Woman Expects Husband To “Beg” After Breakup Prank, Gets Served Divorce Papers Instead

Having your significant other tell you they want out is devastating to hear. Even if it turns out to be a horrible joke, those cutting words may sting for a good while. 

A woman learned this lesson the hard way when she gave in to peer pressure from her friends and played a divorce prank on her husband. What she hoped to be a harmless little gag placed her on the brink of ruining her marriage.

Desperate for answers, she has now turned to the Reddit community for sound advice. 

Hearing your partner tell you they want to break up is never pleasant, even if it turns out to be a joke

A woman lying in bed, covering her face with her hands, reflecting on a personal moment about divorce papers and relationships.

Image credits: Daniel Martinez / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

A woman learned this lesson the hard way when she played a divorce prank on her husband

Text of a woman's plea for advice after joke with husband leads to marital issues.

Text expressing deep love for a husband in a letter about marriage and relationships.

Text about a woman's joke involving fake divorce or breakup backfires when husband serves divorce papers.

Man and woman having a serious conversation at a table, related to divorce papers.

Image credits: George Dagerotip / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

He didn’t take it well as he packed his bags and left their home within minutes

Text detailing a woman's coerced decision to participate in a controversial choice affecting her relationship.

Text description discussing a woman's comment about wanting a divorce and her husband's unexpected reaction.

Text highlighting a husband's reaction to a woman's joke and subsequent divorce papers.

Text detailing a woman's attempt to stop her husband from leaving after a joke backfires.

Text describing a woman's failed communication attempts after a husband's divorce papers serve as consequence.

Woman with hands on face, appearing upset, while man sits on bed, facing away.

Image credits: Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Things took a turn for the worse when the woman received the actual divorce papers from her husband

Text screenshot discussing consequences of a "joke" that backfired, mentioning refusal of entry and family involvement.

Text message explaining a woman's joke to her husband about divorce, causing unintended consequences.

Text about friends giving advice after a woman's joke leads to a husband's drastic reaction.

Text describing feeling shocked after receiving unexpected divorce papers, highlighting emotional pain and confusion.

A pen signing divorce papers, highlighting unexpected consequences of a woman's joke.

Image credits:  Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

She is now seeking advice from the internet 

Text image questioning how to win back love after a joke causes turmoil.

Text from a woman's post discussing a misunderstanding leading to divorce papers.

Image credits: ThrowRALivid_Tear

Divorce is a devastating ordeal to go through

Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Apart from the overarching reason of losing a person you love and care about, divorce brings about different levels of torment for the couple. 

As licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Ann Buscho points out, each individual may simultaneously experience fear, shame, guilt, and anger. You may see no light at the end of the tunnel. But for most people, the loneliness hurts the most. 

“Not only have you lost your partner, and perhaps your best friend, but you have possibly also lost your in-laws and the extended family that you married into,” Dr. Buscho wrote in an article for Psychology Today. 

For many people, the mere thought of dating again is daunting enough. Some may also let their failed marriage define them as a person. Then, the tedious and expensive legal process adds insult to injury. 

These reasons–among other things–are likely why the husband took the joke as harshly as he did. As the author mentioned, they’d been happily married for four years before the incident, and her statements may have hit him hard. 

Her biggest problem is getting her husband to talk things out. In these instances, communications specialist Leah Mether advises clearly explaining why the conversation is necessary. 

“Make your intention clear – it’s about wanting to improve the situation, not blame and accusations,” Mether wrote in an article for her website. 

A more loving approach may also soften the husband’s stance, which the author can do through simple behaviors. Integrative psychotherapist Philippa Perry describes these actions as “scraps of love,” which may involve cooking the other person’s favorite meal or helping them with a task. 

“You must get into the habit of these loving behaviors before you even begin to address any complaints to re-establish trust,” Perry wrote in an article for The Guardian. 

At the very least, it may help the author woo her husband into speaking with her. She may have to pull out all the stops to convey that she is serious about fixing the mess she made. 

However, if her husband continues to push through with the divorce, she will have to live with those consequences. 

Commenters didn’t hold back in their responses, primarily highlighting her mistake

Reddit response criticizing a woman's "joke" about divorce, calling it not funny and highlighting consequences.

Text comment criticizing a woman's joke about her marriage, highlighting the consequences of joking about divorce.

Comment reads: “I'm in disbelief that a woman your age would go along with something so immature and hateful,” related to divorce.

Text of a comment criticizing an ill-considered joke and discussing divorce.

Comment criticizing a woman for joking about divorce, leading to her husband's reaction.

Image of a Reddit comment criticizing a woman's joke that led to her husband serving divorce papers.

Reddit comment discussing a woman's joke about her husband, suggesting she needs better friends.

Comment questioning the joke related to a woman's prank on her husband.

Screenshot of a comment discussing relationship issues after a woman's joke led to her husband serving divorce papers.

Comment referencing a woman's joke leading to a husband's divorce papers.

Reddit comment about divorce after a woman's joke backfires, discussing relationship trust issues.

Text discussing the importance of friends' approval over marriage, and criticism of lack of special qualities in a relationship.

Reddit comment on woman's joke backfiring in divorce papers story.

Comment discussing disbelief over a woman's cruel behavior in a relationship joke gone wrong.

Text discussing a woman's joke backfiring and resulting in divorce papers from her husband.

Text exchange about a woman's joke backfiring, leading to marital issues and a husband's reaction with divorce papers.

Reddit comment questioning the frequency of similar divorce-related posts.

Reddit comment discussing a husband's reaction to a cruel joke about divorce.

Comment on a woman's joke about needing new friends, not something to joke about.

Text discussing the consequences of joking about divorce in a marriage.

Text advising on marriage ownership and handling relationships responsibly.

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