Man Is Honest About How Fiancée’s Tattoo Makes Him Feel, She Expected More Appreciation

Getting a new tattoo is always exciting. Whether it’s full of meaning or only intended to be aesthetic, once you’ve gotten some fresh ink, you’ll probably be thrilled to show it off to your loved ones.

But when one man saw the new tattoo that his girlfriend got to “memorialize” his brother, he was immediately horrified. Below, you’ll find the full story that the man recently shared on Reddit while seeking advice on how to navigate this difficult situation, as well as some of the replies invested readers left him.  

This man tragically lost his brother three years ago

Man looking distressed and thoughtful indoors, reflecting on breakup after fiancée’s tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Image credits: hryshchyshen / freepik (not the actual photo)

Now, his fiancée has decided that the perfect way to memorialize him is with a tattoo of his face

Reddit post discussing man feeling uncomfortable after fiancée gets a tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Text excerpt from a breakup story where a man discusses his fiancée and his late brother’s bond.

Alt text: Woman showing realistic gray scale tattoo of man's late brother’s face on her upper arm with dates and nickname

Tattoo artist creating a colorful arm tattoo on a woman, illustrating the story of man breaking up after tattoo of late brother.

Image credits: davit85 / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text message conversation expressing shock and discomfort over fiancée’s tattoo of late brother’s face.

Text about man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face expressing discomfort.

Alt text: Man breaks up with fiancée over tattoo of his late brother’s face causing tension and regret in relationship discussion.

Young woman looking thoughtful and upset, illustrating emotions in a man breaks up with fiancée story.

Image credits: EyeEm / freepik (not the actual photo)

Man upset with fiancée's tattoo of his late brother’s face, causing relationship tension and break-up fears.

Text from a post explaining details about tattoos shared between a man and his fiancée before their breakup over a tattoo.

Man breaks up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face, causing emotional pain.

Image credits: audicarmicheal

Later, the author responded to several comments and shared more details about the situation

Reddit conversation discussing a man debating breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Commenters discussing a man breaking up with fiancée over her tattoo of his late brother’s face on forearm.

Online discussion about man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Reddit conversation about man breaking up with fiancée after she tattoos his late brother’s face, discussing relationship concerns.

Reddit conversation discussing man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Screenshot of a conversation about a man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation about a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing concerns about spontaneity related to a man breaking up with fiancée.

Many readers assured the man that he had every right to be upset

Comment on Reddit post expressing hope that a story about man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face is not real.

Text conversation screenshot discussing a man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Comment discussing red flags after fiancée gets tattoo of late brother’s face, suggesting therapy before wedding.

Comment discussing a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face without consent.

Commenter discussing emotional reaction and consequences after fiancée gets tattoo of late brother’s face causing break up.

Reddit comment discussing peak behavior reacting to man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Comment criticizing fiancée's decision to get tattoo of late brother’s face, calling it weird and a dumb choice.

Reddit comment discussing a breakup after fiancée gets a tattoo of her late boyfriend’s brother’s face.

Screenshot of an online comment expressing shock related to a man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Man reacts after fiancée gets tattoo of his late brother’s face, leading to breakup in a dramatic relationship event.

Comment discussing a fiancée’s tattoo of her partner’s late brother’s face causing relationship tension and grief conflict.

Comment discussing mental illness and brain tumor in relation to man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

After having another conversation with his fiancée about the tattoo, the author shared an update

Couple having a serious conversation outdoors, woman looking concerned while man talks about late brother tattoo issue.

Image credits: drobotdean / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text post with update about relationship issues involving a man breaking up with fiancée after tattoo of late brother's face.

Text excerpt describing a man discussing his fiancée's tattoo of his late brother's face and their resulting breakup.

Text excerpt about discomfort with fiancée's tattoo of late brother, highlighting grief and relationship struggles.

Text excerpt explaining a fiancée got a tattoo symbolizing love and support, impacting her relationship after tattoo of late brother's face.

Man breaks up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face causing tension in their relationship.

Man looking thoughtful and upset outdoors at dusk, reflecting on breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother.

Image credits: aldiozzz / freepik (not the actual photo)

Man and fiancée discussing tattoo of his late brother’s face and relationship struggles over it.

Text message explaining a breakup where a man asks his fiancée to remove a tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Text-based post expressing hope for advice about a man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Image credits: audicarmicheal

He joined in on the conversation again to share more information

Man and woman in a tense conversation, illustrating a breakup after fiancé gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Readers became increasingly concerned about the relationship, and some suggested ending the engagement

Man breaks up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face, causing relationship tension.

Comment about man breaking up with fiancée after she tattoos his late brother’s face, expressing frustration.

Comment from a user advising to break up after fiancée gets tattoo of late brother’s face, linked to man breaking up story.

Comment on Reddit discussing a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets a tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Comment discussing breakup reason, mentioning grief and moving on after fiancée’s tattoo of late brother’s face caused conflict.

Comment discussing a breakup after fiancée gets tattoo of man’s late brother’s face, advising against cover-up or laser.

Reddit comment discussing a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Reddit comment discussing a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Comment about relationship issues after fiancée gets tattoo of late brother’s face, shared on a forum.

Comment discussing emotional impact of sudden loss and relationship issues after tattoo of late brother’s face causes breakup.

Text post discussing concerns about partnering with someone who got a tattoo of a late brother’s face causing a breakup.

Comment discussing grief and jealousy relating to a man breaking up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Finally, the author shared an update revealing that the relationship was over

Man and woman arguing in kitchen representing man breaks up with fiancée after tattoo of late brother’s face.

Image credits: DC Studio / freepik (not the actual photo)

Man breaks up with fiancée after she gets a tattoo of his late brother’s face, seeking closure and support.

