AITA for ruining a couple and a childhood friendship?
My throwaway account got filtered, so I have to repost. I'm sorry. But thank you for the 4 who had commented.
So I (25F) was in a new city, with a new job. I quickly became besties with Maria (23F), but not so much with her boyfriend, the "everyone likes him, funny guy", Felix (27M). They set me up with Felix' best friend Paul (27M), and we were dating for a couple weeks when shit went down.
So, we're at work and Felix tells me abut something new he and Maria were trying in bed. I didn't think it was weird cause people here are kinda open, but a coworker and friend of both hear Felix and told him to shut-up cause Maria might want it to be private. Felix got defensive saying that he knows his gf and isn't a bad bf.
Later that night, Maria and I were hanging out and she was all giggling talking about that same thing and I just went "Yeah! Felix told me! That's really nice". And she froze. Turns out she didn't want anyone to know. I felt bad for her, told her Felix did not meant any harm, but was honest that coworker heard/knew. Maria said she'd talk to Felix and I thought it was the end of it, but after the talk, she called to tell me Felix was mad at me.
The next morning, Felix texted me we "will have to talk today." I cleared the conversation with Maria beforehand, as she talked to me about other issues she was waiting "when he was in a better mood" to share with him, and I didn't want to talk to Felix about an issue they have but he did not know about yet. And also because Felix' ex called the cops on him once because he refused to leave her yard without a talk. He said she was crazy and hated him because he's a straight cis white male, but even if it's true I preferred to be safe rather than sorry. He hated that I talked to Maria, saying it's between us.
We met up after and he basically lectured me for "poisoning her" and "bringing my insecurities" into their relationship. He said he shared something vulnerable for us to get closer, and I broke his trust. I told him Maria can think for herself and if she's mad, that's on him - not me. He responded that it's exactly what Maria told him, "proving" I fed her the lines. He then told me to not talk to her about what he does and about our conversation. I said it was controlling, and he got mad. Left saying how he felt watched and will not be able to reason me, so he gives-up.
After that, he stopped touching Maria, saying he "felt judged by me." They broke up soon after and Felix blamed me openly for it. He started slamming stuff at work, ignoring me (hard because we have to communicate for work), and told everyone I poisoned Maria against him. I asked coworkers to be witnesses to file complaint, but they said everyone knows he cannot handle his emotions and have anger issues, but I don't - so I should be the bigger person and apologize for breaking them up and getting involved in a relationship I have nothing to do with. I did not apologize because it's against my values to enable that kind of behaviors, and because Paul and Maria agreed I did nothing wrong and should not apologize.
One day, I was talking to Maria about MY bedroom (so whispering) and he assumed we were talking about him (were not, we were banned from talking about it at work). He snapped and yelled 2 inches from my face, fist high, and finally got reported. Until then, Paul was trying to mediate, but after that he confronted him. Felix said Paul chose my side, so Felix cut him off just like that (20+ years friendship). He also warned new hires against me, but I couldn't do anything because new hires were scared Felix would do them the same they did to me. I kept reporting him for slamming things, ignoring me, unprofessional texts, making work impossible. but everyone including the bosses grew tired (7-8months since the incident), saying I ruined his life enough as is (he told everyone I made Paul stop talking to him). I should not have meddle in a relationship I'm not it, and should leave him alone.
Later, Felix quit his job because every time Maria and I talked happily, he assumed it was about him and he's start slamming things, so I'd report it, etc. To be clear: he was my SUPERVISOR, close friend with all bosses, and was the star salesman of the place, I could NOT have abused power of made his job hard even if I wanted to. I'm really good at compartmentalizing my emotions and would act professional, even offer to help him if he needed, like I'd do if he were any other collegues. I do think me being okay and looking "not affected" was pissing him off, though. But I also if I did not... I would have gotten in trouble at work.
Now everyone still thinks I ruined his life or was addicted to drama. I even had supervisor disregarding abusive clients because everybody knows "I'm dramatic and sensitive" or "looking for troubles", so they assumed I exaggerated. I always felt isolated at work because everyone kept saying how I ruined his life, or updating me, teasing me that Paul would probably go back to him the second we're over. So I also had to quit that job the first opportunity I got.
Should I have just apologized or moved on? I don't feel like an asshole, but an asshole rarely does, and the fact they kept touch with him, but not me makes me think I might want to reconsider. I can't understand that - if I'm NOT the asshole and did right, how come I lost a job, friends, and my bf doesn't have his childhood friend anymore? How come everyone is so chill around him and resent me?
Since those were questions asked on the first post, I'll answers those right now: I made sure to be vague about the place because in my city it's a known place, but it's NOT an office/HR job. It's a small, local-owned business with a discord group and the bosses invite employee often for tabletop game nights or game together type or vibe. Also, the coworkers seems all really harsh and rude (and it was hurtful) but to their defense; Felix tell them what he's convinced happened - so that I told Maria he is a bad boyfriend and expose her bedroom life on purpose, rather than how it happened. I learned it because people made comment like "yeah but you shouldn't have accused him" and when I did, I told my side, But everyone minds were kinda set, and hearing the other perspective couple weeks later became a "he said - she said" story. They decided to stay neutral and out of it, and told me to do the same.
Posted Oct 30, 2025, 3:52 PM UTC