“Red Flag”: Man Plays Stupid Games, Wins The Ultimate Breakup In Front Of His Horrified Family

While it’s important to keep relationships fun and exciting, some things between partners are better kept serious. Not all areas of life are on the table when it comes to joking, and even when you think you know your significant other well, teasing can still sometimes feel hurtful, hindering the relationship as a result. 

For a while, this woman had an issue with her boyfriend constantly pulling pranks, but she kept giving him chances for his other redeeming qualities. That is, until he went completely too far and faked a proposal, sending her running for the hills.

Scroll down to find the full story and a conversation with Layne Baker, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist in private practice, and relationship expert Laurel House, who kindly agreed to tell us more about taking jokes too far in relationships.

Some things are better kept serious in a relationship

Manchild in argument with woman on couch, both appearing frustrated.

Image credits: msvyatkovska (not the actual photo)

However, this guy didn’t get the memo with his constant pranks, which resulted in him getting dumped and humiliated

Woman describes issues with boyfriend due to constant pranks, leading to breakup after an engagement prank went too far.

Text on emotional breakup over 'manchild' pranks undermining trust.

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A couple arguing in a well-lit living room over a prank that went too far.

Image credits: YuriArcursPeopleimages (not the actual photo)

Text recounting a woman confronting a 'manchild' over a prank that went too far, leading to realization about lack of apology.

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Text about a manchild's pranks going too far, including hiding a cake and hitting the gas pedal.

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Text discussing reactions to a prank involving a potential proposal.

Text excerpt discussing a woman's dilemma about saying yes to a proposal prank in front of family.

Man proposes with a ring in a box to a woman covering her face at a table with wine and roses.

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

Text exchange highlighting a red flag in a relationship with a "manchild" over a prank.

Text describing a breakup over a prank, mentioning frustration with a man's behavior and calling him a manchild.

Text reads about a woman breaking up with a "manchild" due to an offensive prank during a family gathering.

Woman ends relationship due to man's prank going too far, text describing her walking home with his cousins following.

Text from a woman discussing a breakup after a man's prank went too far.

Text exchange about a "manchild" prank going too far, involving a supportive message from his brother's girlfriend.

Text about woman breaking up with a 'manchild' after a prank went too far, detailing family tensions.

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Text expressing embarrassment about standing up in a situation with a manchild after a prank went too far.

Image credits: Secret-Assistance225

Humor is the secret ingredient to a successful and long-lasting relationship

Numerous studies have long proved that humor is the secret ingredient to a successful and long-lasting relationship. “Humor is pretty crucial to successful and long-lasting relationships for a couple of reasons,” agrees Layne Baker, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist in private practice. 

“First, it contributes to playfulness, which creates a deeper connection and an unshakeable bond between partners,” she says.

“Second, humor, when applied to the bigger picture of our lives and relationships, can help us respond and healthily cope with setbacks, conflict, and disappointment. Within a relationship, that means being able to bring ease and levity to a situation that would otherwise incite a serious rupture between partners. Think, using humor together to laugh at a big miscommunication between you and your partner (“Look at how WE really mucked this one up, eh?”),” explains Baker.

Those couples who can laugh together are generally more satisfied with their relationship, are more likely to engage in healthy and direct communication, and are better listeners. However, the keywords here are ‘laughing together.’ “It’s essential that your personalities and senses of humor mesh, or you or they might take offense, get defensive, feel hurt, or shut down,” notes relationship expert Laurel House.

Shared laughter is more about enjoying something you both find funny and less about one being a jokester and the other feeling belittled, ridiculed, or hurt. What adds to relationship satisfaction is couples creating humor together, not mockingly making fun of each other. 

“Joking or teasing is NOT the same thing as humor because they often play out at the expense of one person, making the experience of the joke incredibly one-sided (which leads to bullying),” says Baker. “What is “funny” to the teaser might be quite harmful to the one being teased, especially if it pokes at insecurities or other tender spots in a person or relationship.”

