Few actors from the past or present have embodied the otherworldly aura of a movie star quite like Sophia Loren. The tall, dark, and stunning Italian actress is the definition of Hollywood royalty—but her life was no fairy tale. From her harrowing childhood to her..."complicated" love life, there were incredible secrets behind Sophia Loren's sultry smile.
1. She Has Royal Blood
Sophia Loren may look like she was born in an extravagant Italian villa, but looks can be deceiving. Though Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone was born in 1934 with Italian royalty in her blood, don't go thinking she grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. Sure, her father had noble roots—but they didn't mean much by 1934.
By then, he was a simple construction engineer. He was also a terrible father.
2. Her Father Abandoned Her
Riccardo Scicolone may have gotten Romilda Villani pregnant, but that wasn't enough to keep him in the picture. He abandoned his young family, leaving Villani and young Sofia without any financial support. In fact, Sophia Loren only met her father three times in her entire life. Once she became a star, she had no time in her life for the deadbeat who left her.
But she wasn't a star yet—and she still had a painful childhood to endure.
3. He Cut Them Out Of His Life
In 1938, Loren's parents had another child, Maria. But her father hadn't learned his lesson. If anything, he'd only grown more cruel. Sophia at least was able to take his last name—with Maria, he wouldn't even acknowledge that she was his daughter. Eventually, when Sofia Scicolone became Sophia Loren, she paid her dad just to recognize Maria and allow her to take his last name.
So no, Sophia Loren didn't have a strong father figure in her life—but at the lowest point of her childhood, that was the least of her problems.
4. She Had A Cruel Nickname
Sophia Loren grew up in the outskirts of Naples—at the time one of the poorest regions in all of Italy. Her mother made ends meet, but the luxuries of show business must have seemed a million miles away. Loren was tall for her age, but incredibly skinny. The other children in the neighborhood would tease her mercilessly, dubbing her "The Toothpick."
Well, they wouldn't be laughing for long.
5. She Got Noticed
File:Sophia Loren, 1955 (5129858198).jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org
Everything changed for young Sofia Scicolone one summer when she was 15. She and a group of friends were in Rome, and like all teenagers, they were looking for something to do. They weighed their options and decided to take in the Miss Italia pageant. They found a table, and while Sofia chatted with her friends, a stranger brought a note to their table. It was for her.
I doubt she knew it yet, but Sophia Loren was born that day.
6. She Had The Looks
The note was from a strange, older man named Carlo Ponti. Ponti happened to be one of the judges for Miss Italia. He took one look at "The Toothpick," quickly growing into her frame, and marveled at her beauty. She simply had to enter the contest. Now, most teenage girls would be terrified by this sudden attention from a strange, middle-aged man.
But Sofia Scicolone wasn't ordinary. Her entire life, her mother had told her that she was a star—and it was time to prove it.
7. She Won Miss Elegance
15-year-old Sofia Scicolone entered the 1950 Miss Italia Pageant as Sofia Lazzaro. She had no experience—but when you're Sofia Loren, you don't need experience. She took home the title of Miss Elegance—second place to the Miss Italia Crown. For a teenaged first-timer, I'd say that was pretty good. But the beauty pageant was just the beginning.
Carlo Ponti had his hooks in Loren now, and neither of them would ever be the same.
8. She Started Acting Young
Carlo Ponti wasn't just a beauty pageant judge—he was a film producer. He quickly hired Sofia Lazzaro to appear in some of his movies. Apparently, one name change wasn't enough, because soon after, he told her he was changing her name: She was now Sophia Loren. With Ponti in her corner, there was no telling how far this bright-eyed young starlet would go—but Ponti's interest wasn't entirely pure.
9. Their Relationship Grew Physical
The age gap between Loren and Ponti would never close, but as she grew into a young woman, her relationship with the film producer took a turn. She has always claimed that they were nothing more than friendly in the early days—but once she turned 19, all bets were off. They became lovers, but it was so much more than that.
Sophia Loren saw a future with Ponti—but it wouldn't come as easy as she hoped.
10. She Wanted One Thing Above All Else
File:Carlo-Ponti-and-Sophia-Loren-in-Copenhagen-142462274996.jpg ...en.wikipedia.org
Sophia Loren was young and in love, and she only dreamed of one thing: "A legitimate family." She never forgave the father who abandoned her and her mother, and she dreamed of a man who would never do the same to her. She wanted the family life she never had—but it wasn't that easy. You see, Carlo Ponti had a secret.
11. Her Lover Was Married
Carlo Ponti wasn't just two decades older than Sophia Loren—he was also married with two kids. He had become estranged from his wife and fell into the arms of the beautiful, vibrant young Loren. That complicated things. But it was even worse than it appeared. Not only was Carlo Ponti a married man, but divorce was actually illegal in the staunchly-Catholic Italy at the time.
The legitimate family that Loren longed for was out of her reach. But she had other dreams to tide her over—dreams that lived across the Atlantic, in Hollywood.
