AITA for laughing out loud when my husband told me his friends thinks he’s the perfect husband?

A wife laughed when her husband shared that his church friends think he’s the “perfect husband,” which offended him. She explained that while she appreciates him deeply, she knows his flaws firsthand. The husband was disappointed, as he hoped she’d be happy for him.

He clarified that his friends didn’t mean “perfect” literally but rather saw him as a high-quality partner. Their different perspectives caused some tension. Read the original story below…

‘ AITA for laughing out loud when my husband told me his friends thinks he’s the perfect husband?’

My husband was all smiles and encouraged when he told me that his friends at church told him they were talking about how he’s the perfect husband. I immediately laughed and noticed that he was offended by that.

I then started to tell him how I believe he is an amazing husband and I wouldn’t want to be married to anybody else but I know the good, bad, and u**y so perfect is not how I would describe you. I could tell he was still not pleased.

I told him my reaction was the same way he laughs and thinks if only you knew when someone tells him that I must be an angel and they can’t see me getting upset because he sees me when I’m upset often.

I learned that he expected me to be happy for him and think that it’s awesome that his friends think so highly of him. Even when I challenged that I know you best as a husband because I’m married to you, he told me his friends know him better because I tell them things I don’t tell you.

He also shared he didn’t think they literally meant perfect in the sense of having 0 flaws, but his interpretation was they thought him to be a high quality, role model husband. When they gave him the compliment, he simply said thank you and said he wanted to ask them later about why they think that.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

[Reddit User] −  He said his friends actually know him better than you do? That he tells them things he doesn’t tell you? I would be more upset about that, tbh. Your partner in life should probably know more about you than anyone. Closest competition would be, like, your partner’s parents. But friends knowing them better than you? What a weird thing to say

singyoulikeasong −  So wait he can laugh when outside people tell him they think you’re an angel, but you can’t laugh when his friends say he’s the “perfect” husband.

Honest-Sector-4558 −  NTA. I’d call BS on the line about his friends knowing him better than you know him. I don’t even know why he thinks that makes any sense, unless he deliberately pretends to be a different person with you and is only himself around them. I would honestly be more annoyed he said that than anything else.

Gourd_Gardian −  You can be “right” and still rude. I mean, of course the argument devolved into weird squabbling because it started with both of you digging in too much. He got a nice compliment and wanted to share. It’s really that simple.

You made it not that simple by popping his satisfaction, then he made even worse by saying stupid s**t out of his stupid mouth. Honestly back all the way up, both of you. Lord have mercy. Is what you said true? That he’s not perfect. YES, because news flash, nobody is perfect.

He knows that too! The question is not whether or not what you said is true… The question is why did you choose that moment to tell the truth in a way that would bring his mood down? Of course it hurt his feelings.

First-Industry4762 −  ESH I mean, I get why he doesn’t like you laughing at the compliment: it can imply that you don’t think he’s a good husband. However, his rebuttal of that his friends know him better *is* laughable because the compliment is about being a husband and I assume he isn’t married to his friends. It seems like a cheap shot tbh.

phostachio −  His friends know him better than you? Why didn’t he marry one of them? NTA for telling the truth, his big head needs deflating.

Slayerofdrums −  NTA. He was looking for an ego boost, and you didn’t give him one. Nobody is perfect. That said, if you are often critical and don’t give praise easily, the fact that mentioned it might mean he feels a bit neglected and insecure, and you might want to address that in your relationship.

Odd_Welcome7940 −  Soft YTA… I would laugh at my friends or family if they ever said I was the perfect husband. So I get where you are coming from. That said, I would never ever laugh at my wife if she was told this and was proud of it.

You took a moment where your husband felt recognized for all his work and effort be a good man and laughed at it. What a way to put your partner down instead of build them up. Next time he looks at a chore that needs done or item that needs fixed and thinks to himself should I do it right now?

Will it make my wife happy and proud of me? Will it make me feel better about myself? Well… not he is less likely to say yes and do it. I get why in the moment hearing people called perfect is funny, but the people that are proud of those moments are often the ones struggling with insecurity.

You took a man who was insecure and found a way to feel better. Then you kicked him back down. So ya, you are the Ahole.

RulerOfNyaNyaLand −  YTA. There were a million kinder ways to express that. You turned a compliment that made him feel good that his friends admire him into reminding him he’s not perfect by mocking their compliment with laughter. You could have expressed it another way without being mean:

“Nobody is perfect, but you’re perfect for ME.” Or “Nobody’s perfect, but you’re about as close as a husband could ever hope to get.”
“You’re pretty great, that’s for sure. Also, I make sure to share nice things about you to our friends so they know what a good husband you are.”

“Lucky me that I’m married to a man with such a positive reputation.” Laughing at a man, particularly your husband, is a blow to his ego. He received a compliment that made him feel good; why did you feel the need to tear him down when he was feeling up?

Present-Range-154 −  So, he gets to laugh when someone gives an exaggerated compliment to you, but you’re not allowed to laugh when someone gives an exaggerated comlipent to him. Well that sounds kind of sus. NTA, he needs to get off his high horse.

Was her reaction fair, or should she have shown more support? Share your thoughts below!