Husband’s Joke Almost Turns Fatal, His Wife Wants Nothing To Do With Him

A poorly timed joke can turn a pleasant situation into an awkward standoff. But a bad prank might even threaten someone’s life.

A few days ago, a woman turned to the subreddit r/AmIOverreacting for help processing a recent falling out with her husband.

However, after she described how he tried to ‘monetize’ her sedated and confused state in hopes of going viral, people were shocked that a loving partner could actually attempt such a stunt.

This woman is unsure if she can fully trust her husband after the practical joke he tried to play on her

Woman with a concerned expression, discussing a risky prank by her husband.

Image credits: YuriArcursPeopleimages/Envato (not the actual photo)

Even though he’s begging for her forgiveness

Text recounts a husband's prank that almost cost his wife's life.

Text about husband's prank and wife's reaction, feeling loopy but safe after husband drove and cared for her.

Text recounting wife's near-death experience due to husband's prank.

Text recounting how a husband's prank led to a life-threatening situation, requiring the Heimlich maneuver to save his wife.

Text screenshot: wife recalling a near-death experience from husband's prank.

Close-up of a tooth model held between fingers, related to husband's prank.

Image credits: ktsimage/Envato (not the actual photo)

Text about a tooth prank by a husband that was intended to be funny but almost dangerous.

Husband's prank with fake tooth for viral video nearly harms wife.

Text screenshot describing a husband's prank that almost cost his wife's life.

Text excerpt describing aftermath of a husband's prank that almost cost his wife's life.

Text from wife expressing anger and disbelief over husband's prank incident.

Text image about responding to a prank gone wrong, mentioning crawling through a hallway and seeking advice on Reddit.

Man in a denim shirt sitting worried, hands clasped, reflecting on a prank incident.

Image credits: Prostock-studio/Envato (not the actual photo)

Experts say that people who do these things to their partners often lack empathy and self-esteem

There’s a term for what the Redditor’s husband has done to her—the exploitation of one’s most intimate relationships to gain online influence and popularity—and it’s called cloutlighting.

According to Jade Thomas, psychotherapist and founder of Luxe Psychology Practice, people who engage in this kind of behavior tend to display a lack of empathy if the other person displays or shares an emotional, negative, or upset response, explaining that it can lead to a “lack of boundaries or disrespecting of boundaries.”

Image credits: Ben Tofan/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

“At the end of the day, relationships are supposed to be of a team dynamic, and if one partner is constantly the target of a joke or prank and not finding it funny, it must be questioned whether it is emotionally and psychologically abusive,” Thomas said.

However, the author of the post said that her husband hasn’t done anything like this to her in the past and that he was very, very apologetic during the aftermath, so there is probably a considerable chance that he doesn’t belong to this group.

Another study from 2020 found that regardless of age, cloutlighters usually have low self-esteem and are “higher social media users.” Interestingly, males are over four times more likely to engage in cloutlighting than females.

After her story went viral, the woman posted an update on the situation

Text reading, "Edit: so this has blown up way more than I expected. To answer some common questions," related to prank impact.

Text thread discussing a husband's prank, TikTok influence, and his regret after a dangerous incident.

Text discussing assumptions on Reddit and privacy concerns over husband's account info.

Text discussing overwhelming responses and challenges, mentioning a baby.

Text revealing consequences of husband's prank on wife's wellbeing.

Text expressing gratitude for kindness and questioning those who discredit or harm.

Text excerpt about a situation involving a husband's prank and its consequences, with family dialogue.

Text exchange about a husband's prank gone wrong, wife plans to discuss incident after recovering from anesthesia.

Text about a husband's prank involving a fake dollar store tooth leading to a terrifying moment for his wife.

Text mentioning decisions and updates in response to numerous posts.

Text about wife's near-death experience due to husband's prank, expressing frustration and defending hyperbole.

Image credits: ThrowRA190912112

Cloutlighting isn’t a new phenomenon, but social media is really exacerbating it

Gary Mortimer, professor of Marketing and Consumer Behavior at Queensland University of Technology and Louise Grimmer, senior lecturer in Retail Marketing at the University of Tasmania, say there is nothing new about filming and publishing a practical joke.

“US reality show Candid Camera first aired in 1948; like the more recent Punk’d and similar shows, they feature footage captured by a hidden camera of everyday people (sometimes celebrities) caught up in pranks or hoaxes,” they wrote.

“However, social media has created a platform for people to use pranks as a means of generating more clicks and … popularity: clout.”

Image credits: A. Calvar./Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Today, anyone can be a comedic celebrity, and YouTube is full of them, oftentimes to other people’s detriment.

“While many of the skits appear highly produced, the genre of cloutlighting pushes beyond the boundaries of comedic entertainment, towards promoting intimate partner abuse and misogyny,” Mortimer and Grimmer explained.

So, why is there a demand for it? Passive voyeurism, the academics say.

“Many of these cruel and embarrassing clips have been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times, suggesting our appetite for passive voyeurism. Just as reality television illustrates suffering and loss and a preoccupation with personal trauma for the sake of entertainment, clout-lighting videos do the same thing.”

People think this woman’s reaction is perfectly reasonable

Reddit comments criticizing a husband's prank that endangered his wife's life, discussing trust issues with their baby.

Text exchange about the husband's prank that almost costs wife's life, showcasing concern and disbelief.

Reddit comments discussing the dangers of pranks after a husband's joke nearly risks wife's life.

Reddit comments discussing a husband's prank potentially risking his wife's life, suggesting involving police.

Comment advising a wife to ask her husband to stay elsewhere after a prank gone wrong.

A comment about a husband's prank gone wrong, emphasizing danger and intelligence in relationships.

A comment criticizing a husband's prank that nearly endangered his wife's life, expressing strong disapproval.

Text comment about husband's prank that endangered wife's life and trust.

Text comment expressing frustration over a husband's dangerous prank.

Comment advises on safety after husband's dangerous prank, stressing need for wife's self-care and support during recovery.

Comment expressing shock over husband's prank almost costing wife's life.

Text criticizing husband's prank that nearly cost wife's life, urging maturity and cessation of pranks.

Comment advising action after husband's prank endangers wife's life.

Comment criticizing a husband's prank that risked his wife's life, questioning its safety and intention.

Online comment criticizing a husband's prank that nearly endangered his wife's life.

Reddit comment discussing a husband's prank on his wife, referencing bullying and a quote by Shayne from Smosh.

Text comment on a husband's prank, questioning its intent and highlighting potential harm to wife's safety.

Text discussion on prank risks; highlights how a husband's prank almost turns life-threatening for wife.

Comment about prank gone wrong, suggesting legal help due to danger.

Text comment criticizing a husband's dangerous prank, calling it childish and harmful to the relationship.

Reddit comment expressing sympathy and warning against husband's prank, mentioning recovery from surgery.

Text discussing a prank gone wrong, highlighting its danger and recklessness, risking a wife's life for a social media stunt.

Text exchange discussing husband's prank risking wife's life, causing fear and mistrust.

Text response criticizing husband's prank, questioning the humor and expressing lost trust and respect.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment reacting to a husband's prank gone wrong.

Reddit comment discusses husband's prank leading to wife's near-death and possible PTSD, suggesting they leave him.

Text from a forum describing a husband's prank that almost cost his wife's life, intended as funny.

Comment criticizing husband's prank, calling it dangerous and unforgivable.

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