Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
111 First Dates So Horrible They Should Count As Character‑Building Trauma
Two people meet, go on a few dates and fall in love. How we wish it were that simple. In reality, most of us encounter our fair share of frogs before we finally find the one.
While some first dates do lead to long-term relationships, or even friendships, many flop before the first course can arrive. Maybe he or she spends the whole evening talking about their ex, themselves, or nothing at all. Maybe they order for you without asking, or they're rude to the waiter. Whatever it is, you say your goodbyes, and keep it moving.
Then there are first dates so bad that you consider deleting all the apps forever. Like the one where his wife rocked up, another where he brought his ex along, and another where she found her 18-year-old self sat across from a man wearing a toupee. We wish we were making these up but they're true horror stories that have been shared in response to someone asking, "What happened on a first date that made you never talk to them again?"
Bored Panda has put together a compilation of the best worst first date stories that might turn even the softest romantic into a hardened cynic. Close Tinder, sit back and keep scrolling. Don't forget to upvote your favorites.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
showed up to pick me up without asking for an address..
RELATED:
#3
He made me pay and then he kept the change
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago (edited)
Theft. That is called theft. Which is a dating no no for me.
#5
brought his ex bc he wanted to "compare the dates between me and her " he sat her at a different table and went back n forth between us 😭😭 i left like ten mins later
#6
He literally shushed me. Put a finger to my mouth and said shh I’m talking now LMAOO
#9
He said we were just going out for drinks. Then he casually ordered chicken with French fries—for himself. He kept asking me if I wanted some, and I kept saying no because I wasn’t hungry. After insisting multiple times, he finally convinced me to take ONE single French fry… so I did. And then he asked me to pay HALF of his meal… for that ONE French fry.
#10
Genuinely hated when i broke eye contact, he’d clench his fist and make a grr noise or huff whenever i looked away. We were at dinner and this is the first time i met him.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago
That would have only gotten worse over time. Controlling cockwomble.
#12
Told me that no one would hear me scream from his basement flat 🙃. I married a woman.
#13
I told him I was in the process of finishing my masters and buying a house.. he said “you need to stop both of those. You’ll be living with me and neither are optional”. As he lived on a falling apart boat…
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago
He does not want a woman who might outshine him. Insecure pillock.
#15
He asked me why I still got check up for cancer i used to have and told me that if we went further into the relationship i wouldn’t be allowed to get my routine check ups anymore.
#17
He had a toupee. I was 18.
Mabelbabel 2 hours ago
If he was 30+ and trying to look younger, that's just creepy. If he was 18-23ish, and was worried about being bald at such a young age, then its entirely different. But most men look far better just shaving it off.
#21
said he „forgot“ his wallet and would send me the money after (which he never did) and still had the audacity to ask me out on a second date I replied „do I have to pay for this one too“
#22
Told me I had eyes like Madeleine McCann
#23
They talked about their ex all the time, even I ended up missing the dude. It was emotional.
#24
He was so small that I thought he was a child walking towards me
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago
Unless he lied about his height this should not have been an issue?
#25
Tried to kiss me at the end (I pulled away as wasn’t feeling it) he laughed ominously and said “you’re kidding yourself if you think you have a choice”… bruh, ran tf away & never looked back
#26
He mentioned he was living with his ex during the date and kept asking about my living situation... No you're not moving in. Next!
#27
He used the fork from the table to scratch his back… literally took the fork and put it inside his shirt to scratch his back. Then used it to eat when the food came.
#28
he said "no self respecting adult uses a backpack". I was sat there with a backpack, a Shaun the sheep backpack 🥲 this was in 2018 and I'm now marrying someone who encourages my fluffy bag collecting
Mabelbabel 2 hours ago (edited)
I met a date at a local coffee shop. It was raining and I was using a pink umbrella-normal, ordinary brolly, nice pale pink colour, no cartoons or anything, just a pretty pink colour. Apparently that was childish and immature and did I think I was at Disney world dressing up? And then when I didn't laugh at his "jokes" about my childish umbrella, he complained I had no sense of humour. I'm sure he categorised himself as a nice guy.
#29
Told me he was still in love with his ex and I looked like her. I just had to cut my hair.I climbed out the bathroom window because he walked me to the bathroom because he was scared I was going ran out on him.I even faked having my period because he wanted to take my bag.
#31
he did the splits after a strike while bowling
#32
We went to a restaurant and I knew the owner well. He claimed to own the restaurant…I called the owner in front of him to ask him if he sold it to the guy. He laughed and said no, he just does kitchen duty.
#33
I ate oxtails and she had a problem with that.
#34
Said his dad was on trial for attempting to end his step mom (with an axe) and everyone thinks he’s going to end up like his dad but he knows he’s not because when he got in a fight with his ex he could have reached for a knife but chose not to.
#35
Told me he had a female cadaver under his bed- he was completely serious.
#36
“oh so you just babysit kids all day” - I’m a primary school teacher.
#37
Had Sydney Sweeney as his lock screen
#38
Told me he was tall , i said how tall? He said he was at least 5"10/5"11 he was 5"3 😳 im 5"9
#41
Kissed me all over my face but his breath stunk so my face smelt like tonsil stones and I had to drive home for an hour
#44
showed me a capcut edit of himself
#45
Said he has another date with someone else next day and he will let me know.. he picked me and I picked someone else lol
#50
He spoke full volume in the movie theatre, it was embarrassing
Chrystina Sumpter 2 hours ago
So many people have either forgotten or never learned movie etiquette.
