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Relationships

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Dealing with friend who made degrading comments

86 replies

Jen7425 · 28/08/2026 16:24

Ive recently moved in with bf and was invited to meet one of his oldest friends and their family. My bf has known this guy for around 40 years. He is also close to his 4 children who are now aged 20 to 24, and has been all their lives. He didn't want me to meet his friend for a long time but eventually said it was because he can be racist at times and he didn't want me hearing that as he knew I'd be upset by it.
We were invited around for a bbq with the family and the wife and grown up children were welcoming and friendly. However my bfs mate only spoke to me once, by asking what I did for a living. Before I answered in front of everyone he suggested I was a stripper?!? Then quickly followed it up with oh no you cant be as you work from home. He didn't laugh or even smile. I was stunned, but then quickly told him what I actually do and he said nothing further. No one else said anything. Since this he has driven past me locally and ignored me. I met him once in the supermarket with my bf before the bbq and I said hello, he didn't reply just kept talking to bf.
At the time of the bbq I felt annoyed but as time has gone on, this was a few weeks ago, im livid about it, how degrading it was. Im 52 years old and have a well paid senior management professional job that I have nearly 30 years experience in.
My bf has now been invited to spend an evening at this friends whilst his wife is away and said he is going. He isn't happy with what his friend said to me but doesn't know what to do about it.
Half of me doesn't want to make a big deal of it in case there is a fallout and loads of drama, but I have told bf im very uncomfortable with him remaining close to this friend after the degrading comments. Half of me wants him to never see him again or at least address it with him so he knows it is unacceptable.
Any ideas on how to deal with this rubbish?

OP posts:
Error404FucksNotFound · 28/08/2026 20:00

CamillaMcCauley · 28/08/2026 19:58

What’s the joke? Please make the funny part clear.

To me it sounds like a straight-up insult to a person he’s just met.

Good question.
You look like a stripper?
You dont look like a stripper?
It would be funny if you were a stripper?
A stripper who works from home might be a prostitute?
I am also keen to learn what the joke was.

Illegally18 · 28/08/2026 21:00

Error404FucksNotFound · 28/08/2026 20:00

Good question.
You look like a stripper?
You dont look like a stripper?
It would be funny if you were a stripper?
A stripper who works from home might be a prostitute?
I am also keen to learn what the joke was.

Me too!

Illegally18 · 28/08/2026 21:00

Jen7425 · 28/08/2026 16:24

Ive recently moved in with bf and was invited to meet one of his oldest friends and their family. My bf has known this guy for around 40 years. He is also close to his 4 children who are now aged 20 to 24, and has been all their lives. He didn't want me to meet his friend for a long time but eventually said it was because he can be racist at times and he didn't want me hearing that as he knew I'd be upset by it.
We were invited around for a bbq with the family and the wife and grown up children were welcoming and friendly. However my bfs mate only spoke to me once, by asking what I did for a living. Before I answered in front of everyone he suggested I was a stripper?!? Then quickly followed it up with oh no you cant be as you work from home. He didn't laugh or even smile. I was stunned, but then quickly told him what I actually do and he said nothing further. No one else said anything. Since this he has driven past me locally and ignored me. I met him once in the supermarket with my bf before the bbq and I said hello, he didn't reply just kept talking to bf.
At the time of the bbq I felt annoyed but as time has gone on, this was a few weeks ago, im livid about it, how degrading it was. Im 52 years old and have a well paid senior management professional job that I have nearly 30 years experience in.
My bf has now been invited to spend an evening at this friends whilst his wife is away and said he is going. He isn't happy with what his friend said to me but doesn't know what to do about it.
Half of me doesn't want to make a big deal of it in case there is a fallout and loads of drama, but I have told bf im very uncomfortable with him remaining close to this friend after the degrading comments. Half of me wants him to never see him again or at least address it with him so he knows it is unacceptable.
Any ideas on how to deal with this rubbish?

A stripper?

Jen7425 · 28/08/2026 21:05

He hasn't gone. Said his priority is me. Said he'll likely go round when his kids are home from uni etc, so won't be the two of them.

OP posts:
FaceIt · 28/08/2026 22:52

That’s a good outcome @Jen7425
Maybe he’s jealous of your BF having a relationship with you. It sounds bizarre, but I have known of it to happen.

Justawalk · 29/08/2026 12:01

This reply has been deleted

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

Jen7425 · 29/08/2026 12:55

This reply has been deleted

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

Yes

OP posts:
FateAmenableToChange · 29/08/2026 13:46

Men enable other men’s bad behaviour by not calling it out and allowing it to happen unchallenged. This contributes to the harms of patriarchy and damaging environment all women find ourselves in. It’s tacit approval and says a great deal about your BF. I suspect you might come to regret moving in with him as you get to truly know him.

Gurgletummy · 29/08/2026 19:59

Jen7425 · 29/08/2026 12:55

Yes

He left it quite late to tell you his plan of going around there?

Was his last girlfriend a stripper?

Katalica · 29/08/2026 20:33

My DH wouldn’t stand for that and to be honest, he wouldn’t remain friends with anyone with openly racist or misogynistic views for any length of time.

This boyfriend sounds a total wimp who won’t have your back so unless he grows a pair and drops the racist twunt, you need to ditch him.

Copperoliverbear · 29/08/2026 21:11

I would let me partner be friends with him without me, hopefully it will eventually fizzle out once he keeps listening to his friend, now he actually sees him for what he is.
if he doesn’t ever happen to speak to you in the street and is rude go back at him, he’s used to holding the floor and everyone dancing to his tune, let him see you are not going to be one of those people.

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