Text message describing a man preparing for a serious conversation before his fiancée arrives, relating to a breakup scenario.

Text excerpt showing a man describing events before breaking up with fiancée after her tattoo of his late brother's face.

Text excerpt about a man accidentally dropping hot spaghetti on his fiancée after she got a tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Man eating pasta at a table with others, illustrating a casual meal related to man breaking up with fiancée news.

Image credits: KamranAydinov / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt showing a man apologizing after a fiancée gets tattoo of his late brother’s face, causing conflict.

Text excerpt showing a man explaining his fiancée accused him of punishing her over a tattoo of his late brother.

Text excerpt describing a man defending himself calmly about a tattoo dispute involving his late brother.

Man breaks up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face amid fight and chaos at home.

Man sitting in car looking distressed, reflecting on breakup after fiancée gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Image credits: diana.grytsku / freepik (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt showing a man expressing fear after his fiancée’s tattoo of his late brother’s face caused a breakup.

Text excerpt from a breakup story about a man ending relationship after fiancée’s tattoo of his late brother’s face.

Text message expressing gratitude for comments and unexpected outcome, related to man breaking up with fiancée after tattoo.

Image credits: audicarmicheal

“She’s always seemed eager to make me happy”

To find out more about this situation, we got in touch with the author who shared this post, Reddit user Audicarmicheal. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share another brief update.

“There has been slight progress. Last night I spoke to my parents about it, and while they did support me, they asked me to try to remedy things with my ex, which I rejected entirely,” he noted. “I’ve planned to go either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow with a friend to get my stuff when she isn’t home from work yet.”

The OP also noted that he was extremely surprised by how his ex reacted to his concerns about the tattoo. “I honestly can’t put it into words,” he says. “I thought she’d comply easily because she’s always seemed eager to make me happy, as I am to her too. Especially with something so crazy, I didn’t expect her to fight against it. It shook me up way too much.”

Finally, we asked the author what he thought of the responses to his post. “I did find most of the replies helpful,” he told Bored Panda. “Though the ones suggesting she was cheating on me with my brother pricked my heart. There’s also the regular trolls that are easy enough to navigate. Most were good and insightful, though.”

Grieving the loss of a sibling can be extremely painful

Man comforting woman at a cemetery, symbolizing a breakup after fiancée tattooed late brother’s face.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Losing a sibling can turn your world upside down in an instant. While it’s always heartbreaking to have to say goodbye to a loved one, it can be even more shocking and confusing to lose a brother or sister. We grow up by their side, and we never imagine ourselves living in a world without them. But unfortunately, Verywell Mind notes that sibling grief and loss are too often ignored.

After someone tragically passes away, people are often only concerned about their parents, their romantic partner and their own children. But this loss can take a huge toll on their brothers and sisters, as well as cause drastic changes to the family dynamic.

Losing a sibling might mean the loss of an extremely close relationship, and their surviving brothers and sisters often feel profound guilt for simply living. If the person lost their life due to an illness, their siblings may develop an extreme fear of themselves or someone else in their family going the same way. And as with any significant loss, it’s common to go through the Five Stages of Grief.

We have no way of knowing how much the author of this post and his partner discussed the passing of his brother, but it’s likely that she did not understand the full extent of what he was going through, especially because she has no siblings of her own.

When it comes to memorializing a lost loved one, it’s generally a good idea. They deserve to be remembered, and it can soothe us to know that we’ve done something to honor our late loved ones. And getting a tattoo can be a great reminder of a friend, family member or pet that has passed on. 

Showing any signs of violence is a huge red flag in a relationship

Close-up of a man grabbing a woman's wrist, illustrating tension in a breakup after tattoo involving late brother’s face.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

According to a piece Vinita Mehta, PhD, wrote for Psychology Today, there are several reasons why people are so drawn to tattoos when looking to memorialize someone. The first reason is because of their permanence. The tattoo will always be there, meaning that the person will never be forgotten.

These tattoos can also be a great way to manage grief or start conversations about the loved one in the future. They’re a way for someone to feel like they still have a bond with their lost loved one, and they can feel like a transformation of self, as the person has been changed by this significant loss in their life.

But there’s a big difference between getting a memorial tattoo for your own sibling and someone that you had only met a few times. Many readers pointed out that the author had every right to ask his partner to remove the tattoo. And what became even more concerning was the way she reacted to his request and the accidental bowl of spaghetti ending up in her lap.

JBWS warns that it’s important to be able to spot the warning signs of a toxic and potentially ab*sive relationship. And one of the biggest red flags is a partner who reacts by throwing items, punching walls or displaying violent gestures when upset. They might not have ever laid a hand on their partner, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t in the future. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this man made the right decision by choosing to end his relationship? Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article featuring similar relationship drama, look no further than right here. 

Readers applauded the man for getting out of the relationship, and he joined in on the conversation one last time

Comment thread discussing a man breaking up with fiancée after she tattoos his late brother’s face.

Reddit conversation about man breaking up with fiancée after she tattoos his late brother’s face, discussing relationship conflict.

Commenters discuss safety advice about returning to a house alone after a man breaks up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation where a user thanks another for support after an intense story about a man breaking up.

Reddit user advising caution and support after man breaks up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation where user Upbeat_Ice1921 supports the man breaking up with fiancée after tattoo incident.

Text conversation discussing advice for safely breaking up with a fiancée after a tattoo of a late brother’s face.

Man breaks up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face in a personal relationship conflict.

Reddit user giving advice on protecting yourself after a man breaks up with fiancée over tattoo of late brother’s face.

Reddit conversation screenshot showing a man breaking up with fiancée after she gets tattoo of his late brother’s face.

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