AITA for joking about my brother losing his job?
A Redditor shares a recent interaction with her brother, who was recently laid off due to automation at work. Her brother used to joke that she’d lose her art commission side job to AI, dismissing her frustrations when she asked him to stop. After he lost his job, she made a joke about AI coming for his job, too. Now, her brother and his girlfriend are upset, and she wonders if she crossed a line. Read the full story below.
‘ AITA for joking about my brother losing his job?’
TL:DR: A few days ago, my brother found out that he’s getting laid off and made redundant. I laughed at him because he was telling me AI art makes artists redundant, and now he’s calling me an a**hole. Basically, I do art commissions on the side.
My brother jokes that I need a new side hustle now that AI art tools are around and no one really needs artists anymore. I’m not a full time artist, but those jokes annoyed me, so I tell him to knock it off. He doesn’t and says that I should get used to it.
On Monday, he got called into a meeting where he was told he’s getting laid off as the company he’s working for has finished automating a lot of processes and because of that they don’t have enough work for all the technicians. Since he’s the newest tech, he got cut.
He told the family in a group chat and after we did the “So sorry to hear that” and “do you need any help?” cycle for half an hour where I promised to help him tidy up his resume, I texted “Guess AI was coming for your job too lol.” He stopped responding, and his girlfriend texted me saying that I shouldn’t have kicked him while he was down.. AITA?
Here’s what people had to say to OP:
HauntedReader − YTA. Like, yea he was kinda being a j**k with his jokes but you *hadn’t* lost your job. He just lost his full time employment and that’s likely going to put financial strain on him and his family. That shortly after he was let go was a really, really s**tty time to get back at him.
HowlPen − YTA. Losing a job can be like having the floor drop out from under you. Girlfriend is right. What’s more important to you- getting back at your brother or supporting him when he’s just lost his job?
procrastinating_b − It’s a bit too close to when it happened, let the dust settle before you joke. Also ai sucks.
Jeff1N − ESH. Him repeatedly joking about it even after you told him to knock it off is super s**tty behavior. That being said, Jesus, even if he had it coming that was not the time ffs
TheAwesomePalace − YTA. He was joking about your hobby “not a full time artist”, something siblings do to one another. You joked about him loosing his career, his livelihood, that’s just rude man. Joke about other things, just not him loosing his ability to pay bills.
catskilkid − YTA but it sounds like a sibling AH thing to do to each other.
Logical_Read9153 − GF was right. It was a s**t thing to say. YTA
aj_alva − YTA. Although I understand how frustrating it is to have people belittle your passion (I, myself, went to art school), the guy just lost his primary income.
Lolfapio − Good one. You sure got him, that’ll teach him not to annoy you. YTA.
MaxTwer00 − ESH, but you more. He mocked you when you were fine, you twisted the knife in a fresh wound
Was the sister’s joke harmless payback for her brother’s previous comments, or was it insensitive timing on her part? How would you have responded in this situation? Share your thoughts below!
