Most of us know to take what we see on social media with a grain of salt. Creators and influencers only share what they want us to see, so at best, we only see part of the story, but what they share is often misleading, if not explicitly false.
But it's a slippery slope from telling white lies for social media clout to slandering someone and damaging their reputation, cautioned the members of the "Am I the A**hole?" (AITAH) subReddit.
Redditor Clayylmao27 noticed over a year ago that his stepsister had a secret TikTok account, where she complained about being a stay-at-home mom who had to do everything for her ungrateful and unhelpful children and husband. He rolled his eyes at the time, knowing the content wasn't accurate, but he figured she was trying to boost engagement and left it alone.
But when he noticed that she'd escalated her content to shaming her husband, using his name, and recording videos of him to fat-shame him, the Original Poster (OP) knew it was time to speak up about the account.
He asked the sub:
"Am I the a**hole for telling my brother-in-law about his wife's, my stepsister's, TikTok account where she humiliates him?"
The OP's stepsister had a secret TikTok account, where she complained about her husband.
"I (31 Male) found out that my stepsister (40 Female) has a Tiktok account where she makes videos s**tting on her husband (38 Male)."
"It's the most stereotypical account of that type that you could imagine, a lot of videos of her scrubbing a single plate and talking about how she's a stay-at-home wife who has to clean and take care of the kids all day, and when he gets home, he doesn't help at all."
"That is all bulls**t, because first of all, she doesn't clean that house. Her mother (63 Female) has to go over there twice a week to clean the house because my stepsister, surprise surprise, sits on her phone all day and doesn't clean."
"Second of all, their kids, who are 11 and 14, are in before- and after-school programs due to them living out of town, so they don't get home until their father picks them up when he gets off of work, so she doesn't care for them 'all day' and rarely solo."
When the account escalated, the OP became concerned.
"I've known about it for about a year, and I didn't really care because she kept things relatively anonymous. It was just stupid 'Oh, woe is me, the poor stay-at-home mom' posting, and while I knew she was full of s**t, I wasn't going to start drama over harmless sympathy baiting."
"But lately, she's been using his name and even posting videos of him to her account, bemoaning how her marriage sucks and how fat he is."
"And then when the comments agree with her and tell her to leave him, she replies in agreement."
The OP decided he had to say something.
"I figured at that point, with her violating his privacy, he should be told about the account, so I sent him a text with a link to the account and an apology for not telling him sooner. I didn't tell her I was informing him, so she wouldn't have a chance to private it or take down the more offensive videos."
"He confronted her about the things she was saying about him, they had a huge fight, and from what I've heard, they haven't been talking since."
"I feel a bit bad, but I also don't think I did anything wrong."
"My family is pretty split on the topic. My stepbrother is on my side, my stepmother is on my stepsister's side, my dad is staying out of it, and our extended family is basically 50/50. I still think he deserved to know."
"AITAH?"
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
- NTA: Not the A**hole
- YTA: You're the A**hole
- ESH: Everybody Sucks Here
- NAH: No A**holes Here
Some reassured the OP that his stepsister needed to be called out, especially for using her husband's name and recording him without his permission.
"NTA. That's a terribly disrespectful thing to do to her husband. He deserved to know." - AnalystAdorable609
"NTA. Anyone who outs family business on social media for clout is absolute trash." - omrmajeed
"NTA. You're on the side of the truth, and she was grossly violating his privacy. You did the right thing." - Blamdomonis
"NTA. She crossed the line when she identified him. Social media hits like this can jeopardize his job and career. If his company finds out and decides it is a bad look, then he’s out of a job because of her foolishness."
"It’s one thing to complain anonymously. It’s not okay to call him out where you can identify him." - Oh_Wiseone
"'With her violating his privacy, he should be told about the account.' Totally agree, especially if she showed his face and identified him by name. NTA." - DazzlingPotion
"There comes a time when something can have serious implications that go way beyond a single relationship, and it can be hard to navigate those when they come up. When people do something that's uncalled for and can mess with someone's livelihood and reputation, that's probably one of the highest levels of damage someone could possibly do." - yourangleoryuordevil
"That's slander at that point, along with character defamation, and this is also setting him up for harassment. She's posted his name and image in her videos, which means there are people who can doxx him if they want."
"All of this is evidence useful to any attorney he wishes to hire." - rhuix92
"Am I taking crazy pills here? She crossed the line when she started spreading slanderous lies about her husband, even if she doesn't identify him. As long as SHE is identifiable, so is he." - ilikedmatrixiv
"NTA. If I were the husband, I would definitely appreciate you telling me. The fact she does that obviously means there's an undercurrent with the relationship already."
"Also, karma's a b***h. I mean, what do you expect when you post online for the world to see?" - EmotionalMuffinEater
Others agreed and pointed out that the stepsister couldn't even be mad that her husband knew about it, because he could have found it himself.
"She was blasting him out publicly. If she's going to put it out there, she can't complain if he sees it. She's an id**t."