#51
He was in FaceTime with his friend all the time while driving flexing he got girl next too him
#54
Complained about my car..that he didn’t even get in. We met at the restaurant and he DOGGED me for driving a jeep grand Cherokee..ig cuz he was a mechanic but like she’s been good to me and I love it
#57
He talked about putting hands on women when necessary. I gave him this look and He said “I’m joking “. I KNEW HE WASN’T
#59
he kept asking why I didn’t want him to pick me up, then he mentioned how he can memorize my license plate and put a tracker on my car… he’s a cop
Chrystina Sumpter 2 hours ago
My mother-in-law was an attorney practicing criminal and family law. She dealt with cops while practicing in both areas. She did not have a very high opinion. A young attorney became engaged to a cop. My mother-in-law told her when (not if), she divorced him, she would represent her for free.
#60
he took me to all you can eat wings on a Monday night and proceeded to eat 36 wings
#61
i went on a first date with a guy and he took me to where i worked to eat so he could use my employee discount
#62
I ordered a mushroom Swiss burger (With extra mushrooms). When the food came, he SCOOPED all the mushrooms off and ate them and said “ I did that because I didn’t think you liked mushrooms” WHY would I order a mushroom burger than.. 🤐 I left
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago
If be ordering extra mushrooms for both me and my date. Everyone likes mushrooms. Some people think they do not, but hey are wrong and just require the opportunity to discover the truth. Btw, you have to like mushrooms if we were to date.
#64
When i ordered a hot chocolate and the barista asked if i wanted whipped cream and he said “no we are saving that for later”.
#65
Said he was going to take me out for dinner. We went to McDonalds and I was only allowed to pick something from the €1 board.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago (edited)
Hey big spender! Seriously though, some people might not have much money, and can only afford to do such things.
#66
he went through my phone for a good 10 minutes
#68
He was standing like this
Mabelbabel 1 hour ago
First position? Maybe he was a ballet dancer and it just came automatically?
#69
Asked me to clip his toenails because his mommy did it. He had to go see his mom every single day. We got there and he asked how she slept and she said “aw baby you know I can’t sleep without you”.
#70
He kept leaving the table to go the bathroom every 15 minutes, turns out he was "skiing".
#71
"ill take you out for dinner" ended up in a kebab shop
#73
Took me to the zoo but he had one free ticket so said ‘you pay for yours as I’ve got a free ticket’
#74
During a dinner he said “my job is so intense my hands are ruined. I have no finger prints left….I could get away with pretty much any crime”
#75
He ate oxtails with his fingers and kept smacking his lips
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 hours ago
Is this the same date as the other oxtail date? If it is, I was on his side, now I am on this side.
#77
He whistled and clicked at a waitress for her attention, didn't speak to her and just pointed. I left and gave her a twenty
#81
He ordered spicy food while I order the regular one turned to ask the server for a napkin and when I turned back I saw him eating already and TF he ate my order while I had to suffer after eating his. Took me three days to finally recover from stomachache and ghosted him.
#82
“You can hobby around with your camera I will provide” I was a full time professional photographer and paying my bills with it.
#83
He took my phone from me and didn’t want to give it back because someone texted me and I decided to answered. This happened after 4hours together and I answered in 30 seconds and locked my phone. Never saw him again.
#84
He brought up pictures of his ex and told me “you kind of look like her” he walked me to my car after I made an excuse to leave and tried to hug me bye. I literally stopped him to shake his hand and told him it was nice to meet him and thank you for everything but he would never see me again😂 saw him years later out and he asked me “didn’t we go on a date before?” I told him I didn’t know him and went on about my night.
#86
He played the instrumental version of Kanye west and rapped the whole album to me not breaking eye contact
#87
sang love story by Taylor Swift in a full restaurant. very loudly. he didn't know how to sing....
#88
he let me know beforehand that he wont be paying for my food, after we had just ordered, so i got my food takeout and left
Chrystina Sumpter 1 hour ago
Good for you! I have no problem with splitting the bill on the first date, but all that should be established ahead of time.
#89
He talked for 45 minutes straight... I fell asleep mid convo😭 woke up and he said "so tomorrow?"
#92
He referred to himself in third person
#95
he talked about me meeting his parents the next day and started discussing kids names for when we would start trying next year…i’d met this man ONCE
#101
We ordered food at a restaurant and he ordered A LOT of expensive foods and several drinks. Afterwards he told me that “I don’t have enough money with me, so you’re gonna need to pay…”
#102
we went to get ice cream , he said he didn't want one, then pretended to be talking on the phone when it was time to pay , then he ate my ice cream
#103
Told me he needed to run into the shops to pick something up. Turns out I waited in the car while he had his teeth whitened
#105
"Wow you look like a younger version of my mom in person, that's perfect." Left before the hostess even asked us "how many"
#106
he asked me to get coffee and we went and got gas station coffee… and he made me pay for my $1.25 coffee….
#107
He said : « can u please stop talking it’s my turn now »
Mabelbabel 1 hour ago
This one needs more context. If the poster had been talking continously for a very long time and not actually having a two-way conversation, then that's a polite but assertive way to attempt to cut off the other's monologue.
#108
Took me to a concert and as we were waiting in the line to be let in a group of 3 girls walked by, he turned to me and goes “if I wasn’t with you right now, non of these girls would be safe in here.”
#109
He told me he doesn’t like toothpaste,perfumes,soaps etch and only washes himself with water .
#110
First date lasted a weekend, at the end of it he told me he loved me and I needed to delete all my dating apps and asked to go through my phone before I left his apartment so he knew I was “faithful”
Explore more of these tags
Related on Bored Panda
