AITA for refusing to talk to my daughter after she called my son a slur at her wedding?

A wedding is supposed to be a celebration of love, family, and new beginnings. Instead, one mother walked away questioning whether she still had a relationship with her own daughter. What should have been a joyful reception turned into a painful reminder of long-standing tensions that never fully healed.

For this 50-year-old mother, the wound wasn’t just about one drunken comment. It was about years of defending her gay son, navigating a failed marriage, and trying to keep her children united after divorce. When her daughter used a slur to describe her brother during the reception, the damage felt deeper than a careless mistake. Now, friends and family say she’s overreacting. The online community had a lot to say about that.

AITA for refusing to talk to my daughter after she called my son a slur at her wedding?

The conflict began long before the wedding day ever arrived

I (50F) have two beautiful children, Maya (21F) and Nitin (26M). My now ex-husband and I were never on good terms even before we divorced. It was an arranged marriage

and I failed to realise that we were on completely opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to anything. It could be politics, food, money, etc. We constantly fought,...

As tensions at home escalated, the family dynamic only grew more fragile

Nitin came into our world, but nothing changed except my MIL only complained more because I had to take extra rest from the pregnancy due to some complications.

She somehow convinced me into thinking that another child would definitely "cure" us. When Maya was born, their father was barely around. Things escalated when my husband found out Nitin...

The breaking point arrived the night her son came out

I defended my son, because at the end of the day, he did nothing harmful, and it's his life to live, but it was apparently the nail in the coffin...

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At this point, I finally grew some braincells and realised this marriage wasn't helping either of us and agreed to sign the papers. We had split custody at first, but...

As you can imagine, this took a massive toll on both my children, but I did my best to consult a family therapist and work through our problems.

Nitin started preparing for JEE and Maya and I saw less and less of him as time went on. I still call him every weekend, but he doesn't talk much....

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Years later, the wedding reopened wounds she feared never healed

Cut to my daughter's wedding, Nitin refused to attend. It took a lot of convincing for him to even attend the main function, and I told Maya this because she...

Everything was fine until the reception where Maya (a bit drunk) referred to Nitin by a slur when she was talking to the groom. Nitin didn't react and pretended he...

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I pulled Maya aside and reasoned with her. She apologised multiple times, but I told her very firmly that I cannot have a daughter who speaks about other people in...

She went wailing to the groom and her friends, and now they're calling me sensitive and uptight and telling me that I should forgive her.. So AITA?

Family conflicts involving identity cut far deeper than everyday disagreements. In this case, the mother isn’t reacting to a simple slip of the tongue. She’s responding to what feels like a betrayal of her son’s dignity. Words carry weight, especially when spoken publicly and by someone close.

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From the daughter’s side, alcohol may have lowered inhibitions. Yet as many experts note, intoxication often reveals underlying beliefs rather than creating new ones. That possibility likely explains why the mother felt shaken. The issue isn’t just what was said, but what it may represent.

According to Dr. John Gottman of The Gottman Institute, “Trust is built in very small moments.” When those moments involve humiliation instead of support, trust erodes quickly. For LGBTQ+ individuals, family acceptance plays a crucial role in mental health outcomes. A public insult from a sibling can feel devastating, even if framed as a joke or blamed on alcohol.

Practically speaking, reconciliation would require more than apologies directed at the mother. A sincere, direct apology to Nitin is essential. Beyond that, the daughter would need to show consistent change over time. The mother, meanwhile, may need to focus on reassuring her son through actions, not just words. In situations like this, support has to be visible and unwavering.

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Check out how the community responded:

Many users supported the mother, praising her for standing firm

Performer-Complete − NTA Your daughter is h__ophobic and so are everyone she surrounds herself with. She’s choosing to have h__ophobic people in her life.

You’re choosing to not associate with h__ophobic people even if it’s your daughter. As a parent myself I’d do the same. I would be open to having a relationship with...

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and lose all the horrible people she’s choosing to keep in her life and truly apologize. Until then I wouldn’t have a daughter anymore.

Terayrayal − NTA. Also as an aside, please, please, please reach out to your son. Tell him your feelings about him, about how strongly you support him. I might be...

You need to tell him and even show him this post. He is pulling away, and if you want him to stay within reach, you gotta put in the effort.

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bonitaruth − You are good mom. You showed a good example to both your kids

TaisharMalkier69 − I'm also Indian and gay. Your son needs friends and support. Your daughter will end up being remorseful of losing her brother. NTA

Advanced-Pear-8988 − NTA if she was drunk when she said that she was thinking about it. She’ll never change

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Others took a more nuanced approach, questioning past decisions

Dangerous-Name-220 − Nta but also yta. Your son didn’t want to attend his sister’s wedding due to her homophobia. Why force him to go knowing full well how your daughter...