Image credits: YuriArcursPeopleimages (not the actual photo)

It’s important to keep teasing and joking positive in a relationship

If a person starts sensing that teasing or joking is starting to hurt the relationship, Baker recommends checking in. “First with yourself, then with your partner. This is especially true if something started out feeling fairly okay, like occasional jokes or teasing, but over time has started to negatively impact your mental wellness and relationship health,” she says.

“If you’re the partner who is being teased, ask yourself, “When did this stop feeling okay or fun for me?” and bring that awareness to your partner, letting them know that the jokes have turned hurtful and you’d like to find other ways to be playful with each other. If you’re the partner who is teasing/joking and you notice your partner pulling away, shutting down or straight-up telling you the joke was hurtful, be responsive to those cues with love and respect. Just because a joke played well before doesn’t mean it still does, and you have to be willing to check yourself if the teasing/joking has gone haywire and is hurting your relationship,” Baker further explained.

However, all of this is not to say that teasing or joking can’t be beneficial to partners. “While positivity is important, joking can also create opportunities to gently call out areas that you might like to see improvement or change. And while having a conversation about areas of friction or frustration is important in a relationship, it’s essential to maintain your love and respect for each other. Joking helps you to softly bring up the hard stuff, creating an opportunity to then later go deeper if necessary,” says House.

But for the most part, it’s better to keep humor positive in a relationship and communicate about it. “Everyone is different in their capacity to receive joking or teasing, so it’s important to talk with your partner and find out if jokes and teasing are their jam and to what degree keeps things in the playful zone for both of you—this is what helps create a positive experience. Also, establish how you will signal to each other if a joke doesn’t land or turns sour (short, verbal cues work great for this—even something as simple as “nope, not into it.”),” advises Baker.

Image credits: Ladanifer (not the actual photo)

The readers sided with the girlfriend on this one

Comment about a prank marriage proposal by a 'manchild' embarrassing in front of family.

Comment discussing a breakup with a manchild after a prank went too far, congratulating the decision.

Comment supporting woman for breaking up due to prank going too far.

Comment criticizing humiliating pranks, calling them bullying.

Text discussing a relationship breakup due to a prank by a manchild.

Text from a discussion where a woman criticizes a prank by a 'manchild' for going too far and causing humiliation.

Comment acknowledging a breakup with a manchild after a prank went too far, praising the decision.

Comment criticizing a prank as cruel and disrespectful in a breakup context.

Reddit comment supporting woman’s breakup with manchild over excessive prank.

Comment from Top_Wealth_9343 about a prank going too far, earning 63 points in 6 days.

Comment on a breakup due to manchild's prank, suggesting throwing beer in his face.

Comment criticizing a 'manchild' ex, suggesting harsh actions.

Comment on breaking up with a "manchild" prankster, saying "I can't stand pranksters. NTA".

Online comments praising a woman for breaking up with a 'manchild' after a prank goes too far.

Text exchange discussing a breakup with a "manchild" after a prank went too far.

Screenshot of a comment discussing a woman's breakup with a "manchild" due to extreme pranks.

Reddit comment supporting a woman's decision to break up with a "manchild" after an extreme prank.

Comment criticizes a 38-year-old for immature behavior in response to a prank gone too far.

Comment discussing consequences of a prank by a "manchild" leading to relationship issues.

Online comment supporting a woman breaking up with a 'manchild' after a prank goes too far.

Text comment about a prank gone too far, calling someone a bully and bad boyfriend.

Comment discussing breaking up with a manchild after a prank goes too far.

Comment on breakup decision due to prank going too far, showing support for woman.

Comment discussing a woman ending a relationship with a "manchild" over excessive pranks.

Reddit comment criticizing a prank in a breakup over manchild behavior, mentioning karma and embarrassment.

Comment reacting to a prank by a "manchild" involving a gas pedal.

Reddit comment supports woman breaking up with manchild after prank goes too far.

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