Roommate situations are a special bond.
Sometimes, it’s a brilliant scenario, and in others, it can be an unmitigated disaster.
When entering into shared living space, everyone hopes it’s going to be like ‘The Golden Girls.’
But when you get ‘Single White Female,’ the dream can go up in flames.
So what does one do?
Case in point…
Redditor Forward_Society_2253 wanted to discuss their experience and get some feedback. So naturally, they came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
They asked:
“AITA for refusing to stop cooking and eating in my kitchen because of my roommate’s girlfriend’s ‘condition.'”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I feel like this is entirely ridiculous.”
“I live with my roommate ‘Matt.'”
“We used to be pretty close friends, but over the last 2 years of living with him, we’ve drifted apart, and I’m just waiting for our lease to be up to move out on my own.”
“Matt’s girlfriend ‘Sarah’ pretty much lives with us, despite not paying rent.”
“I won’t lie. She annoys me to no end.”
“She’s an entitled airhead who thinks the world revolves around her.”
The OP’s roommate’s girlfriend had a limited palette.
“Anyway, Sarah has a ‘condition’ where she gets nauseous at the slightest smell and sight of certain foods.”
“She’s an incredibly picky eater, and anything outside of corndogs or chicken tenders make’s her nauseous, according to her.”
“Well, unfortunately for her, I like to cook.”
“I love heavily spiced foods and love to cook Asian-style dishes.”
“So, living with a toddler who can’t stand the smell really sucks.”
“Sarah has always complained about me cooking ‘smelly’ foods and has asked me to stop or do it when she’s ‘not home.'”
“Well, considering she doesn’t pay rent and spends 18 hours a day at my home, I have not accommodated her at all.”
“Last night, Sarah and Matt sat me down and told me I need to stop cooking because Sarah cannot stand it anymore.”
“Apparently, she had a mental breakdown last week when I was cooking curry.”
“She claims I am making our apartment a ‘hostile environment’ by ignoring her concerns.”
“I told both of them to piss off until Sarah starts paying her share of the rent.”
“Matt said that because he lives here, his opinion matters as well, and he wants me to stop.”
“I told him no to that as well because he’s only doing this because Sarah is being a baby.”
“We ended up having a massive argument, and neither of them is talking to me both are staying at Sarah’s mom’s house right now.”
“I say good riddance.”
“At least I did until I told the story to my co-workers, and they are all shocked.”
“They say I am being a complete a-hole.”
“This has given me second thoughts on if I was the a**hole in the fight we had.”
“So AITA?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared OP was NOT the A**hole.
“NTA. NTA, NTA, NTA.”
“I told both of them to piss off until Sarah starts paying her share of the rent.”
“This is the appropriate response.”
“They can find things to do outside of the house as she does not live there.”
“Have you talked to your landlord about the extra ‘tenant?'” ~ stonerd808
Some Redditors had theories.
“Did you get a choice when she ‘moved in’ or was it like, I guess she’s just staying here from now on without a word?”
“Either way, I would tell them I’m going to continue to cook my own food.”
“And if you have a problem with that, I’ll bring it up to the landlord; that you (roomie) brought you’re girlfriend in to live with us and doesn’t pay rent, and seriously if the cooking bothers her, she can leave go to another room light a candle, burn some incense.”
“I’m a picky eater, and I love the smell of different types of cooking styles, for example, I love the smell of mushrooms, garlic, and onion being sautéed but could never eat it because ew mushrooms.”
“It sounds like he moved her in, and they are trying to force you out before your agreement is done so they can have the place to themselves.”
“NTA. I had another thought, her condition?”
“Is she one of those rare people who have a higher sensitivity to scent?”
“And need a basically sterilized room otherwise, she’s sick all the time?”
“Or is she pregnant, and they aren’t telling you?”
“Because I was turned off by scents and seeing certain foods when I was pregnant.” ~ WhyDoPplSuckSoMuch
“The good thing is this disagreement (which OP is 100% NTA) has led to them running out of the apartment for the time being.”
“Which makes it a perfect opportunity to tell the landlord that OP’s roommate is (most likely) violating his lease by having a guest stay for as long as Sarah has.” ~ Heavy_Sand5228
“NTA. I hope OP cooks lots of amazing food (in his own kitchen that he pays for!) and posts it on Facebook and Instagram.”