"The only thing you did wrong was not telling him earlier. NTA." - Rejian
"NTA. If you put it on the Internet and have your real face and voice attached to it, you have to expect people you know will find out about it." - TheBigBeardedGeek
"How many people do other people need to see post crap like this and then completely break down and act surprised when their partners leave them before they stop trying to get internet famous off berating their partners? NTA." - Acrobatic_Jaguar_623
"NTA. The moment she made this stuff public, it could have been anyone he knew telling on her. Just because you're the first doesn't mean you're the only one."
"Imagine if their kids found it. Or the kids' friends. Or teachers. Or his coworkers. Or... well, lots of people."
"SHE wanted to drag his name publicly through the mud; the least you could do is warn him about it." - Axiluvia
"NTA. It doesn't matter if she did or did not reveal his name or face. She identified HERSELF, and that's enough for his friends and family to know that she's referring to him, thus jeopardizing his employment (and even possibly jeopardizing his safety)."
"It's such a massive breach of trust, it's insta-divorce territory, in my opinion." - NotUniqueScott
"NTA. Even if she hadn't posted his video and violated his privacy in such an egregious and unacceptable way, you would not be the a**hole. The fact that she crossed the line so badly made it mandatory that he had to be informed. Depending on where you live, and the specifics, what your stepsister did could even be illegal."
"He deserved to know in any event, but he had to know once his privacy was violated. This is all on your stepsister."
"Anyone mad about the situation should be mad at her. I hope your BIL leaves. No one deserves to be trapped in a relationship with someone who hates them. You should be proud of yourself for doing the right thing." - TacosForTuesday
"NTA. You did the right thing. Your stepsister is a horrible wife. Your stepmom is a t**t waffle for trying to blame anyone for the consequences that her own daughter caused by making social media content that degraded her husband for clout. And your father is a coward for not making a stand for what he KNOWS is right."
"Your stepsister was the one who created this situation. She went from casually bashing her husband with lies, to full-on attacks with visual exposure of him."
"She could have been exposed by hundreds of other people. Someone could have sought him out via a Google photo match to his visuals she shows, or someone who knows him could be on TikTok."
"The only thing you may have done wrong was not tell him sooner. You could have done so anonymous to. Then no one would be attacking you for exposing it." - Gandoff2169
"You’re the only one being honest with him in his entire family unit. There’s a massive difference between having something negative to say about your partner to a close friend and trying to become viral with consistent public shaming."
"He deserved to know, and you were the only one to step up. NTA at all." - CompetitionNo3466
Some might view it as just a drama channel on a social media platform, but it's so easy for bad reputations to spread and escalate.
What the OP's stepsister was doing was not only building engagement for herself; it was potentially ruining her partner's reputation and chances in the workplace, and possibly even monetizing on the platform while her partner suffered.
The least any of them could do was let him know he was being used for content.















Humiliated Redditor Ditches Friend's Birthday After She Publicly Mocks Them In Front Of Everyone
Fake people tend to show their true colors during pivotal moments, like weddings and major celebrations.
But when they want an audience to hurt someone else, it takes total sense that they would be called out in front of everyone, as agreed by members of the "Am I Overreacting?" (AIO) subreddit.
Redditor HollyyGinger went to their close friend's birthday party, expecting to have a good time and celebrate their loved one's special day.
But when their close friend made several mocking comments about them, and the party laughed along with them, the Original Poster (OP) took that as an indication of the state of their friendship and left the birthday party early.
They asked the sub:
The OP was excited to celebrate their close friend's birthday.
"One of my close friends had a birthday dinner last weekend, and I was genuinely excited to go."
"I helped her organize a few things beforehand, bought her a gift, and even rearranged some plans because I wanted to be there for her."
But the birthday dinner did not go at all how the OP expected.
"During dinner, though, she started making little jokes about me in front of everyone."
"At first, I laughed along because I didn't want to make things awkward on her birthday."
"But she kept going. She joked about dating life, brought up an embarrassing story I had told her privately, and made another comment about how I'm ''way too sensitive' sometimes."
"People were laughing, and I tried to act like it didn't bother me, but honestly, I felt pretty humiliated."
The OP tried to ask their friend to change the direction of the rest of the party.
"I quietly asked her when we were alone if she could stop making me the joke of the evening."
"She rolled her eyes and said I was taking everything too seriously and that everyone knew she was joking."
"I went back to the table for a while because I really didn't want to ruin her birthday."
"But then she made another joke about me, so I decided I'd had enough. I congratulated her again, said goodbye to everyone, and went home without making a scene."
The OP's friend tried to blame them for how the evening turned out.
"The next morning, she texted me, saying she was hurt that I left early and that several people noticed."
"She said that I made her feel like she had done something horrible when she was 'just having fun.' But her having fun was more of a public embarrassment to me."
"Now I feel guilty, because it was her birthday, and maybe I could have just ignored it for another hour or two."
