'Nasty' Woman Cheered for Not Covering Cancer Survivor's Meal at Restaurant

A jobless man pressuring his fiancée to pay for his friend's purchases is being dragged online.

In a post to Reddit on Monday, user u/Enough_Clouds3409 said that her fiancé "Jack" has coaxed her into paying for his friend "Steve's" electronics, meals at a restaurant, and more, using his pal's recent battle with cancer as the excuse.

When she told Jack she was tired of forking out for his friend, he called the poster "selfish" and "petty"—among other names—causing her to question her decision.

However, fellow Redditors said that Jack's behavior could be a sign of financial abuse, or even an affair with his BFF.

What is Financial Abuse?

Research suggests that financial abuse occurs in 99 percent of domestic-violence cases. Examples include taking control of the victim's finances, blocking access to their accounts or the money to cover their basic needs, preventing the victim from working or sabotaging their employment, or ruining their credit score.

The All State Foundation's latest report on domestic violence and financial abuse found that 20 percent of Americans did not believe that financial abuse is a form of domestic violence—despite it being the No. 1 reason victims stay in an abusive relationship.

Along with concerns they could not financially support themselves or their children, three-quarters of financial-abuse victims surveyed said no one would believe them if they tried to escape.

'Walking Red Flag'

In her post, Enough_Clouds3409 wrote that Jack's friend Steve had recently become clear of cancer, and Jack had supported him throughout his treatment, with Steve now up to going out and socializing again. However, whenever the couple hang out with Steve, she ends up paying.

It all started with a trip to an electronics store, where Jack guilt-tripped the poster into paying for Steve's purchases. She now pays for his meals and drinks whenever they go out to a restaurant, with Jack accusing her of being unsympathetic if she refuses.

"I sucked it up once and twice but then told him I couldn't do it anymore," the Redditor wrote.

"He emphasized the fact that Steve had cancer and reminded me of how his financial status was affected and so 'we' should help from time to time.

"But funny how I'm always the one paying," she wrote.

A recent lunch was the final straw for the poster, after Steve showed up unexpectedly at the restaurant, and she was expected to cover his meal.

"We ate lunch and chatted before we left," she wrote. "As I was about to pay the bill, Jack gestured for me to pay for Steve's meal too.

"I played dumb and said, 'I'm sorry but why should I pay for his meal?' Jack obviously didn't wanna say 'because he had cancer and is struggling' out loud and in front of Steve, so he asked me to step outside so we could talk."

The poster refused to go out and talk, instead telling Jack that Steve is "in no way entitled" to her money, despite his cancer battle.

"Steve looked stunned, he glanced at Jack and Jack was fuming," she wrote.

"He told me to 'just pay this time,' but I only paid for our lunch then got up and made my way out. I heard him repeatedly apologizing to Steve as I was walking out."

After leaving the restaurant, Jack sent the poster texts calling her "unhinged, petty, selfish and short-sighted." She replied that Steve's circumstances are not her fault, and said he should pay for his friend instead.

"He responded by saying I was being willingly ignorant since I know he's out of job, and said that a small act of kindness could've gotten me a long way but I made it about myself, my money, and jeopardized his friendship for no reason," she wrote.

"He's still mad saying he won't speak to me til I make it up to him and Steve."

Redditors backed the poster for not backing down, with her story receiving over 6,000 upvotes and more than 2,000 comments.

Many were concerned that Jack's behavior was a sign of financial abuse and advised her not to marry him, with SDstartingOut calling him a "walking red flag."

"He's a leech," wrote aboveyardley. "You're not married yet, so he's still on his best behavior. It'll only get worse."

PelicanCanNew commented: "He's testing the waters isn't he? Getting her used to taking orders on what to pay for, getting nasty to put her off complaining. Unpleasant."

Zoranealsequence wrote: "Demanding 'just pay for it this time.' Like she is some child that has to do his appointed task. No. Run for the hill OP."

Others suspect that Jack is in love with his friend, with johnny_evil telling the poster to "dump this guy" and let him date Steve instead.

"Really feels like Jack and Steve are dating and OP is just financing the dates," wrote Neither-Entrance-208. "Why else would Jack expect OP to pay for everything?"

"You sure Steve and Jack aren't a couple and you're unknowingly a sugar mama?" posted lalamagicunicorn, while gnothro commented: "You shouldn't be paying for your BF's BF, out of principle."

Newsweek has reached out to u/Enough_Clouds3409 for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.