Electronic-Cat-4478 − NTA. Unfortunately Maya chose to follow her father's example and is a homophobe. She has surrounded herself with people who feel the same. (Her husband and friends).

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Maya is as an adult, and is comfortable enough calling her brother a slur that it was natural to her. (If you didn't hear it yourself, would have believed Maya...

OP. You have a choice to make. You either support your son or your daughter. Choose wisely, because if you choose your daughter, you will lose your son forever.

There is no coming back from supporting your daughter with her vile behavior. I realize that will be heartbreaking no matter which choice you make. However who is blameless in...

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Who did you have to convince to attend the wedding with the result that his sister insulted and demeaned him in public? I could bet that this wasn't the first...

This is the exact reason that your son very wisely wanted to skip the wedding. You pressured your son to attend, against his better judgement.

YOU put him the position of disappointing you or being publicly shamed for something that is part of who he is. Your son didn't choose to be gay.

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He was born that way and has been insulted, bullied and abused by his own father and sister. Because you pressured your son to attend the wedding, you now HAVE...

There is no more pretending that "everything is fine, one happy family". At this point, not choosing a side means that you are condoning your daughter's disgusting behavior

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and mindset. Your son may still answer your phone calls (maybe not) but he will never trust you or his sister again.

bookworm-1960 − NTA Things people say when drunk are usually what they really believe. It's very hateful that she feels that way about her own brother. You're a good mother...

ut you should apologize for pushing him to attend the wedding, though. Especially considering you already felt your daughter was h__ophobic. Your daughter is an A-H and deserves to be...

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auntlynnie − NTA. If you’re supposed to forgive… has she apologized or asked for forgiveness from her brother — the one she insulted? Has she admitted that she was wrong?...

Or are you being expected to shut up and “keep the peace” at your son’s expense, when he’s done nothing wrong? Edited to add clarifying language

your_average_plebian − In this situation, NTA. But you have to keep showing up for Nitin because your actions will speak louder than words can.

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You can tell him from now until the day you die that you love him and he wasn't the reason for your divorce, but unless you follow through, it will...

Because now your h__ophobic daughter is married, and she's settled abroad, and she'll soon have your grandkids, she can and will use them as bait to bring your attention onto...

and her family and the more you follow her into her world to continue playing the maternal role for her, you'll be leaving your son behind.

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You're effectively telling your son your relationship with a homophobe matters more to you than your belief in his humanity. Queer children in conservative societies usually go down two paths:

they leave behind their families who never will stand on their side and make a new life somewhere far away, or they will take themselves out of the equation entirely.

Hopefully Nitin has a decent support system outside the family where it seems he only has you. Otherwise the risk of depression and suicidal ideation is high. I know what...

I've been there myself. You choosing Nitin's well-being means you will have to cut ties to some extent, maybe a little or maybe completely, with everyone who treats him like...

That includes your h__ophobic daughter and her h__ophobic friends and husband. No hosting or participating in or inviting them to social functions, formal or informal. The only way for them...

if he's satisfied by her apology and change of heart without emotional blackmail or other coercion from anyone. Even you.God forbid any of her future children are queer. She'll be...

A few comments carried a sharp edge or blunt humor

Odd_Obligation4747 − NTA. That’s not an excuse and if she let it out so easily she might refer to her sibling as it when talking to others but that’s not...

She should apologise to her brother if she didn’t already and it’s normal if he doesn’t want to forgive her.

However I really don’t recommend to make them get along again by forcing them to spend time together or anything anytime soon. It’s also normal if Nitin doesn’t want to...

KittiesRule1968 − NTA, your daughter is though. She's a h__ophobic pile of trash.

Normal-Wish-4984 − The groom and her friends are defending her which friends tend to do especially when they lack critical thinking skills and morals.

It is really vexing when people cry after they’ve been caught in a wrongdoing. It says a lot about them to be so self-centered that you cry after you’ve been...

You mentioned that she apologized. Did she apologized to her brother? I hope that your son Nitin is okay. That must’ve been incredibly disappointing for him. I’d be inclined to...

alisonchains2023 − OP, did Maya ever apologize to Nitin directly?

abritinthebay − She’s a bigot who married a bigot & is friends with bigots. Now you know.

At its heart, this conflict isn’t about one wedding reception. It’s about loyalty, accountability, and the kind of family environment a parent chooses to protect. The mother believes she cannot tolerate language that dehumanizes her son, even when it comes from her own daughter. Others argue reconciliation should remain possible with genuine change. Family bonds are complicated, especially when identity and values collide. If you were in her place, would you forgive and move forward, or would you draw a firm line?

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