The hard thing about divorces isn't just dividing assets, it's that it often comes with the unexpected side effect of losing mutual friends faster than socks in a dryer. And sometimes, just sometimes, those lost connections resurface years later with the kind of audacity that could power a small city.
Today’s story is the plot twist no one saw coming. Today's Original Poster (OP) survived a tough divorce, handled it with class, and rebuilt her life, only to have one of her ex-husband’s friends pull a power move so bold it deserves its own sitcom. If you've ever wondered whether the universe runs on pettiness and poetic justice, just buckle up.
More info: Reddit
Life teaches us to bear hurt with grace, but reclaiming respect through justified means is never petty, sometimes it's just necessary
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
After a difficult divorce, the author was gradually ghosted by mutual friends, most of whom sided with her ex
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Image credits: katemangostar / Freepik (not the actual photo)
One of those friends completely ignored her at an event, signaling their loyalty shift loud and clear
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Image credits: zinkevych / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Years later, that same person emailed her at work, casually asking for a job referral without apology or acknowledgment of the past
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She immediately contacted HR to clarify she wouldn’t endorse him, ensuring his application went nowhere
Over a decade ago, the OP went through a difficult divorce that didn’t just end a marriage, but also took a sledgehammer to her social life. As often happens in long-term relationships, mutual friends chose sides. While it stung, she understood and moved on, making peace with the social fallout, and focused on building a new life.
Before finalizing the divorce, she attended one last event at her ex’s invitation, where he had generously reserved a VIP experience for her. At the VIP lounge, she bumped into one of her ex's longtime friends, a man she once hosted for game nights and helped by pet sitting. She greeted him, but he walked around her like she was invisible.
Fast forward a few years. The OP is in a new marriage and doing well at work. Then out of the blue, she received an email at work from the same guy who couldn't be bothered to acknowledge her existence at that event. His email began with small talk but quickly revealed that he had applied for a job at her company, and listed her as a referral.
The OP initially ignored the message, but as the absurdity of it sank in, she made a move. She called HR and let them know she wouldn't ever refer him. Then, she shared the story with one of the partners in the department he had applied to, and they both had a good laugh over the audacity.
Image credits: Anastasia Shuraeva / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Creative Core Counseling acknowledge that when a breakup occurs, friends often feel pressured to take sides or create distance to avoid being caught in the middle. They also explain that emotional exhaustion can make it difficult for them to offer support during such times as friendships tend to lean toward the person with whom they share a longer or stronger bond.
However, Time suggests that it is possible to maintain networks even with a little level of rapport. Just like what happened in the story, they highlight that mistreating past friends can erode trust and lead to lost opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and even career growth.
As BetterHelp explains, a sense of entitlement often shows up as an inflated belief that one deserves benefits or recognition without having earned them. In the context of this story, the friend who ignored the OP during her divorce but later asked her for a professional favor fits this pattern.
Despite severing ties and offering no apology or effort to rebuild the relationship, he assumed she would vouch for him, purely for his benefit. BetterHelp affirms that his behavior reflects a belief that he was still owed support, even after offering none in return, highlighting how entitlement can damage both personal and professional relationships.
Netizens found the OP's reaction both satisfying and justified, considering she was abandoned and ghosted during a breakup, only to be contacted later for personal gain.
What would you do if you were in the OP's shoes? Would you ever recommend someone for a job after they completely ghosted you during a tough time? We would love to know your thoughts!
Netizens applauded the author for her response, highlighting that the friend only reached out for his own personal gain
