AITAH for laughing my ass off at my sister’s reply to my parents sending her diet pill recommendations?

Our family has long been plagued by toxic comments about weight and health, especially when it comes to PCOS. My parents, who have always been critical about our appearances and dietary habits, recently sent my 25-year-old sister (we’ll call her Melissa) some diet pill recommendations from Walmart. Instead of taking their advice seriously,

Melissa shot back with a link to a notoriously low-rated nursing home—a witty dismissal of their concern. I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically, which only escalated tensions with my mom, who then tried to turn the focus on my own weight. Now, Melissa has blocked our parents on Facebook, and I’m left wondering: Am I the a**hole for laughing at her response?

‘AITAH for laughing my ass off at my sister’s reply to my parents sending her diet pill recommendations?’

Family therapist Dr. Jenna Morales explains that humor is often a powerful coping mechanism in families with longstanding issues. “When individuals use wit to defuse toxic criticism, it can be both a healthy boundary and a form of self-protection,” she notes. Melissa’s clever retort highlights her resilience against years of harmful comments and unrealistic expectations regarding her body.

Nutrition expert Dr. Alan Kim adds that unsolicited diet advice—especially when based on outdated or uninformed views—is not only unhelpful but can also contribute to body image issues. “It’s important for individuals to have autonomy over their health decisions rather than be subjected to judgment,” he explains. Relationship expert Dr. Samantha Lee emphasizes that the humor Melissa displayed isn’t just about dismissing an offhand remark; it’s a statement of independence from a family dynamic steeped in criticism.

“Her response is a form of reclaiming power and refusing to internalize negative feedback that has been imposed on her for years,” Dr. Lee says. Overall, experts agree that while my laughter may have hurt my parents’ feelings, it was an understandable reaction to absurd and hurtful behavior—and a necessary way to stand up against a toxic dynamic.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

The Reddit community has been overwhelmingly supportive. Many commenters celebrated Melissa’s quick wit, with users saying things like, “Melissa is a role model—she shut down their diet pill nonsense brilliantly!” and “Good on Melissa for turning the tables on your parents’ outdated, toxic advice.”

Several users noted that our parents’ criticism has long contributed to a harmful environment, and laughing in response was both justified and cathartic. A recurring sentiment was that if our parents have issues with body image and unhealthy expectations, it’s not on us to internalize their problems—Melissa’s humor was a way to reclaim her self-worth.

Ultimately, I don’t think I’m the a**hole here. My laughter was a natural response to Melissa’s clever, well-timed retort against our parents’ hurtful and outdated diet advice. In families where toxic criticism has long been the norm, using humor to defuse and reject harmful commentary is both healthy and empowering.

While my mom tried to shift the blame onto me, it’s clear that Melissa’s response was a necessary act of self-defense against years of negativity. What do you think—should family criticism be met with humor, or is there a better way to address it? Let me know your thoughts.