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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

Partner won’t stop lusting over women

103 replies

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 13:44

Had this issue for a while and I’m at breaking point. Me and my partner have been together a few years. We’re in our 20’s I have a son from a previous relationship, my sons dad had constant affairs, was abusive etc. Me and my partner have a 12 week old. Backstory…

when we first got together he would use onlyfans a lot, porn sites. I stated I didn’t like that, it was a boundary of mine. A boundary that keeps getting broken. Until he fully stopped for a year. Until when I was 6 months pregnant. He searched a pornstar he used to watch and watched one of her videos, I found out and broke down - this is after he agreed he could respect my boundary of no porn. 6 weeks later I was talking to him about a photo of kanyes wife that was circulating the media - where she’s pretty much naked. Next day I found out out whilst I was pregnant in the other room getting my son to sleep he was touching himself to said photo ^ he said he was looking at that, looking at my photos / videos and had also searched cosplay girls on Google.

side note he is honest he will admit things and apart from this we’re a perfect match which is why it’s so upsetting. We have sex pretty much everyday. Have thousands of photos and videos of me / him / us. I’m very open minded sexually nothing will be a no for me really.

Anyway back to when we first got together. He had tried to access his old phone and even searched tutorials how to retrieve his old photos - I asked what, he admitted he had a curiosity of his ex’s photos.

but like I said this all stopped for a year until the two incidents when I was pregnant. This last weekend I walked into the bedroom and he scrolled off something, I ignored it. Last night I looked and it showed he was on Snapchat reels. These reels are ridiculous it’s basically porn, girls flashing, in outfits, naked hiding themselves behind their hand dancing etc. He admitted he had a scrolled through them. I’ve said to him it seems like you have a problem I can try help you etc and he’s adamant he doesn’t.

im so hurt because I am so in love with this person, beyond in love. I can’t imagine my life without him. But it’s getting to the point where I worry when he’s in the bathroom. If he’s at home without me. If a pretty girl walks past. If he goes to the gym I worry. He’s basically said when I asked him why he did that when I was pregnant “ I just wanted too, it was a curiosity” I’m broken. I can’t imagine my life without him but I also feel so broken inside to the point where it’s exhausting me now I feel genuinely depressed. What do I do? Is there any groups I can join to try talk to other people who have been through similar? Porn is so normalised nowadays it’s the women who are the issue now, we get called insecure and controlling when we don’t want our partners watching it ( he hasn’t said this I’ve just seen a lot of men say this )

how do I get over this trauma whether I stay with him or not. I just want to feel like me and happy again. I know the comments are going to be “leave him. Believe me part of me is considering it - but the other half is so in love with the rest of him. He’s an amazing dad. Great in every way apart from this.

OP posts:
ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:26

@MyDearEaglei mean I don’t see a woman flashing and a porn video mega different they’re still both naked women he’s getting off too…

OP posts:
Morningsleepin · 23/07/2025 18:28

BeMellowAquaSquid · 23/07/2025 15:20

I’m still at a loss as to what he’s done wrong. Masturbation is the most natural thing in the world, assuming he gives up porn what do you expect him to masturbate over? You? Or do you not want him to masturbate at all? Assuming he convinces you he will never watch it again… what do you think he will be thinking of when he does do it? I’m not being difficult here I’m just trying to get you to think about this logically.

I can't speak for the OP, but a lot of the actresses in porn movies have either trafficked, are the victims of CSA or have been filmed without thir consent. Besides the horror of a man getting off on the degradation of women

Morningsleepin · 23/07/2025 18:28

BeMellowAquaSquid · 23/07/2025 15:20

I’m still at a loss as to what he’s done wrong. Masturbation is the most natural thing in the world, assuming he gives up porn what do you expect him to masturbate over? You? Or do you not want him to masturbate at all? Assuming he convinces you he will never watch it again… what do you think he will be thinking of when he does do it? I’m not being difficult here I’m just trying to get you to think about this logically.