12. She Worked Harder Than Anyone
Sophia Loren was a star, but she didn't expect anyone to hand anything to her. She worked for her reputation. Between 1950 and 1955, she appeared in a whopping 35 films. She loved the work at first—but few people can keep such a hectic schedule without it taking a toll on them eventually.
13. She Had Panic Attacks
One night, Sophia Loren lay in bed when she suddenly found she couldn't breathe. Once the attack subsided, she rushed to her doctor, convinced she had asthma, pneumonia, or something worse. It took mere moments for the doctor to diagnose her: She'd had a panic attack. The stress and anxiety of her schedule had finally gotten to her. From then on, her pace slowed down, and she never again made so many movies in such a short time frame.
But work wasn't the only thing causing her stress...
14. They Completed Each Other
It's difficult to pinpoint when Carlo Ponti and Sophia Loren's relationship became more than platonic. Sometime between when Loren was 15 and 19, they became lovers—but ask either of them and they'd say they were so much more than that. Ponti gave Loren the love and guidance that she never got from her father.
Meanwhile, to Ponti, Loren was a star. A goddess that comes around once in a generation. But no matter what they felt, they couldn't avoid controversy.
15. Her Mother Had Doubts About Him
Miss Italia - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
When Loren was 19, Carlo Ponti presented her with a ring. He was still married, but both of them knew what that ring meant. Loren rushed home on cloud nine to show her mother—but she did not get the reaction she was looking for. Her mother said what anyone would say, "What are you doing???" Carlo Ponti was nearly 40, married, and had two kids. Sophia was a young woman just starting her life.
Loren's mother's fears were valid, but they couldn't stop her.
16. She Went Hollywood
Sophia Loren started acting in Italian films when she was just 16. It took only a few years for the world to take notice. This tall, dark, and stunning young actress made Hollywood studio execs go gaga. They all fought to be the one to sign her to a contract—and Paramount go to her first. She signed a five-picture deal with the studio and headed towards the bright lights of Tinsel Town.
She was in for a greeting that she would never forget.
17. They Threw Her A Party
Hollywood loves its parties. To welcome the sultry Italian star to America, Paramount threw Loren a big shindig. For Loren, it must have seemed like a fairy tale. All the stars of Hollywood, come to welcome little ol' her. Actors and actresses she'd only seen on the screen came up to greet her in the flesh. Then, once the party was well underway, a new face arrived. A stunned hush fell across the room...what was she wearing?!
18. She Gave The World's Best Side-Eye
Jayne Mansfield showed up to Sophia Loren's welcome party fashionably late, and she made a beeline straight for Loren's table. Years later, Loren recalled that was the moment when the party got "amazing." A photographer was on hand to capture the iconic moment, and the image instantly became part of Hollywood history.
But Sophia Loren got a lot more than a peek at Mansfield's goods when she arrived in Hollywood—she finally got what she'd always dreamed of.
19. He Got A Mexican Divorce
Hollywood is quite close to this country called Mexico. And you know what's really easy in Mexico? Getting a divorce. Not long after the pair arrived in America, Carlo Ponti got a Mexican divorce from his first wife. At the same time, he married Sophia Loren by proxy. Just like that, their problem was solved! Loren could finally have the "legitimate family" she'd always dreamed of!
Except, few things are ever so simple. Soon after filing the divorce, Ponti received devastating news.
20. She Became A Fugitive
The River Girl - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Loren and Ponti thought they'd found their way around the whole "no divorces in Italy" thing. I guess they counted their chickens before they hatched. Ponti discovered that both he and Loren were now fugitives. Italian authorities told him that if they ever returned to their homeland, they would immediately be apprehended. Ponti would be charged with bigamy, and Loren with "concubinage."
It was completely ridiculous—but it forced Loren to live a lie for years.
21. She Had To Live A Lie
Sophia Loren's heart belonged to Carlo Ponti, but she couldn't show it. The couple snuck back into Italy for a time, but had to keep their relationship a secret. Even when they left to live abroad—eventually getting married for real in France—they still hid their relationship, for fear of consequences back home. They eventually even had to get their marriage annulled for fear of the repercussions.
No matter how either of them felt, Loren's relationship with Ponti was in limbo—and that gave her eyes time to wander.
22. She Met Some Big Shots
Sophia Loren adored her older husband/father figure, but now she was in Hollywood—and Hollywood might have better man candy than anywhere else on Earth. One night, she learned that she was to meet none other than Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant. She found Sinatra charming and amicable, while Grant was rude and off-putting.
But Hollywood is a small town, and she'd run into Grant again before long.
23. She Became A Movie Star
Hollywood might have been intimidating for a young girl from the outskirts of Naples, but the town welcomed her with open arms. Her five-picture contract with Paramount put her on the map. Within just a few years, she was a household name. Sophia Loren was officially an international film star—but that wasn't enough. She would soon be the biggest actress on the planet.
