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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

New boyfriend has told me he cheated on ex fiancée at the start of their relationship, how would you feel?

50 replies

Lollyloo38 · 05/04/2024 09:14

I’ve been with my boyfriend now for almost a year. He told me a few months ago that he slept with someone else at the beginning of his 5 year relationship with his ex girlfriend and didn’t tell her. I asked outright if he had cheated as my ex partner had cheated on me and he told me this and said he didn’t want to lie to me.
he went on to propose to his ex around 2 years later and they were set to marry but they broke up before that. He never told her about the cheating. The woman he cheated with was someone he worked with at the time and they spent one night together however they did remain in sporadic contact over the years. I told him outright that if he felt as guilty as he said he did then why did he not tell his girlfriend and why did he keep in touch with the OW? He said it wasn’t much contact but she was still popping up every now and again during the start of our relationship until I asked him to delete her, maybe I shouldn’t but the last message she sent him was one asking if he was “still romancing?” after he told her he was with someone new (me).
his explanation for this is that she showed him attention that night and he was very drunk and things weren’t good at home (but he went on to get engaged and have another 4 years with his partner).
do you feel that people can change or would this put you off someone?
his defence to me is that he didn’t have to tell me and that only 1 other friend knew about this, and I guess he didn’t have to tell me but I did ask because I wanted to know.

OP posts:
whichwayisup · 05/04/2024 10:49

He's telling you who he is.

Lollyloo38 · 05/04/2024 11:03

Would that make you break up with someone or can they have just made a mistake?

OP posts:
Northernsouloldies · 05/04/2024 11:14

It wouldn't fill me full of confidence for a happy ever after.

Daffodilsarentfluffy · 05/04/2024 11:16

When I met now dh I told him I had previously cheated on my exh. A long term affair. I am nowhere still that woman.. If I was not happy I can talk to dh. I absolutely know I would never cheat on him. He knows it also.

MrsDoubtfire24 · 05/04/2024 11:25

I’d toss him back. He’s still in touch with her.

Menapausemum1974 · 05/04/2024 11:31

Lollyloo38 · 05/04/2024 09:14

I’ve been with my boyfriend now for almost a year. He told me a few months ago that he slept with someone else at the beginning of his 5 year relationship with his ex girlfriend and didn’t tell her. I asked outright if he had cheated as my ex partner had cheated on me and he told me this and said he didn’t want to lie to me.
he went on to propose to his ex around 2 years later and they were set to marry but they broke up before that. He never told her about the cheating. The woman he cheated with was someone he worked with at the time and they spent one night together however they did remain in sporadic contact over the years. I told him outright that if he felt as guilty as he said he did then why did he not tell his girlfriend and why did he keep in touch with the OW? He said it wasn’t much contact but she was still popping up every now and again during the start of our relationship until I asked him to delete her, maybe I shouldn’t but the last message she sent him was one asking if he was “still romancing?” after he told her he was with someone new (me).
his explanation for this is that she showed him attention that night and he was very drunk and things weren’t good at home (but he went on to get engaged and have another 4 years with his partner).
do you feel that people can change or would this put you off someone?
his defence to me is that he didn’t have to tell me and that only 1 other friend knew about this, and I guess he didn’t have to tell me but I did ask because I wanted to know.

@Lollyloo38 good people can make bad choices and learn from them

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 05/04/2024 11:35

He was honest about it. Only you can decide whether you can live with it.

Bear in mind you might have skeletons in your closet that might not be acceptable to him.

Lollyloo38 · 05/04/2024 11:50

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 05/04/2024 11:35

He was honest about it. Only you can decide whether you can live with it.

Bear in mind you might have skeletons in your closet that might not be acceptable to him.

True but definitely nothing as big as that. I’ve never been unfaithful or crossed a line in a relationship

OP posts:
Wish44 · 05/04/2024 11:53

It’s a tough one OP. My ex told me he had cheated on his last partner. He told me in a way that suggested we were much better at communicating and sorting out issues etc. I believed him.

he left me for an affair and I discovered he had cheated many times…

Francisflute · 05/04/2024 11:54

How early in the relationship?

Why is he still in touch with the OW talking about personal stuff? Was that ongoing throughout his relationship?

MiddleagedBeachbum · 05/04/2024 11:56

I’ve cheated in the past and would never cheat now, people grow and change - if they want to and put the work into self reflection

Lollyloo38 · 05/04/2024 11:59

Francisflute · 05/04/2024 11:54

How early in the relationship?

Why is he still in touch with the OW talking about personal stuff? Was that ongoing throughout his relationship?

A year into their 5 year relationship.
he had her on social media so she would reply to his stories etc on Instagram. He said this was every few months, nothing consistent but that after they slept together they texted for a few days and then that stopped and went to every few months contact. He said it wasn’t talking about personal things but he also said she gave him attention and was nice to him when his own partner wasn’t, which seems like an excuse and also not really in line with them “not being in touch”

OP posts:
Francisflute · 05/04/2024 12:24

So it wasn't really early into the relationship (a year is established, a few weeks dating is 'early') and he has kept his cheating partner in shouting distance until the present as there were times when he required top ups of attention/admiration? Why from her?