“His roommate’s girlfriend’s lack of her own place and his roommate’s refusal to take her to a hotel is not his issue.” ~ Sensitive-Eagle3641
“It may be a food aversion thing, as in there are certain foods she can’t eat because it’ll immediately come right back up.”
“My husband has it, and he has a very limited diet because of it.”
“However, he doesn’t care if I go ham with spices when I’m cooking. The smells don’t bother him.”
“As someone mentioned above, she may be pregnant, or her food aversion is way more advanced (is that even the right word?) than my husband’s.”
“Either way, OP is NTA here.”
“Sarah isn’t there for a total of 6 hours a day.”
“That’s a very limited amount of time to cook up to 3 meals, more so if you eat when they’re done.” ~ Mondschatten78
“NTA. And I would add to Sarah, “And if you can’t pay the rent, well how about when I am cooking, those 2 hours AT LEAST you don’t stay at the house.'”
“This is a hill to die on.”
“You didn’t agree to her moving, she isn’t paying rent, and for your roommate- the party with change in life circumstances needs to find the new house.” ~ Nimbupani2000
“I have a very sensitive sense of smell/taste.”
“I cannot stand to smell mushrooms, broccoli, etc, etc as it’s cooking.”
“Sometimes it gets bad enough to make me nauseous.”
“I handle that by leaving the f**king house!”
“I can’t imagine having the kind of audacity required to telling someone they aren’t allowed to cook in their own home, even if I were paying to live there!”
“What a ridiculous notion! NTA.” ~ invisible-bug
“I’m sensitive to smells. I can smell ramen water from my room with the door closed.”
“Strong smell gives me migraines.”
“Strong food smells I can tolerate while I’m eating it, but it bothers me when it’s just sitting there.”
“I remove myself from the area or burn candles.”
“Smells are gonna be everywhere, and to ask someone to stop cooking in their own kitchen in an apartment they pay for while I’m squatting is just another level of entitlement.”
“This app surprises me with these stories everyday.”
“OP is definitely NTA.” ~ Hairy-Mousse-5263
“I’d double down on the petty and just cook the trigger foods every damn day until she pays rent or leaves for good.”
“What an insufferable couple to have to live with. NTA.” ~ Sysreqz
“I mean the kitchen is a common area. Even if she pays rent, why stop?”
“OP is entitled to use the common area as much as anyone else.”
“Whether she gets nauseous or not, as long as OP isn’t roasting chilies 24/7, they can cook whatever they want.” ~ qwertzilla-attacks
“I was about to ask about what defined ‘smelly’ food. Curry!? Really?”
“It’s not as if you put her life in danger with some sort of allergy.”
“That said, it might be a good idea to know how long she’s been complaining.”
“If it was very recent, she may be pregnant or something.”
“But if it was for those two years, no dice for them.”
“NTA. As above, might want to talk to your landlord about the extra tenant.”
“Just before your lease expires.” ~ tango421
“NTA, not even a little bit. What the hell?”
“You’re absolutely right, good riddance.”
“You live there, you pay rent, you can cook whatever you want.”
“She can find another place to live.” ~ schoobydoo42
“NTA. How could you possibly be the a**hole?”
“Your coworkers are a**holes.”
“Your roommate and his G[irl]F[riend] are definitely a**holes.”
“How the f**k is someone going to ask you not to cook in your own home?”
“If someone asked me that I’d tell them to piss off the same way you did – especially considering one of those people isn’t even a paying tenant!!!”
“If you wanted to get real petty and live in an apartment, you could tell him you’ll report him as having a guest for too long. Most leases don’t allow long-term guests, so you could potentially threaten that action if they don’t stop being ridiculous a**holes.”
“You’re not breaking any rules. Chances are he is with his long-staying gf.” ~ LeisurelyLife710
“NTA. I had a roommate who loved to cook mushrooms.”
“That (and some fish) and the only 2 things I find repulsive.”
“She never knew this because I never told her.”
“I just went to my room.”
“Who am I to tell a grown person what to make in their own kitchen?”
“Does it suck? Yes!”
“But I can always open a window in my room and burn some incense, geez!” ~ Overextended_baloon
OP, sounds like Reddit is with you.
You get to be free in your own home.
Hopefully, you can get to the end of your lease with a little less stress.
Enjoy your alone time and those delicious meals.