24. She Reached The Top
The 50s gave way to the 60s, and Sophia Loren's star continued to rise. She made movies in both Europe and America, and people everywhere adored her. Her rise to the spotlight finally peaked in 1964, when she earned an unbelievable $1 million paycheck to star in The Fall of the Roman Empire. Sophia Loren was finally the star that both her mother and Ponti had always told her she was.
Unfortunately, being a star comes with some brutal complications.
25. She Suffered In Silence
Sophia Loren (PREMO) | She is wearing nylons too. edited to … | Flickrwww.flickr.com
Sophia Loren might have become rich and famous, but she still had problems. The most painful was her inability to bear children. Though she became pregnant several times, she suffered miscarriages each time. As if those losses weren't devastating enough, it would soon get even worse. The tabloids caught wind of Loren's struggles and began speculating wildly about her complicated pregnancies.
But that wasn't the only fodder they had to work with.
26. The Tabloids Hounded Her
When the tabloids weren't covering her pregnancies, they'd try to dissect Loren's complicated marriage history, or tax evasion charges, or maybe those whispers about an affair with Cary Grant. Just like any other actress, Sophia Loren had to put up with constant intrusions into her often-painful personal life. And, just like any other actress, she had to deal with some miserable co-stars.
27. She Met A True Superstar
In 1960, Sophia Loren got to star in a movie with one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history: Clark Gable. She was completely starstruck—until the work began. Then she realized Clark Gable wasn't the man she thought he'd be. The first day got off to a good start, but then at 5pm, Gable's watch started ringing. He gave a cheerful, "Bye bye!" then headed home, even though they weren't done shooting.
It was odd, but maybe he had an appointment? Not quite. Sophia Loren might have been the starlet, but Clark Gable was the diva.
28. He Disappointed Her
Turns out, by 1960, "working hard" wasn't really in Clark Gable's contract. No matter what was happening on set, when his 5 o'clock bell went off, he hung up his hat and got out of there. Loren, who had spent the last decade working her behind off to establish herself, was less than impressed. But Clark Gable still wasn't as bad as Marlon Brando.
29. Marlon Brando Made A Terrible First Impression
Marlon Brando wasn't exactly one for first impressions, but the first thing he said to Sophia Loren was just cruel. He barged into her dressing room on the Paramount lot, took one look at the paintings she'd hung on the wall, and said, "You’re sick. Emotionally disturbed. You should see a psychiatrist." What a great start to a professional relationship!
And that was just the beginning.
30. He Had Wandering Hands
File:Marlon Brando 1948.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org
Marlon Brando didn't know how to give a first impression, and he definitely didn't know how to keep his hands to himself. Before shooting a scene, he came up close to Loren and stroked her back. She said, "Don't do that, I don't like it." Then as soon as the cameras started rolling? He did it again. Loren turned and glared at him, then said she'd slap him in the face if he ever touched her again.
Do you think he did?
31. She Taught Him A Lesson
Marlon Brando, like many men in Old Hollywood, didn't like the word, "No." When Loren threatened to slap him, he put both of his hands on her. Sophia Loren might have been one of Hollywood's great beauties, but she had a temper that few of her fellow actress could match. She exploded and screamed right in Brando's face: "Don’t you ever dare to do that again. Never again!"
And he didn't. Would you?
32. He Picked On Her Constantly
Marlon Brando never touched Sophia Loren without asking again—but as you can imagine, their working relationship was in the toilet. Brando talked about Loren behind her back. He said that her breath reeked from all the Italian food she ate. He said it was "worse than a dinosaur's." Just some great, mature behavior from an iconic leading man—but he could get even pettier.
Making the movie was miserable for both of them, so when it came time to film their big kiss, Brando couldn't help but mess with her.
33. Their Kiss Scene Was Miserable
Kissing scenes are awkward for even the best actors. Locking lips with a co-worker, with cameras and lights pointed straight at you, while dozens of people stand around and watch? Not my idea of a fun day at work. Well, Brando apparently wanted it to be even more miserable. After the pair smooched for the first time, Loren recoiled. Brando had whispered something in her ear—and it wasn't sweet nothings.
34. He Made Fun
Loren stormed over to the crew after the first take: "Do you know what he just whispered to me? That I have long hairs growing out of MY nose?!" Talk about a guy who knows how to put a woman in the mood! Unsurprisingly, that take was a bust, so the director made them do it again. And again.
On the third take, Brando seemed to have realized that name-calling wasn't working. He wanted to draw blood—literally.
35. He Drew Blood
File:Clark Gable 1937 crop.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org
If Sophia Loren thought that Clark Gable leaving early was bad, she had no idea what she was in for with Marlon Brando. He'd insulted her, groped her, and commented on her appearance. There was only one move left: On their third and final kiss, Brando clamped down. He bit Loren's lip so hard that she started bleeding.
No surprise that the two of them never worked together again...but even then, I think Brando wasn't even the most disturbing co-star she worked with. That award goes to Peter Sellers.
36. Peter Sellers HAD To Meet Her
When Sophia Loren signed on to 1960s The Millionairess, the studio hadn't yet hired the male lead. They reached out to iconic British comedian Peter Sellers, but he wasn't at all interested—that is, until he learned that Sophia Loren was involved. That was all he needed to hear. As he put it, "I don't normally act with romantic, glamorous women," so he leaped at the chance to act with Loren.
Still barely 25, Loren was likely happy to learn that such a big star wanted to be in a movie with her. She had no clue what she was in for.
37. He Went From Charming To Creepy
Loren and Sellers got along famously while filming The Millionairess, but Loren assumed their relationship was completely platonic. She was dead wrong. Sellers grew more and more obsessed with her as the days passed. Eventually, he couldn't take it any longer. On a night out with both Loren and his wife, he pronounced his undying love for her in front of everyone.
This couldn't end well...
38. He Brought His Kids Into It...
Sophia Loren had no romantic designs on Peter Sellers, and spent their entire time working together fending off his advances—but none of that slowed Sellers down at all. One night, he even woke his young son just to ask, "Do you think I should divorce your mummy?" That's a scarring question to ask any child, but Loren didn't even want to be with him!
39. No One Knows The Truth
To this day, the true details about what when on between Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers are a mystery. Some of Sellers' friends, like comedian Spike Milligan, assert that the pair had a physical relationship. Others say they were nothing more than close friends. Not even Sellers' wife ever found out the truth, commenting, "I don't know to this day whether he had an affair with her. Nobody does."
For her part, Loren has always claimed that nothing ever happened between her and Peter Sellers, though she continued to fight off his advances for years. Her and Cary Grant, though? Well, that's a little more complicated.
40. Cary Grant Was Bad At Flirting
File:Grant, Cary (Suspicion) 01 Crisco edit.jpg - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Sophia Loren first met Cary Grant at that Hollywood party with Frank Sinatra, but his first impression was almost as bad as Brando's. First of all, he showed up two hours later. Loren had been anxious to meet him, but by the time he showed up, she was checking her watch. He approached her, only for the first words out of his mouth to be about how Italians all of strange names.
Loren had envisioned the charming Cary Grant of the screen, not this unpunctual oaf. But first impressions aren't everything—soon, Grant would have her questioning everything she knew.
41. They Met At The Right Time
Sophia Loren met Cary Grant at a strange time in both of their lives. Grant was currently trapped in a miserable third marriage. Loren, meanwhile, still loved Carlo Ponti, but the legal mess surrounding their marriage left their future in limbo. Maybe Ponti could never give Loren the "legitimate family" that she dreamed of. And Cary Grant? Well...he was Cary Grant.
42. He Opened Up To Her
Loren and Grant first starred together in 1957's The Pride and the Passion. Despite their rocky first meeting, the more time they spent together, the more they became infatuated with each other. Grant opened up to Loren in a way that she never expected. He even revealed to her his darkest secret...
43. He Revealed His Secret Pain
Hollywood stars have to keep some secrets if they want any kind of normal life—but Grant felt safe sharing his secrets with Sophia Loren. He revealed that his father had put his mother in an insane asylum, then lied to the family and claimed she was dead. Loren couldn't believe her luck. Not only was she spending her time with Cary Grant, but he was open and vulnerable with her in a way that she'd never experienced before.
It was like a fairy tale—but unfortunately, this fairy tale didn't get a happy ending.
44. Grant Wanted To Replace His Wife
Cary Grant's wife at the time, Betsy Drake, was a screenwriter, and she'd written a movie for her to star in with her husband: Houseboat. Maybe she thought working together would save their marriage? Well, Grant wasn't on board for that plan. He insisted the studio rewrite Drake's part...so that his new sidepiece Sophia Loren could take the role.
It was a pretty scummy move—and wouldn't you know it, it backfired horribly.
45. He Popped The Question
File:Grant Loren Houseboat Publicity Photo.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org
Sophia Loren was still only 22 years old when her affair with Grant began. She was in love with Carlo Ponti, but her future with him seemed in doubt. Meanwhile, Cary Grant was 52 and already on his third marriage. Then, Grant just had to go and make things even more complicated. One night, a solemn Grant invited her out to dinner. As they ate, he suddenly looked at her and said, "Will you marry me?"
Now things were going to get really messy.
46. He Surprised Her
Loren gave Grant the only answer she could: "I don't know." Choosing between her two men wasn't going to be that simple. The next day, she flew to Greece to film a movie. When she arrived, she found a surprise waiting for her: a bouquet of roses and a pale blue note with the words, "With only happy thoughts" written on it.
The letter inside was heartbreaking.
47. He Prayed For Her
Cary Grant could always...come on a little strong. During his courtship with Loren, he was a fan of grand romantic gestures like sending hundreds of flowers to her room. This time, there was just a single bouquet and a note that read, "Forgive me, dear girl—I press you too much. Pray—and I will do the same. Until next week. Goodbye Sophia, Cary."
Now, Sophia Loren had a serious decision to make.
48. She Found Her Prince Charming
Loren had to admit that Cary Grant was the complete package. Sure, he was a Hollywood movie star, but he was so much more than that. She called him, "wonderful," "charming," "handsome," and "very romantic." He constantly showered her with gifts, flowers, and professions of his love. And he wanted her to be his wife. Perhaps he could give her the legitimate family she'd always dreamed of?
But of course, it wasn't that simple. There was a dark side to choosing Cary Grant, as well.
49. She Knew There Would Be Consequences
It wasn't like Loren was choosing between Grant and some deadbeat. She still had Ponti, who loved her and supported her—and he was Italian. Plus, there was the optics. Both Loren and Grant were married when they got together, and Loren had seen firsthand who the press treated women of divorce. She had watched as the tabloids had eviscerated Ingrid Bergman for divorcing her husband.
Could she risk that herself to be with Grant?
50. She Made Her Choice
Sophia Loren | Sophia Loren | Insomnia Cured Here | Flickrwww.flickr.com
In the end, Loren knew in her heart which choice she had to make: "Carlo was Italian; he belonged to my world... I know it was the right thing to do, for me." Once the legality of their marriage was sorted out, they would remain happily together until Ponti's passing in 2007. But Loren couldn't enjoy her happily-ever-after just yet—she still had to see Grant every single day.
51. They Still Had To See Each Other
Remember how Cary Grant had the female lead in Houseboat rewritten for Loren? Well, now it was time to reap what he sowed. Loren broke off their relationship and stayed with Ponti, making things painfully awkward on set. Grant still held out hope that one day, Loren would change her mind and come back to him—but that day never came.
Loren and Ponti officially married—for real, this time—in 1966. But at least some stories have happy endings: Grant and Loren remained close friends, and Grant even sent his congratulations when Loren and Ponti had children.
52. She Became An Icon
As the years passed, Sophia Loren's star grew. At first, she was an exciting new actress. Then, she was a movie star and a sex symbol. By the 1980s, she transcended again: this time, to icon status. She released the first of many biographies. She turned her life story into a biopic, where she played both herself and her mother. Loren even launched her own perfume—the first female celebrity to do it.
There's a reason Sophia Loren still holds a mystique about her that no other star, past or present, has matched. All her contemporaries have one big disadvantage: They're not Sophia Loren.
Redditor finn-burner wanted to hear from all the gents out there with facial hair, so they asked:
"Why do you have a beard?"
My beard has started to come in gray.
So now it is banished.
Fresh faced is all I need.
Beauty Traits
Bollywood Beard GIF by Hrithik RoshanGiphy"Because I want to be 60% ugly instead of 100%."
Vruszz
"Came here to joke that I won't open the door. This is it, tho. My chin rivals that of both Bruce Campbell and the Tick. With a beard, I look like Santa that hit the gym."
Sagemasterba
Who cares...
"I shaved last a bit over a year ago for my brother's wedding, no maintenance since. Yes, it looks like crap but I also don't care anymore."
1101base2
"It's an easy thing to care for. All you need is a good brush (use a boar hair brush, not a cheap plastic one.) and some beard oil. There are other products like wax and balm, but really just a good brush and some oil is all you need for a soft, classy-looking beard. I've been growing for 6 years, nothing but compliments. And when it gets long enough, you can braid it or put it in tons of different styles with twists and braids."
chedd420
Good Habits
"It gives me something to stroke when I'm thinking."
Chairman_Mittens
"I once got to stroke a friend's beard while he stroked mine, it was an experience."
GodOfSugarStrychnine
"The beard is where a man's wisdom is stored. Stroke it to unlock deeper thoughts."
ItsEntsy
"Thanks for making me remember my long-forgotten habit. Now, I'm starting to constantly stroke my beard."
Haruhiro21
Look Away
"I don’t have a strong chin. Plus, it’s starting to get these long white hairs as I age so it makes me feel regal."
DocFreudstein
"My wife hates my chin, says it looks like a butt. In our 12 years together she's probably only seen it clearly for a month or so, I've usually had a goatee or beard. But on our son I guess it's cute, go figure."
handandfoot8099
"I went clean-shaven on our 2nd or 3rd date. She told me to not do that again. Coming up on 4 years of marriage and I'm afraid to see my chin at this point."
NobodyLikesPricks
Oval Features
thumb cooking GIF by Disney PixarGiphy"Because I'm bald and I don't want to look like a thumb."
itamaru
Not Today
Kevin James Eating GIF by TV LandGiphy"I'm lazy."
berael
"Same, definitely. I always said I'd never have a beard... Then I realized I'd have to shave all the time and was like nope, not today razor!"
OldBathBomb
It's Me!
"Because the last time I shaved it all off my friends followed me around shouting 'I'M A REAL BOY' like Pinnochio. For real though, I was told I looked good with it and at this stage, I'd look weird without it."
Cyanide_Revolver
"This. I’m 35. I have a jawline and good skin. If I shave, I get carded at bars. I don’t need to be looking half my age."
SomeOtherOrder
"I tried to grow a goatee when I was 17. My friend said I looked like a 40-year-old Baptist preacher who had 17 kids and lived in a log cabin. 2 years later during COVID-19 I grew a full beard and he gave his seal of approval."
Count-Spatula2023
Angles
"Hides my now round face a bit better."
Creamsickled
I had a beard for the last 10 years and shaved it off recently to find that I now have a double chin. Promptly grew it back."
bicx
"I've never had a chiseled look, but when I see pics of myself in my twenties, my face looked a lot more... angular. I'm not that guy anymore. the beard gives me some definition."
Overall_Sandwich_671
Gandalf
"I grow more hair than Gandalf. If not controlled, it becomes wild. Come COVID, I stopped caring about keeping it perfectly trim. Now it flows, like a beautiful waterfall."
LargeSnorlax
"I tried growing my beard long during the peak of COVID when nobody was going anywhere, and I learned it doesn't grow long, it grows out. Bushy and terrible, not a beautiful waterfall but a mess. Well, at least I know now."
Catsh*t-Dogfart
39
"Because at 18 I spent 4 years in the Marines then got into security when I got out. I'm 39 now and from 18 till about 33 I wasn't allowed by my job to grow one. Then I started working in house security at a hospital and they allowed it. Plus I look way better with a beard lol."
"Even the wife likes it now (she was on the fence when I first grew it out). That being said I have considered shaving it lol. Purely for the fact that I have a 4-year-old with autism and she isn't a fan of the long beard when she gives me a kiss. So the compromise is I keep it pretty short lol."
moshpitmachine
Simplicity
hipster beard GIFGiphy"I have a crazy babyface if I get anywhere close to overweight. My beard is man make-up."
MLaw2008
"It really is that simple for some of us."
28smalls
A little scruff on the right guy can make the perfect '10.'
Scruff isn't for everyone but when it works, it WORKS!
Dating is such a hit-and-miss game these days. That’s why first-date impressions are so important. These Redditors share their unfortunate stories of how their first date got instantly ruined by the other person. From inviting their parents to having their boyfriend show up, it’s hard to believe that people like this actually exist. But yeah, they do.
1. Not Staying For A Refill
She told me she had pretty bad anxiety being in public and asked if she could make me dinner instead. We went for a walk prior to the dinner so we could see if we wanted to do the dinner after. She was super stoked for dinner after our walk.
Dinner was great and she asked if I wanted to watch a movie. About 20 minutes into the movie, she started nudging into me and initiated making out. After starting to really get into the heavier side of things, I felt something tap my shoulder—I am on top of her at this point.
Startled, I turned my head quickly. I can't believe my eyes. I am met eye to eye with a 4-5-year-old boy who then asked me if he could have a cup of water. His mom started screaming at him to go back to his room, which he did. She started apologizing and tried to reinitiate the kiss.
I told her to give me a minute. I got a cup of water and called for the boy to come back out. When he did, I handed him the cup. He took a drink and said thank you and ran back into his room. I was pretty riled up at the idea she had her kid there without saying anything AND screamed at him for asking for something as basic as water.
I left after that and vowed to never be that parent with my own kids.
2. A Sign To Move On From HIM
I was out with a guy having a lovely time when he made a comment about a copper bangle bracelet I was wearing. I told him that it was really special to me as I had gotten it during my semester abroad in South Africa from a local.
It was a solid copper band, but in the middle there was copper wire woven around. He asked to take a closer look so I took it off and handed it to him. He then snapped it in half, thinking the copper wire was a spring. But that wasn't all. I was visibly upset and he said that it was a sign that I needed to move on from my trip and stop living in the past.
WHAT? I never spoke to him again.
3. Jaw-Dropping Moment
man in white button up shirt holding black and white boxPhoto by Jessie McCall on UnsplashI was out on a dinner date with a gorgeous girl. We had a lot in common and we spoke for an hour.
When it was time for us to hit up the arcade, I asked for the check so I could pay for dinner. As I put my card down, she put her card down as well and said that she’d pay for her half of the meal. I INSISTED that it was fine for me to pick up the bill but she refused.
She said that she would pay for her meal. Fast forward to the end of the night. After being at the arcade, we were walking back to our cars. She looked at me and said, “It won’t work between us”. I said, “That sucks, why?” And she said—“As a man, I expected you to pay for our dinner tonight”.
I seriously wish someone recorded my facial reaction to that sentence. Was I expected to grab her credit card and throw it back at her?
4. Three’s A Crowd
We were out for dinner on our first date. Everything was going really well so we decided to head over to a bar close by for a couple drinks.
We were there for a little bit. She saw a friend of hers from work who came over to say hello. She ended up sitting down to join us. It wasn’t a big deal at first, until the entirety of the conversation ended up being about ins and outs of work and gossip about their co-workers.
There was pretty much nothing for me to add or participate in the conversation about aside from just changing the subject completely. After about 45 minutes, I just said I was getting tired, said goodnight and left. Then came the piece de resistance.
What made it worse was that as I was leaving, a group of my friends—who I probably would have tried to meet up with—were coming into the same bar. I still left to stick to the story and because she had tried to convince me to stay.
5. I’m Dang-Near Speechless
Our first date was amazing. I still reminisce about how incredible that night was and how incredible I thought my life was about to become. But the afternoon before what was supposed to be our second date, I got a voicemail: "I know you went out with my fiancee last night. I'm not mad at you. I'm sure you didn't know I existed—but I do, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped seeing her".
Welp.
6. I Swear I Didn’t Plan That
woman near fencePhoto by Amy Chen on UnsplashWe had dinner and all was going well. Afterwards, we were wandering down the dark sidewalk engaged in conversation, when she walked straight into a signpost that neither of us noticed. I let out one nervous laugh before I could stop it. She accused me of engineering the event for my amusement.
7. Don’t Cross My Boundaries
I went bowling with a guy and a couple other friends. We were getting along pretty well until my friend got up to bowl and we were left sitting alone together. That’s when he put his hand on my thigh.
I wasn't into physical affection from people I don't know well. I wasn't comfortable with him yet so I politely and subtly scooched his hand away so as to not bring attention to it and embarrass him.
That in itself wasn't an issue because he tried his luck and why not? His response was what infuriated me. He put his hand BACK and gripped my leg assertively. I wasn't having it and figured he just didn't get the hint. So I picked up his hand and moved it back to his own lap.
He shot a look at me and then dove his hand into my inner thigh. I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand out and looked over at him with the most definitive "NO" on my face I could. We did not go out again. If a man can't respect my physical boundaries in public, he sure as heck won't respect them in private.
8. This Smells Off
We were at a fancy restaurant for a first date. Both the dinner and conversation were going well. Then under the table, he slipped off his shoes and pushed them forward toward me.
Oh man, they stunk! I used a foot to push them back to him. He kept talking and pushed them back toward me under the table.
Why the heck would you pop your shoes off in a nice restaurant? Why would you push them toward your date? Why wouldn’t you do something about stinky shoes in general?
9. We Just Met
person holding white ceramic cup with liquidPhoto by SnapbyThree MY on UnsplashHe asked if I would stop seeing other men because his most recent ex had cheated on him, so he now wanted to be sure that anything new would be strictly exclusive. That was totally fair. I prefer monogamy myself—except this was about 30 minutes into our first meeting.
We were only grabbing coffee after having met on the apps a couple days prior. I wasn't even chatting with anyone else at the time, but I wasn't really into having my actions controlled by a man I just met. I especially didn’t want to date someone who was clearly ready to let his ex's actions determine his treatment and expectations of me.
I hope he has managed to heal from that relationship since then, though.
10. First And Last Date
I was on a first date with a smart, beautiful, successful woman who I’d met online. We spent several weeks chatting and building a great rapport.
The date was going very well. We had instant romantic chemistry, a great deal in common and were really enjoying a great evening together. After dinner we proceeded to a nice upscale lounge and continued laughing, drinking, flirting and chatting about our lives for a couple more hours.
The conversation eventually shifted to us both being single parents of daughters around the same age—which is something we had already discussed online, so naturally she decided to show me a picture of her child and I in turn did the same. But then it all took a huge turn.
Suddenly, she looks at my daughter’s photo, tells me her name—which I hadn’t revealed—and proceeded to tell me that our daughters already knew each other. Even though they lived over an hour away, they knew each other. On top of that, she actually also knew my ex through a mutual friend.
At the time, my ex and I were not on good terms. So, that date quickly shifted from being what was seemingly a great first date, to also being our last. We never saw each other again.
11. No Idea What Happened
I asked a Korean exchange student out in my first week of college. I had never actually asked anyone if they wanted to go out before, so my jaw dropped when she accepted. After all, she was gorgeous and way out of my league.
Two days later, I picked her up at her dorm in my fairly new Mustang. She seemed quiet, and I thought it was just shyness. We're on the highway doing 55 miles per hour. Disaster struck hard and fast. She suddenly rolled down the window and VOMITED ALL OVER THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR—like—a lot.
I think she ate a gallon of vegetable soup before the date or something. I took her back to her dorm. She ran out of the car and I was left to clean things up. I took the car to a car wash and it actually faded the paint.
This was before cell phones, so I tried finding her to talk to after that. I never saw her again. That was back in 1990. To this day, I have no idea what happened.