I can't speak for the OP, but a lot of the actresses in porn movies have either trafficked, are the victims of CSA or have been filmed without thir consent. Besides the horror of a man getting off on the degradation of women

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:29

@Morningsleepinexactly…

OP posts:
MyDearEagle · 23/07/2025 18:37

Snapchat doesn't allow nudity in Spotlights/Reels, its against its Ts & Cs, and they have content moderators. I have just spent several minutes actively looking for "flashing" videos and cannot find a trace of nudity there.

Cleavage or a thong is as racy as it seems to get.

Screamingabdabz · 23/07/2025 18:41

“I voice my opinion and I’m strong on my boundaries.”

You are clearly not. Just keep saying the word boundaries does not create them.

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:43

@MyDearEagleim not lying? The more your algorithm changes the more it comes up. On mine (never used reels on Snapchat until yesterday) I’ve even seen 2 naked children on there which I’ve reported. So it definitely does allow that type of thing on there… flashing videos are where they flash themselves in a tiny mirror that isn’t obvious or quickly so you have to pause the video hence how they get away with it on Snapchat and tiktok

OP posts:
ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:44

Screamingabdabz · 23/07/2025 18:41

“I voice my opinion and I’m strong on my boundaries.”

You are clearly not. Just keep saying the word boundaries does not create them.

Kind of is a boundary since I’ve broke up with him

OP posts:
Mumlaplomb · 23/07/2025 18:45

OP you are allowed to have your boundaries and to enforce them. Personally porn isn’t really an issue for me and I think it’s unrealistic to expect a man to not at least think of other women when he masturbates. However it’s an issue for you and if you aren’t happy with how he conducts himself, you can end the relationship.

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:46

@Mumlaplombit wouldn’t as bad if he didn’t fall asleep everytime we had sex because he would watch it before coming to my house… he used to tell me girls were goodlooking when we were out for dinner on a date… kind of traumatising for him to want to look at women after all of that. I shouldn’t have stayed I know but when you’re weak and love someone you’re kind of blindsided. Well I don’t want to be ok with not being good enough why would a man want to imagine smother woman if you’re everything he wants?

OP posts:
ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:48

I guess I’m really just an idiot for thinking he would change

OP posts:
Fluffypotatoe123987 · 23/07/2025 18:52

I think you need to grow up and stop being so insecure. Like really. All men and alot of women look at porn. He sounds great in all honesty.

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:52

@MyDearEagle https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdurHYe1/

heres one if you can click the link and keep watching. It’s all over tiktok Instagram and Snapchat

OP posts:
outerspacepotato · 23/07/2025 18:54

"lots of women stay even though they’re unhappy that their partners have a wandering eye. I voice my opinion and I’m strong on my boundaries. I just really am so in love with him im so stuck right now. We have broken up today."

He's been watching porn since you got together, which you said was a few years. So your BF has had a wandering eye for that long. You stayed. You taught him that your words and stated boundaries were just meaningless bullshit, because you stayed.

So you nagged him, what you call voicing your opinion, but stayed. You stated your boundaries, but did you leave when he crossed those? No.

You taught him it was fine to disrespect you and not listen to you because you stuck around no matter what he did.

" It wouldn’t as bad if he didn’t fall asleep everytime we had sex because he would watch it before coming to my house… he used to tell me girls were goodlooking when we were out for dinner on a date… kind of traumatising for him to want to look at women after all of that. I shouldn’t have stayed I know but when you’re weak and love someone you’re kind of blindsided. "

You stuck around for him watching porn and telling you other women were goodlooking when you were out with him. Sticking around told him you were fine with him watching porn and being treated poorly, he just had to listen to some bitching about it.

