I think that's forgiveable personally. It doesn't sound like he went into detail, just that you were assaulted. I doubt it ever crossed your DH's mind that it would be weaponised in such an ugly way by someone he had known for 30 years.

Playing devil's advocate I don't think they are planning on meeting to discuss you or your trauma, but to discuss if they can salvage their relationship (or not) and if DH will presumably accept B's apology and how the group will move forward with whatever the new dynamic ends up being. Your trauma or what happened to you and how you've dealt with it since doesn't need to be part of the conversation. It may be that DH wants to hold the meeting so they stop bleating on about it and accept he won't be friends with B.

So they are meeting to minimize her trauma and minimize what B did so they can all go back to being jolly boys again.

MissFancyDay · 14/07/2026 00:31

I mean, good grief, it's inhumane. I'm so cross I can't sleep.

If the Op chooses to discuss her trauma then she chooses who to discuss it with. Her therapist, her friends, her 'dear' husband.

Not a group of her husband's friends.

OriginalSkang · 14/07/2026 00:32

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:30

I am aware of that too. The trouble is that it had already been done, and I was attempting to help mitigate the feeling of humiliation the Op has, instead of joining a chorus of people saying “yes, that’s outrageously humiliating”. There’s no reason it should be for her. She has done nothing wrong

You are the only person who mentioning it being humiliating or shameful

tiptoptoemaytoe · 14/07/2026 00:32

What a dick your husband is- this is his mess- wtf did he need to make this all about him by sharing YOUR trauma with THEM?! In good ol’ MN terms, you have a husband problem.

Giraffehaver · 14/07/2026 00:33

How fucking dare they?! I am livid on your behalf, being discussed by these men as if you're a problem to their friendship. Your DH has to back you and if you want to be there you should be. It's outrageous for them to act in this way. Husband should pick his side and stick to it

AnonymityAnonymity · 14/07/2026 00:34

Anon8761 · 13/07/2026 23:39

@GingerAndTheBiscuits apparently he told them because they were at our house making jokes in poor taste. And he'd said to stop as I was upstairs and then he told them the trauma. He said he thought I'd be angry so he didn't let me know that they knew. It's all horrible.

So his group of friends when they get together are in the habit of making jokes in poor taste?
Are these jokes about women being raped, or similar?

And these are the type of men that he counts as his friends and who he chose to share your very private and personal past with? I would assume that friend B is not the only pervert amongst them if this is the level of their conversation.

Your H has behaved appallingly.

If you can forgive him for his betrayal of you then he should be cutting himself off completely from this bunch of unsavoury guys. Why on earth would he even consider going and discussing his wife with a bunch of men in this way?

You have been treated disgracefully, not least by your own H. I'm so sorry OP.

inickedthisname · 14/07/2026 00:34

OriginalSkang · 14/07/2026 00:32

You are the only person who mentioning it being humiliating or shameful

Ok I apologise. She said she felt exposed and used a lot of language that I felt
expressed shame about people knowing what had happened. Maybe I read too much between the lines and I am wrong.

andfinallyhereweare · 14/07/2026 00:35

No fuck them. @Anon8761 sorry op but fuck them all.

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