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Nobody deserves being rejected. First off, the world is cruel enough. And second, there’s a fair share of karma involved in it. If you ever reject someone, the chances are the same thing will come to you as a boomerang when you least expect it. In a parallel reality, everyone would have a reciprocal “It’s a match!”

But being told ‘sorry’ by your love interest is surely much more complex than that. And the best way to take a glimpse into humanity’s hurt souls is to look at what people have to say themselves.

So when Twitter user Eden Dranger posed the question “What was your harshest rejection?” it resonated with many, amassing 4,173 retweets and 67.6K likes.

So let’s get ready for a brutal, yet sometimes funny, other times plain odd, roller coaster ride featuring the stories of rejection as told by the ones who know what they’re saying.

#2

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

SueZieCue Report

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Alison
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow 😳 that was a close call. Sorry to hear about the wife though being beat up. Awful to think about what happens behind closed doors

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To find out more about dealing with harsh rejection, Bored Panda reached out to Kate Mansfield, an acclaimed dating and relationship coach based in London, UK. Kate told that the way rejection psychologically affects us vary from person to person. “Rejection can have a profound or a mild effect, depending on the psychological state, the past trauma, and the personality of the person,” she explained.

“At its worst, it can cause extreme feelings of worthlessness and even depression. It can cause the person to withdraw from relationships and to stay alone. Or, to feel not good enough and low self-esteem.”

Meanwhile, people with healthy self-esteem and confidence, are usually mildly affected. This is “because they have a solid sense of self-worth already,” Kate explained.

When asked about the ways to deal with being rejected, Kate suggested working on your self-esteem and understanding that it’s nothing to do with you, and usually, it’s not personal.

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“Try to feel grateful, because the one thing worse than being rejected is to stay in a relationship with someone who doesn't really love you. That is rejection on a daily basis, and causes extreme loneliness.”

#7

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

HallJaneh227 Report

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's just hope that they are able to put him behind bars for his part in the siege of the capitol.

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#8

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

clairewillett Report

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Joonscrab
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You just dodged a bullet lolll if he can't handle a person having an extra few pounds, then that's on him.

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#10

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

HombreVerde7 Report

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Catherine
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha this one made me laugh! Luckily, you were overqualified and clearly meant for bigger things in life

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Whatever people say, rejection hurts. Bottom line. It doesn’t matter which point of a relationship you’re at—being told "I am sorry, but" is something none of us want to hear. Emotional responses by anyone who’s experienced it are confirmed by researchers, and they range from feeling jealous to anxious and lonely.

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But since rejection has a lot to do with self-worth and self-image, oftentimes the pain of it is directly linked to how you validate yourself. Often people look for external and not internal forces to feel validated, which makes them vulnerable to setbacks. What if we simply haven't learned to love ourselves enough?

#14

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

linc0lnpark Report

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Doggo Froggo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is so disgusting! That type of thing should not matter at all.

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Persp Gold
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3 years ago

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So they were just racists. Today one tweet, would be enough to force the agency out of business. And rightly so.

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Sinkvenice
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, what a d**k move. Were they one of those agencies who said you have to pay for your own pictures for your portfolio?

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Euna Magbitang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, the same thing happened to me! Modeling agencies can sometimes be a little harsh.

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh well, good on them for having their token “ethnic” already. F*****g assholes. Got a message for the modeling industry, plus the beauty product, diet, and entertainment, industries: Beauty is beauty is beauty. It is not all the same, it is not an unreachable aesthetic, it is not cookie cutter perfection. There is no such thing as “conventional beauty”, nor should there be. In real life, it is often the imperfections that make someone beautiful—-and interesting. Here’s a prime example: Back in the day, Barbra Streisand was looked upon as a great talent, no question, but was not considered pretty. Look at pictures of her today, both when she was young and now, and she is gorgeous! Interestingly beautiful. Striking. That people “in the industry” didn’t consider her to be beautiful is a sad sad comment on standards of “beauty”. We need to throw out the book on beauty and start a new, expanded, and diverse volume.

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M Kate McCulloch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh hell no! Then again - agencies are like that. Not necessarily racist, per se, but when I submittted to mine, they said, "Oh, you're in luck! We just lost our middle-aged redhead!" Can I get an Amen... lol

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Xan Maranya
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We'd better tell that other girl that she's being called "an ethnic".

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Jackie Wolfred
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also went to a modeling agency when I was 16. I could tell by the facial expression and questions asked, she thought I was a joke. Finally she said I was too short and wouldn't ever get to model anything, except maybe ski wear. She also said my eye brows were too far above my eyes and told me to pluck them from the top. I was 5'4", and eventually got up to 5'7". I did as she said and plucked my eyebrows on the top. They looked hideous. I didn't give up there though, as I went to another modeling agency and they cut me to the quick, and didn't spend the time with me. And so it goes...