Fluffypotatoe123987 · 23/07/2025 18:56

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 18:52

@MyDearEagle https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdurHYe1/

heres one if you can click the link and keep watching. It’s all over tiktok Instagram and Snapchat

There's nothing wrong with this video. Men will look at you when your out. Honestly your going to lose your man for your insecurities. How would you feel seeing him with another woman bringing your child up?

ggggrace · 23/07/2025 19:00

@Fluffypotatoe123987the woman had her full on breast flashing? With no bra. Videos of them flashing their vagina etc, it’s not the fact it’s on his phone it’s the fact he’s spending a lot of time looking at this stuff and can’t help himself

OP posts:
ggggrace · 23/07/2025 19:04

@Fluffypotatoe123987weve broken up… and if he finds someone and they’re both happy then yeah someone can be around my child? I’m not sure what your point is I’m not bitter and I don’t hate him…

OP posts:
Deadringer · 23/07/2025 19:04

It doesn't sound like he is addicted to porn at all, it sounds like he seeks out sexy images now and again for titillation. Not the sort of thing we want the men in our lives doing, but not necessarily harmful. If you want to dump him over this do so, because it is something he will return to, because while you don't like it, he clearly does.

GirlPolo · 23/07/2025 19:15

Have pm’ed you OP

BelfastBard · 23/07/2025 19:42

Essentially, you’re trying to convince yourself that he has an “addiction” because it seems in your head that reduces his culpability or accountability here.
He doesn’t have an addiction. He enjoys looking at naked attractive women irrespective of how hurtful you find it.
Hes promised you he won’t do it, yet continues to do so.
No man who is a good dad consistently disrespects his child’s mother like that.

MyDearEagle · 23/07/2025 19:45

BelfastBard · 23/07/2025 19:42

Essentially, you’re trying to convince yourself that he has an “addiction” because it seems in your head that reduces his culpability or accountability here.
He doesn’t have an addiction. He enjoys looking at naked attractive women irrespective of how hurtful you find it.
Hes promised you he won’t do it, yet continues to do so.
No man who is a good dad consistently disrespects his child’s mother like that.

He isnt looking at images of naked women (at least, nothing as explicit as say, Titanic).

BeMellowAquaSquid · 23/07/2025 19:55

I’m still intrigued though. If you’re ok with him masturbating what do you want him to masturbate over, what would be within your boundaries? I’ve got 2 brothers, 7 nephews, had 2 husbands and they’ve all (I know this for a fact) looked at porn whether it be in a top shelf old school magazine, a dodgy video cassette or online. I’m not normalising porn at all and it’s awful to think some women are trafficked or coerced into it but some porn stars really are quite happy with their career choice.

I don’t believe for one second this is about porn at all I think it’s jealousy and insecurity. On the flip side most women also masturbate I certainly do… I certainly don’t lay back and think of my husband either but I’m 100% sure he wouldn’t be insecure about that fact.

If porn is your boundary then stick to it but you’ll not find a single man that doesn’t do it and if you do they’re lying.

MyDearEagle · 23/07/2025 20:05

BeMellowAquaSquid · 23/07/2025 19:55

I’m still intrigued though. If you’re ok with him masturbating what do you want him to masturbate over, what would be within your boundaries? I’ve got 2 brothers, 7 nephews, had 2 husbands and they’ve all (I know this for a fact) looked at porn whether it be in a top shelf old school magazine, a dodgy video cassette or online. I’m not normalising porn at all and it’s awful to think some women are trafficked or coerced into it but some porn stars really are quite happy with their career choice.

I don’t believe for one second this is about porn at all I think it’s jealousy and insecurity. On the flip side most women also masturbate I certainly do… I certainly don’t lay back and think of my husband either but I’m 100% sure he wouldn’t be insecure about that fact.

If porn is your boundary then stick to it but you’ll not find a single man that doesn’t do it and if you do they’re lying.

She has answered this already. It isn't acceptable to the OP for him to fantasize about other women:

I’m not against him masturbating. Just doing it over other women.

He is permitted to think about the OP.

Agree that this is nothing to do with porn.

In her first post, the issues include the OP's fear of him seeing a pretty woman in public, or at the gym.

This is largely a case of extreme insecurity.

MuckFusk · 23/07/2025 21:45

Edited because they broke up.

OneLemonGuide · 23/07/2025 22:27

Given the OPs objections, if he was going to continue to look at this stuff, you have to wonder why he wasn’t a lot more discreet about it (as I’m presuming most men who watch porn/titillating stuff would be) It seems like he couldn’t help himself from doing it whilst you’re around, like he was a compulsion or just could give a damn about you noticing.

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