"I wasn't trying to punish her or make the night about me. I just didn't want to sit there smiling while someone I trusted kept embarrassing me after I had specifically asked her to stop."
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
Some reassured the OP that she didn't have to stay at a party where she didn't feel welcome.
"She was having fun. You were not having fun."
"You’re not overreacting. You told her it was hurting you, and she kept doing it because hurting you was entertaining for her. She is not a good friend." - Dunquinn-
"I remember when I was really little, a bunch of adults were laughing at me as I cried."
"I cried to my mom, 'Stop laughing at me,' to which she replied, 'We aren’t laughing at you; we're laughing with you,' while giggling."
"My response was something I stand by to this day: 'Then why am I the only one crying?!'"
"It’s only funny if the person who’s being teased is laughing too. You weren’t laughing. It wasn’t funny; it was cruel. NOR." - XSmartypants
"She’s a bully. It wasn’t 'more like 'it was publicly embarrassing. It WAS publicly embarrassing."
"Then she tells you that SHE is embarrassed because YOU left early. That's bulls**t."
"NOR. Drop her." - WTH_JFG
"NOR. They make jokes about someone's privacy to humiliate that person. Anyone who would use info that was shared in confidence to get a laugh is an abuser. You don't do that, especially to a close friend, without the intent to hurt that person." - BungenessKrabb
"Would it have been fun if you did the same? Start telling her darkest secrets?"
"She made you into a punchline for other people’s entertainment."
"You told her to stop, and she didn’t; now she’s the victim?"
"NOR."
"But also, some people need to feel it to believe it. I hope you go to the next gathering with a few stories of your own and don’t let her rewrite the narrative." - beached_not_broken
"I’ve had it happen by my 'best friend' at the time, only it was in a professional setting event. Very personal details only she knew, all spilled for her amusement, embarrassing me in front of colleagues."
"NOR, OP. As you did, I left the gathering earlier than expected. My 'friend' called the next day asking why I left so early. I told her what she had said and done and how humiliated I felt."
"Her 'apology' was that flippant version that shows no remorse, like, 'Well, I’m sorry you feel that way.'"
"Over the subsequent years, she managed to alienate and burn bridges with most of those same people we were gathered with."
"I’m sorry this happened to you, OP. Anyone who thinks you were 'too sensitive' has no empathy and 'friends' like that don’t deserve your time." - Hungry_Tank9182
"NOR. She was being a jerk to you, and she was expecting you to just take it and not say anything or defend yourself."
"Because they think it's sooo funny to mock others, but I bet if the roles were reversed, she would be offended and upset."
"Honestly, you deserve better friends. I'm sorry you had to deal with this."
"I would've left and blocked her." - Cryslove
Others urged the OP to stop thinking about the event and let that friendship go.
"That was the point of her fun! Humiliating you with an audience!"
"Sharing something deeply personal, told in confidence? Immediate dealbreaker."
"She is not (and likely never was) your friend. Friends do not treat friends with such disrespect. Block her, and go no contact. She brings nothing good to your life, and she’s not worthy of your energy and time."
"NOR." - MizPeachyKeen
"It’s called bullying. She is not your friend. Friends don’t humiliate their true friends, or tell them 'they are too sensitive.'"
"That is what bullies do. She keeps you around to put you down and make herself look or feel better."
"Her actions, attitude, and behavior are those of an immature high schooler. She could actually be jealous of you and not want one or all of the following: you to succeed, have more friends, feel better about yourself, look better, etc."
"Please slowly distance yourself, find new hobbies and activities with more mature, well-rounded, healthy people." - Freeling_Fab_U_lous
"How DARE you spoil her fun; didn't you know that part of your gift was letting her make you the butt of her jokes? (sarcastic comment)"
"What an awful person. No one should need to put others down to raise themselves up. She doesn't deserve the title of friend, to be honest. You showed much more grace than I would have managed." - tphatmcgee
"She was using you as her punching bag to make the others attending laugh. Probably thinking you’d just take it. That’s not a good friend. NOR." - Additional-Start9455
"'Someone I trusted kept embarrassing me after I asked them to stop.' NOR."
"First, you shouldn't have had to ask her to stop because a friend wouldn't have started in the first place. One of her 'jokes' was about you being sensitive, so she knew you didn't like it and did it anyway."
"Second, you asked her privately to stop, because you didn't want to embarrass her. Think about that. You didn't want to embarrass her. But she couldn't show you the same consideration, even after being asked to stop."
"That's not how I treat my friends, and I suspect that's not how you treat your friends, either." - calminthedark
"I would have answered her text that she's a s**tty friend and to f**k off. You have class."
"I probably would have made a comment at dinner that I asked her to stop with the insults."
"NOR. You did everything right." - Particular-King218
The subReddit was disappointed on the OP's behalf that a friendship they were so committed to, they were excited to celebrate their friend's birthday and even helped plan the event, came apart at their expense, and on very public terms.
If the friend didn't want to be "embarrassed," maybe she should have thought about how she was embarrassing others first.