AITA for agreeing to be in a music video without talking to my girlfriend first?

In a lively college dorm, a 19-year-old scrolls through Instagram, his thumbs dancing over the screen, when a golden opportunity lands in his DMs: a role in a music video for an artist he’s obsessed with. The gig promises a paycheck and a brush with fame, but there’s a twist he’ll need to share a kiss with another guy on camera. Caught up in the thrill, he signs on without a second thought, envisioning his name in the credits.

The excitement fizzles when he breaks the news to his girlfriend, who erupts, accusing him of betrayal and demanding why he didn’t loop her in first. Her hurt cuts through his buzz, turning a dream moment into a relationship showdown. This Reddit saga unravels the tension between chasing opportunities and honoring love, where a single choice sparks a clash of trust and boundaries.

‘AITA for agreeing to be in a music video without talking to my girlfriend first?’

So I’m 19(M). I’m in college. I have small Instagram following. Nothing outrageous. About a week ago I got offered to be in a music video. They let me know the concept of it too. I’d be with a guy and we’d have to kiss and stuff. I agreed because A) I’m fan of the artist

and B) I’m kinda broke rn. I ain’t gay but 20 bucks is 20 bucks. I told my girlfriend today and she lost her s**t completely. She said that it would be cheating and I’m an a**hole for not talking to her first and getting her permission..

##Edit: I’m not actually getting paid 20 dollars. I thought that joke was obvious. It’s way more than $20.

This music video mishap is a classic case of crossed wires in a young relationship. The boyfriend, swept up by a chance to star in a project for his favorite artist, saw the kiss as just part of the job. His girlfriend, blindsided, viewed it as a breach of trust, equating it to infidelity. Both perspectives hold water: he’s not a seasoned actor with a script for “stage kisses,” but her expectation of a heads-up isn’t unreasonable.

The clash underscores a universal relationship hurdle—defining what’s off-limits. A 2021 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships revealed that 70% of couples wrestle with mismatched views on cheating, often because boundaries go unspoken. This couple’s blowup could’ve been softened with a quick chat before he committed, highlighting how small oversights can snowball.

Dr. John Gottman, a leading relationship researcher, emphasizes, “Trust is built in very small moments, which I call ‘sliding door’ moments”. The boyfriend’s decision to act solo missed a chance to strengthen their bond by including her in the conversation. Her intense reaction, while emotional, reflects a need to feel valued in decisions touching on intimacy, even if it’s just for show.

Moving forward, they could rebuild by hashing out clear rules—like always discussing roles involving physical closeness. Open dialogue can align their expectations and prevent future sparks. Encouraging couples to talk early and often about boundaries fosters trust, turning potential conflicts into chances for connection.

Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Reddit’s take on this drama is a mixed bag of sympathy and shade. Most users lean toward calling the boyfriend out for skipping the girlfriend talk, arguing that a quick check-in would’ve shown respect for their relationship. Others defend his choice, seeing the kiss as a professional move, not a personal slight, and question whether she overreacted.

ADVERTISEMENT

The debate splits between those who see boundaries as sacred and others who view the gig as harmless. The comments highlight how couples navigate gray areas differently, with some Redditors humorously noting the “20 bucks is 20 bucks” logic. These opinions stir the pot, but they all point to one truth: communication is the glue that keeps love from unraveling.

[Reddit User] − ESH. You don't need her 'permission', but it would have been respectful for you to run this by her if it's not something you've discussed in the past (kissing other people, boundaries surrounding that, etc)

ADVERTISEMENT

visvya − NAH. A lot of actors have a problem explaining stage kisses to their SOs, but it shouldn’t stop you. There’s lots of advice on the Internet. Ultimately, she might not be up to being a performer’s SO and that’s okay.. If it turns out your girlfriend’s primary issue is that you’d be kissing a guy, she’d be the a**hole.

kezunderhill − YTA it's definitely a good idea to set boundaries with your SO about what is considered cheating within your relationship.. And when a new situation arises like this you should talk to your SO

ADVERTISEMENT

SlamSlamOhHotDamn − Holy s**t this thread is actually calling her an 'a**hole' for 'overreacting' that her partner is going to kiss someone else without telling her. The comparison with actors is f**king stupid, HE IS NOT AN ACTOR AND SHE DID NOT SIGN UP TO BE WITH ONE. YTA

NOS326 − YTA. Yes, she can not control you, but you should have ran this by her first. If she was not okay with it, then you could go from there and make a decision, but you bypassed the first part.

ADVERTISEMENT

roxy654 − YTA but I disagree about the cheating part that she said. If that were true every actor/actress who was in a relationship and had a romantic scene in a movie would be a cheater. You should have at least talked to her about it first to see how she felt about it and then maybe you both could have explained your sides and it wouldn’t have gone down like this.

Also I should add that I don’t super strongly think you’re an a**hole but I just think out of courtesy to your gf you should have given her at least some notice/a chance to talk about it before agreeing

SomePrize − YTA. You should’ve asked and yes you don’t need permission from anyone else however she is your girlfriend and there are boundaries within a relationship. Kissing someone else is something she isn’t fond of, it doesn’t matter the gender.

ADVERTISEMENT

[Reddit User] − YTA. When doing stuff in grey areas like this, ask the partner for their opinion. You didn't.

BillyShears991 − NTA. “I ain’t gay but 20 bucks is 20 bucks.” Amen

MobiusGripper − YTA. 'Kissing and stuff' is a live that requires discussion. I wouldn't do it myself without discussion with anyone I'm dating exclusively. That's what the word 'exclusively' means.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Reddit tale shows how a split-second decision can shake a relationship’s foundation. The boyfriend’s leap for a music video role clashed with his girlfriend’s need for trust, leaving both grappling with hurt and misunderstanding. A simple conversation could’ve smoothed the edges, proving that love thrives on teamwork. Have you ever faced a moment where a bold choice tested your relationship? Share your story below what would you do in their shoes?

Share this post
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *