A woman has faced backlash online after her husband shared a story of her extreme response to one of his “jokes” in a Reddit post.
The post, shared anonymously by the man on April 5 under the username u/moreparticular9728, has received over 11,000 upvotes and sparked thousands of comments. The 28-year-old man explained that he was shocked when his 26-year-old wife, whom he has been married to for six months, threatened divorce after he responded to a lighthearted, hypothetical question in a way he thought was sincere.
The situation quickly gained attention, with many online offering their support to the man, while others debated the issue.
In his post, the man explained that his wife approached him while he was sitting on the couch and asked, “Will you still love me if I were a plant?” He responded seriously, “I will still love you then and water you regularly for photosynthesis.” He emphasized that while his response might have sounded silly, he wasn’t joking. “Usually, when I joke, I laugh afterward because I can’t take my own jokes seriously,” he said. “But this wasn’t one of those times.”
However, his wife was visibly upset and accused him of being insensitive. She felt that his answer, rather than providing the emotional reassurance she was looking for, made light of her question. As the argument grew more heated, she threatened divorce. The man’s nervous laugh in response only intensified the tension.
“She said that was insensitive of me to joke about… then suddenly she said she wanted a divorce,” he added. “I thought she might just be sulking, but she was dead serious.”
Licensed counselor Sarah Thompson weighed in on the situation, offering insight into the psychological aspects of the conflict. Thompson explained that many couples experience moments where a small misunderstanding escalates into a larger issue.
“This isn’t really about the ‘plant question,’” Thompson told Newsweek. “It’s about deeper emotions, unmet needs, and misaligned communication styles.”
Thompson suggested that the wife’s question was likely an emotional plea, asking, “Will you love me no matter what?” While the man’s answer was intended to be affectionate, it may have come across as dismissive, especially when the wife was seeking reassurance. She explained that past emotional baggage often resurfaces during conflicts, making small issues feel bigger than they really are.
“Couples often carry past emotional wounds into current conversations,” she added. “What seems like an overreaction may actually be pain that’s built up over time.”
Despite Thompson’s explanation, many Reddit users criticized the wife’s reaction. One commenter said, “Being single is underrated,” while another added, “I tell my students all the time that I am happily single because I have too many friends in unhappy marriages/relationships.”
Another user commented, “I couldn’t stand being married to someone who constantly asks trick questions, follows TikTok trends, and plays pranks. That all sounds exhausting.”
For the man, Thompson suggested a more empathetic approach. “This is your chance to show empathy,” she said. “Say, ‘I’m sorry I hurt you. I see now you were reaching out, and I missed the cue. I care deeply about you, and I want to understand you better. Can we talk when you’re ready?’”
She advised against focusing on the specifics of the argument, such as the “plant” comment, and instead suggested focusing on emotions. “Don’t argue the facts. Focus on feelings rather than trying to fix things. Listen more than you talk. Show that you’re willing to learn,” she said.
Although the man expressed confusion and frustration, saying, “Just when I thought I’d settled down, this happens, and I’m not sure what to do,” Thompson believes situations like this can strengthen emotional connections in the long run.
“This may feel huge now,” she said. “But with calm, honest communication, many couples grow closer from moments like these.”
