How to word advice to friend . Please advise.

[anotherbloodylead]

My f friend who is male is in a relationship with a woman who likes to tell him daily that she has been hit on . He said she thrives on this.
When they were talking and texting initially she told him that she had slept with her ex .. that week. Yet he still went in a date with her ... and here they are.
She regularly meets up with her ex and his girlfriend for drinks.
They've broken up a few times and are now back together again this week.
I've never advised him before as he hasn't asked for it. He is utterly tormented. He would now like to talk about it .

How do I advise without hurting him more.
I believe that she needs the external
Validation from what he says she does.
My initial thoughts are.... how the hell does he tolerate this and why?
Please advise , thank you.

If he's only asked you to talk about it and not specifically asked for advice, I would just listen. Believe me, nobody who is determined to stay with someone who others think are no good for them will thank you for advice to the contrary. Even if they ask for it now, if they end up staying together in the longer term, it will only alienate your own friendship with them as they'll feel they can't talk to you about it when problems arise in the future.
Keep you comments and opinions as neutral as possible, listen and reassure.

Thanks for your reply.
I believe that this is similar to an emotionally abusive relationship.
He is very confused and doesn't know what to do.
For example, he has met a woman and has clicked with her on line. He wants to meet her but feels awful for feeling this way. She won't meet him unless he is single.
I'm pretty sure he wants advice. I think he's so deep into this that he can't see the reality of it.
I'm shocked that his self esteem is so poor. He has always been so confident yet his head is wrecked from this relationship.

I would advise you to keep out of it entirely tbh.

Thanks for your response @Dacadactyl . Should I just say sorry I want no part of this ?
I cannot see myself wording my thoughts correctly and the last thing I want to do is hurt him more

Don't get involved. No good will come of it.

But you've said you only think he wants advice, not that he's asked for it. Why go to the extreme of telling him you 'don't want any part of it'. In your book, is there nothing between I'm here to advise you how to conduct your relationships and I don't want to listen to you when you want to talk?
The middle ground is to be a supportive friend who has the ability to listen.