Daughter, 18, Backed for Bringing Man, 38, to Family Dinner as 'Boyfriend'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The internet is applauding an 18-year-old woman who brought a man two decades her senior to dinner in what she admitted was a ploy to annoy her dad.
Posting to Reddit under the handle u/Adorable_Cost806, the woman wrote that her father, now 45, had an affair when she was 12 with a woman who was then 20. Her parents divorced, and her dad has been with his now-26-year-old girlfriend ever since.
"She's clearly only after his money, but he's too stupid and stubborn to understand," the original poster (OP) wrote in the subreddit AITAH [Am I The A****]*, where the post racked up more than 16,000 upvotes.
As a form of payback, the OP asked her 38-year-old friend to pretend to be her boyfriend and accompany her to Easter dinner with her father and his younger partner.
Her dad did not take it well. He expressed discomfort, to which she replied that she hadn't done anything wrong — after all, "love has no age."
"He told me that I ruined everyone's Easter by being selfish and bringing someone his age to dinner."
Following the dinner, the OP returned to school, only to receive a flood of messages from relatives urging her to apologize and to "break up" with her fake boyfriend.
"I flew back to school, but now I'm getting messages from a few relatives saying I should apologize to my dad and break up with my "boyfriend." I haven't responded. I don't think I'm in the wrong because he's made my life uncomfortable since the moment he cheated on my mom. AITA?," she asked the Reddit community.
In a follow-up, she acknowledged the immaturity of her stunt but stood by her actions.
"I KNOW THIS IS IMMATURE PEOPLE! I know it's extremely immature of me, but I wanted to show him how it feels. Thanks a lot for the advice everyone, I'll update for Christmas, lol."
A stock image showing a woman fed up whilst out for dinner.
A stock image showing a woman fed up whilst out for dinner.
stockbusters/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Expert Insight
Dr. Mosun, a consultant psychiatrist at Cassiobury Court, explained to Newsweek that when adult children witness or are impacted by infidelity—especially when it involves someone close to their age—the emotional toll can be deeply complex.
In this scenario, the young woman is not only coping with her father's betrayal, but also navigating the discomfort of his long-term relationship with a woman nearly her peer.
"The concept of mirroring or 'acting out' behaviour, such as bringing a much older man as a pretend boyfriend, may seem like a cathartic expression in the short term. It might feel like you have a sense of control over a situation that has left you feeling powerless.
But there is a danger here. It can feel like a justified response but it may also deepen feelings of resentment and further entrench negative family dynamics," she explained.
Dr. Mosun noted that for many young adults, seeing a parent leave for someone closer to their own age can provoke "feelings of confusion, rejection, and betrayal—not only of the marriage, but also of their own sense of self-worth and boundaries."
Dr. Mosun emphasized the importance of emotional maturity and motivation. If the action stems from revenge, it risks perpetuating emotional harm. But if it's an attempt to reclaim agency and process grief, it should be acknowledged in a way that encourages growth.
Ultimately, she advised that "healing often requires confronting the feelings of hurt directly, without resorting to further emotional games or displays."
Reddit Reacts
Redditors were overwhelmingly in support of the OP.
"I would message all those people back asking 'why is an age gap ok for dad but with me it's a problem?'" said one user.
"Yeah – the only reason dad has a problem with it is that he knows EXACTLY why he got together with that much younger female and he doesn't like the thought that someone else is using his daughter the same way. Guys like this make my blood boil," shared another viewer.
"Be sure to mention it isn't like you cheated during a marriage to be with the 'boyfriend' with a huge age gap. That would be bad...." another user quipped.
"She should also reach out to step mom and ask for advice on how to please an older man, just really lay it on thick," suggested another commenter.
Newsweek reached out to u/Adorable_Cost806 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.
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