And if his partner wasn't being nice why did he stay? Or is he making this her fault?

Sorry but doesn't sound great. I would be very cautious about remaining involved with him.

A one off drunken shag, much regretted and no further contact (in a past relationship) I may be able to look past. However ,.this whingey emotional incontinence and lack of accountability would be much less understandable to me. This is because it sounds a lot less contained.

Sorry to say but I think you'll live to regret this one.

MightyGoldBear · 05/04/2024 12:37

I'd be cautious of this.

Ofcourse anyone can make mistakes and learn from them. Put in the work and become a different person.

Is there evidence of this? Has he reflected on why he did this. Has he built up his own self esteem so he isn't swayed by attention when times are tough. What did he do to grown and evolve from this immature/avoiding behaviour. Did he read books listen to podcasts go to counselling?

Is he willing to go to couples counselling now with you to explore how he can really cement the trust between you to now. Or would he find that unnecessary?

I find lots of men are scared of counselling because deep down they haven't done any self work ever and they are terrified of being found out. Being vunerable. Working as a team. All of which are skills you need to be in any relationship if you want to show up as a healthy individual.

I'd be cautiously investigating and observing him from now on. Have these discussions and really observe he's answers and actions. Look at his other existing relationships. How does he show up in them?

StarlightLady · 05/04/2024 12:38

It was early days, these things happen.

samestyle · 05/04/2024 12:42

People make mistakes, especially when young but it's the fact he stayed in contact with her all that time including being with you that really would make me lose trust, there no smoke with fire as they say, it won't just be just her starting communication, it takes two, even if he's not physically cheating, he is emotionally by engaging in contact, I bet he blames her for popping on his phone, I just don't believe it's all her, he still enjoys the attention, that's why she's still around.
He could of made the decision to block her if it was unwanted attention but he didn't.
It's up to you if you trust him but I'd say if you get a Whiff of her still messaging, or gets mentionitis about her, do yourself a favour and leave.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 05/04/2024 12:46

The actual cheating etc wouldn't be the deal breaker for me. But his attitude to it now would be.

Lurkingandlearning · 05/04/2024 12:48

Her “still romancing?” Text makes me suspicious. Is that a question someone who had stayed friends and only friends after a one night stand six years ago would ask? Maybe. But I think it’s definitely a question someone who’d been a FWB or off and on GF would ask

MrsDoubtfire24 · 05/04/2024 12:49

It sounds like he was in contact with her in some way all throughout his relationship and is still in contact with her now. So despite proposing to her he was not really committed was he.

whichwayisup · 05/04/2024 13:04

No, I wouldn't get involved. When i first started dating my ex dh he told me he repeatedly cheated on his ex gf but I believed him when he told me it was just because she wasn't the one....as though I had the magic sauce to change his personality. How ridiculous, you either have the morality that allows you to cheat on someone who loves you or you don't. It's just a shit thing to do and it tells you something about a person.

Now I'm sure there are some who address their moral/ethics and make changes etc but he certainly wasn't one of them. No proof, but pretty sure he cheated on me throughout our relationship. It is who he is, wouldn't even be surprised if one of his trysts involved his ex gf.

So basically was a low level background source of anxiety throughout our ultimately terrible relationship.

Hotgirlwinter · 05/04/2024 13:11

Cheating on someone in a past relationship would not immediately put me off, it’s not a case of “once a cheater, always a cheater” - that’s a ridiculous mindset.
I have personally cheated in the past and I absolutely know for certain I would not cheat on my DH, who I was at 25 is not who I am 20 years later! I would not want to be judged for my actions many moons ago when it was zero to do with current partner.

However a lot would come down to how the person reflected back on it, if they admitted it was wrong, had taken ownership and learned some hard lessons then fair play. If however they seemed to try and justify or minimise their actions then I’d be very dubious and cautious.

Jonisaysitbest · 05/04/2024 18:29

There's cheating and there's cheating.
One offs, couldn't help it, was young & naive etc is one thing.
Long term cheating & still sleeping with the unknowing partner, cheating on someone you made vows to, cheating on someone you had kids with is another.

This story sounds a bit complicated and unclear so I would proceed with caution if I were you.

SunflowerTed · 05/04/2024 23:47

I don’t think I could ever fully trust this man tbh

Francisflute · 06/04/2024 06:59

Jonisaysitbest · 05/04/2024 18:29

There's cheating and there's cheating.
One offs, couldn't help it, was young & naive etc is one thing.
Long term cheating & still sleeping with the unknowing partner, cheating on someone you made vows to, cheating on someone you had kids with is another.

This story sounds a bit complicated and unclear so I would proceed with caution if I were you.

What does "'couldnt help it' mean? That would be a huge red flag if they tried to say it was beyond their control even in the heat of the moment.

People can have a past but accountability is so important.

Jonisaysitbest · 06/04/2024 07:28

@Francisflute Absolutely agree and looking back I don't know why I put that!

But I do think a "heat of the moment" drunken type of cheating is different to a planned long term affair.
All crap though and any previous affair is a red flag of sorts to be given careful consideration.

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