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Kris “ADHD_Carrier” Dudoich
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am without words. Okay seriously, no, is this going to start being a box on forms? Please check your race - Caucasian/African American/Ethnic - I mean, what the what??? Oh, and it sounds like that agency didn't deserve you anyway!

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François Carré
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a reminder that sometimes modeling agencies are just a fancy version of slave markets.

dc1 avatar
DC
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An "ethnic"? So ... they basically reduce you to the region your ancestors have lived in and the effects this has on your looks? Be glad those knuckleheads didn't want you ... you shouldn't ever want them or any alike!

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Brandy Grote
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"An ethnic"? What even, like there is a limit to exotic beauty? Pshhh

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Isabelle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that makes me so freaking mad. oml. smh. screw that modeling agency.

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Stephen Hutchison
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"An ethnic" -- wow if that was anywhere in the past 15 years it would mean that was a former modeling agency because nobody would hire them. And if it was more recent, how have they stayed in business?

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catherine todd
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG! It never ends, does it! So sorry about that, but it's been that way in the modelling world for years. When will it ever change?

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Henry Shane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are products, you're a category. Like meat...all people are. The world is a market. There are more empathetic ways to say a category has already been filled though.

shead26 avatar
Steve
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, this is sometimes based on the types of jobs they get. Clients can specifically request people with distinct looks. If they already have enough people in a category to fill all their jobs, they don't hire more in that category. Of course, they could also be racist pigs. Kinda hard to tell just based on this

johnc_1 avatar
John C
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I consider myself progressive and I think I've been successful in raising kids to not only not be racist but also be aware of current issues. That said, this isn't necessarily racist. There's always a target audience to which you wish to appeal, and that will dictate what models you use. A good agency will have a spectrum of models to fit whatever their clients need. That variety will be of all types; different races, heights, body styles, etc. Imagine if a plumber filled his toolbox with only screwdrivers. I am appalled at the wording through. Whoever wrote "we already have an ethnic" should be fired on the spot.

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Persp Gold
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you want to work in modeling you better have thicker skin than this.

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Ovidiu Toader
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's how modeling agencies work. They have clients who need a quota of models of varying ethnicities and genders, because that's THE CLIENTS' REQUEST. It's not personal. ```Source: I work in marketing and publicity graphic media.```

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Being rejected by someone you love can really turn even the strongest of us into emotional train wrecks. But in many cases, we tend to idealize both the person and the relationship, as we only remember good times and emotions.

Such behavior is usually unconscious, but it nevertheless doesn’t show the full picture of what you really feel hurt about.

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Interestingly, friendship rejections can often be even more painful than romantic ones. Beverly Flaxington, a life and career coach, says to remember that while a friendship’s end can be painful, it’s also normal for friends to come and go.

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On the other hand, if you still feel like you're missing that person and that friendship in your life, Lexington suggests “reaching out to see if the person wants to get together.” In fact, timing may be crucial as it gives a whole new perspective of the friendship and the people we surround ourselves with.

After some time has passed and if you find yourself missing that person and that friendship, Flaxington suggests reaching out to see if the person wants to get together. Timing is key here. Time can allow people to approach a friendship with a new perspective, she notes

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#21

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

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Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes you need people to be tough on you because family and friends might lie to you about how good you are

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#22

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woodra Report

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Dan Buczynski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. Well f**k Kavanaugh and f**k your ex husband. I hope you've since found someone who appreciates a bad@$$ like you.

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#25

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Lili
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really don't understand people who pay for their not-even-spouse's education, house, cars, etc... Like, are you out of your mind?

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According to Lori Gottlieb, M.F.T., psychotherapist, "When somebody rejects us, there's a very primal piece to it, which is that it goes against everything we feel like we need for survival."

But beyond the evolutionary standpoint, our responses to rejection vary greatly as they really depend on the models in which we develop our relationships with people. Those with insecure attachment styles in contrast to secure ones are likely to experience much greater pain from rejection.

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#27

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

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Vic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not a rejection, that's cheating! He was not your boyfriend, and she definitely was not your best friend.

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#29

Emberrassing-Rejection-Stories

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Pungent Sauce
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stripping is sex work, and a lot of guys have difficulty separating the fantasy woman from the actual human being. Not excusing this jackass in any way, but as in most any job it’s best to not date the customers/clientele.

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#30

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Kakegurui_mash Report

Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.