Your Friend Cheated and Told You About It. What Now?

October 10, 2021

If you’ve clicked on this article, you might have experienced the following: You’re at brunch, even virtually, with one of your friends, minding your business and chatting about Netflix, when said friend drops a bomb. “I’ve, uh, been cheating,” they say. A rush of emotions and memories—couples dates, good relationship advice you’ve given, or how your friend has never judged you—flash through your mind. You can almost see your pancakes shriveling as you search for a good response.

We often think cheating is hush-hush, but plenty of people confide their infidelity in folks they trust. The reasons are numerous. If your friend cheated and told you about it, they might be sharing out of guilt, fear, worry, or even excitement. But what are you supposed to do with that information?