AITA for overreacting to a YouTube prank on Thanksgiving?

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A Thanksgiving filled with warm pies and family chatter turned sour for one weary traveler. After surviving a nerve-rattling car accident and nursing a fresh breakup, they arrived at their parents’ home, hoping for comfort. Instead, their 17-year-old brother greeted them with a face full of powder and a camera-wielding girlfriend, shouting “pranked!” for his YouTube dreams.

Furious and humiliated, they slammed the door and sped off, leaving a confused family behind. This Reddit tale of a prank gone wrong stirs questions about boundaries, respect, and the cost of chasing viral fame. With a group chat buzzing and a holiday dinner delayed, was their dramatic exit justified? Let’s unpack this messy family saga.

‘AITA for overreacting to a YouTube prank on Thanksgiving?’

I went home for Thanksgiving, and my 17 year old brother has been into making YouTube videos for a while. He wants to be the next Jake/Logan Paul to give you an idea of his content. I had been having a rough day; I had a minor but scary car accident on the way over (someone sideswiped me on the highway, and did a hit and run, I was shaken up and worried about the cost of repairs)

I'd also had a recent breakup and I wasn't feeling great about coming to Thanksgiving alone when all my siblings and cousins were bringing dates. Plus, my family can get really argumentative about politics and stuff sometimes so I wasn't interested in having my uncles try to get me to talk politics with them, for example.

Anyway, I got to my parent's house and rang the bell. And my brother answered the door and threw some kind of white powder in my face yelling 'pranked!!' and some s**t about c**aine. I didn't think that was literally what it is, he's 17 and broke lol. I also saw his girlfriend with a camera behind him.

But it was just kind of the last straw that day, I slammed the door in his face, and got back into my car, and was out of there like a bat out of hell. I stopped at a gas station and cleaned up, it looked like it was just flour or bacing soda or baby powder or something on my face and hair.

But honestly I was still mad and hurt that was how I was greeted, and I really didn't want it ending up on YouTube. So I texted my family group chat 'I do NOT CONSENT to video of me being filmed or shared. (State) is a two-party consent state for recordings in private spaces.

If anything is uploaded and I need to handle this legally, it is written that I DID NOT CONSENT TO BEING ON VIDEO OR HAVING THAT VIDEO ON YOUTUBE'. I know that probably sounds like a lot to say but I was really fed up by other times my brother tried to get everyone on his channel and I wanted my privacy,

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and my friend in law school had said to say that, if it came up again. I honestly just wanted to go home so I got back in my car and did the 2.5 hour drive home. I wasn't on my phone on the drive, because obviously I was driving and paying attention. So I missed a bunch of calls and texts from my parents and brother.

Once I got home, my voicemail was full and my parents had texted me a lot too. Putting it all together, apparently everyone was confused why I'd left, and what the text was about, until my brother fessed up to the prank. Then they wanted me to come back and us to make nice, and then when I wasn't picking up my phone they got mad at me for not being there or explaining a thing.

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They were mad that dinner got delayed in the confusion and it was awkward. For what it's worth, I had a good night, two of my friends who are not from the US were having a chill friendsgiving and I joined them. AITA for having walked out so suddenly? I felt at the end of my rope but my family is mad.

A prank meant to spark laughs can ignite family tension when it crosses boundaries. The OP, already shaken by a car accident and breakup, faced a humiliating welcome that pushed them over the edge. Their brother’s quest for YouTube fame ignored their emotional state, while the family’s demand to “make nice” overlooked the violation.

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Dr. John Gottman, a renowned relationship expert, notes, “Respect and trust are foundational to healthy family dynamics.” The brother’s prank, paired with filming without consent, breached both. The OP’s legal warning reflects a growing concern: a 2023 survey found 68% of Americans value digital privacy, especially in private settings.

This highlights a broader issue: prank culture’s impact on relationships. Public humiliation for views often disregards consent, straining ties. For solutions, the OP could set firm boundaries, like refusing future video involvement. A family meeting to discuss respect could help.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit users served up a mix of spicy takes and sage advice on this Thanksgiving fiasco. Here’s what they said:

madethisjustforpewds − NTA. You did the right thing, I would be super pissed if that happened to me. F**k em

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lushae − NTA unless you had a pranky sort of relationship with your brother, this was horrid. And he needs to learn pranks aren't funny if the victim doesn't find it funny. Something the Paul's didn't understand and why they're so controversial. Explaining to your family before you drove back would have been preferable.

But you were angry, its probably good you drove back before talking to them. Simply phone your parents now. Explain the situation and apologise for leaving but how your brothers actions weren't okay and you want an apology.. Then you've got to move on and establish boundaries with your brother

YATA2020 − NTA. Your brother deserves 100% of the blame here. At a certain age, you will “decide” who your family is. If your brother wants to be in your life, he’ll act like a normal human being. If your parents want to be in your life, they’ll make sure there are consequences to their son’s crappy behavior towards their other child.

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SerCadogan − NTA. Did you react more strongly than you might have on another day? Sure. But these pranks that involve touching another human are a**ault in some states, and also can cause harm (I am actually allergic to baby powder and gluten.)

Beyond that though, I wouldn't want to spend a meal with people who didn't respect me. I hate when other family members try to get you to come back and play nice. Don't be around people who don't care about your mental state.. Glad you had friends to support you

HKatzOnline − NTA your brother is a d**k and your parents are just making excuses for him. As for dinner being delayed, they would have known why had AH brother fessed up immediately to being the d**k. Also, don't they realize it is illegal in most areas to talk on the phone while driving. Brother screwed the pooch and they want to spread the blame, so they are kind of being enabling AH's as well..

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If brother does post video, go full legal on him. How long till he is 18? EDIT: Wanted to add that these 'surprise' gags that involve others are not 'cool' and not OK in my opinion. It is one thing when people like the J**kass folks all seem to agree to do s**t to each other and it is something completely different to attack non-consenting others .

Penfrog15 − ESH - your brother was totally in the wrong here, but having said that, you ditching and driving the 2.5 hrs home without talking to you parents makes you a bit of TA. All you did was send a message to a group chat, you should have called them,

even if you were set on going home instead of joining them for thanksgiving, you should have explained to them you were at the end of your rope and couldn't be there.. Edit: having said all that, I'm glad you went and had a good friendsgiving :)

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NotLee − This thread is a textbook example of what’s wrong with this sub. Imagine being this guy’s family, prepping for dinner all day, waiting for him to arrive, only to never see him with almost no explanation. Yeah, s**t sucks and you’re having a bad day.

Your brother is a little a**hole. But you said it yourself in the title: you overreacted and then didn’t give any explanation to your poor family for hours while you stomped off in your fit of rage.. You and your brother are both TA.

[Reddit User] − NTA. Your brother deserves an asswhoopin'. He sounds insufferable.

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Gabernasher − ESH. Your brother was an a**hole, no need to snub the rest of the family.

Sodabreadfloor − ESH because you never told your family what was going on

These hot takes range from fiery support to calls for cooler heads. But do they capture the full picture, or just fan the flames of family drama?

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This tale of a powder prank and a holiday walkout shows how quickly family gatherings can unravel. The OP’s exit protected their peace but left their family reeling. Could a heart-to-heart with the brother or clearer boundaries mend this rift? What would you do if a prank pushed you too far? Share your thoughts and experiences below—let’s keep this conversation cooking!

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