12. That Was Unexpected
a man and woman taking a selfiePhoto by Rachel S on UnsplashI was around 22 or 23 years old and was meeting a guy for my first date at a restaurant for dinner. When I got there, I saw two other people at the table. It turns out, he had invited his parents to our date!
I excused myself to go to the bathroom and then just bounced. Talk about awkwardness.
13. There Won’t Be Seconds For Me
I met a guy on Tinder. We chatted for a while. He had a great personality and seemed nice! We met up and had a drink. He was funny, well-dressed and seemed to be into me. We decided to walk over to another spot where we could grab something to eat.
He stopped at a corner store to grab a chapstick. Not a problem—sometimes you need chapstick! Then it all went so wrong. After buying it, he unwrapped it and dropped the box on the counter in front of the cashier. The cashier and I looked at each other, utterly confused.
The cashier pointed to the garbage can by the door and asked him to throw it out over there. The guy rolled his eyes, snorted, and walked it to the trash. That's when I knew I wasn't going to be calling him back.
There were other signs at the next spot, but that's when I was pretty sure he was probably one very inconsiderate individual.
14. Dinner Ended Along With My Interest
After I got divorced, I went on some dates to try to meet new people.
When meeting someone new for the first time, I would always invite them to do something kind of noncommittal like getting coffee. That way, if things got a bit weird, I could end things early and leave.
So on this date, the girl shows up with her two young children, who I didn’t even know existed. That wasn't a problem for me and she was super nice. We talked for about twenty minutes outside the coffee shop. Then I suggested we do something more kid-friendly like getting ice cream. Everyone loved the idea.
We found a nearby place and went there instead. The kids were happy and we had some really good conversation for about an hour. I asked if she would be interested in dinner. She said yes but it would have to be several hours later and that her kids may have to come too as her sitter had bailed last minute.
Later that night, she and her kids met me at a low-end steak house. We got along great and the conversation was good still! But then she got sloppy and inebriated off the three drinks she ordered with dinner and then drove her kids home afterward—I did offer to pay for her to get a ride home, which she refused.
That just ended any interest I had.
15. Those Aren’t Tears Of Joy
Denny's | Denny's Restaurant, Hartford, CT. 8/2014 by Mike M… | Flickrwww.flickr.com
I met a single mom at Denny's. We were both getting along pretty well, talking about our families and things. I mentioned that I didn’t get along with my dad because he's a narcissist. That’s when she said, "So is my ex" and immediately started crying.
For the rest of the date I was her psychologist.
16. Front Row Ticket For One
The date went really well. We went to a bar and talked a lot. Afterwards, she invited me back to her place, which was not far away from the bar.
As I walked through the door, she asked what movie I would like to watch. I remembered that I hadn’t seen The Prestige and suggested that.
It turns out, the movie got so interesting, tipsy me started rejecting her advances. I didn’t want to miss any of the good parts of the movie!
17. Too Much Attention
I went on a date with a guy who owned a local trendy business. It kind of made him a bit of a local celebrity. Notably, I am an introvert and don't like attention. I’d much prefer to pretend that I was invisible when out in public.
We were on our second date at a restaurant. It wasn’t super fancy but it certainly was a little romantic place for a date. During our dinner, no less than five random people stopped by our table to talk to him. They were all customers.
He tried to balance being an attentive date without totally alienating his customers. It was super awkward. He was aware that I was an introvert and was apologetic about it. He suggested that we wrap up dinner, hit up a store to grab some drinks and dessert and go to the beach—a good way to be around less people.
In the shop we stopped at, two more people came up to him to chat, and then at the beach another person stopped and this one actually tried to sit down to join us. At this point, I decided this guy wasn't for me. I really liked him as a person but I couldn't deal with all the attention he attracted. But there's a twist.
Somehow, he convinced me to go on a third date, which I am glad he did. It's been 20 plus years that we've been together. He's helped me come out of my shell a little and I've taught him the delights of being an introvert and taking some completely people-free weekends. He is my person and I love him more than anything.
18. Letting It All Out
clear cocktail glass with pink liquid insidePhoto by M.S. Meeuwesen on UnsplashWe were having a great time. We had a couple of cocktails, we were laughing constantly and flirting. I don't think I've ever hit it off so well with anyone.
I hadn’t been home long after returning from Afghanistan. She asked about the temperature out there. Then two minutes later, I started crying my eyes out and all the feelings I had bottled up came pouring out.
She got all the details that she never asked for. It was awkward to the point where she couldn't leave me as I kept talking and crying—for almost two hours.
We had an hour of hilarious drinks followed by an hour and a half of crying.
19. Poor In Judgment As Well
When my date turned up, he immediately asked what I wanted to drink. I chose a stout, then went to the toilet. When I returned, it wasn’t the beverage I had asked for. So I asked if they didn’t have the one I wanted? He said that this one was cheaper.
Okay. I was slightly baffled but he was a student so I let it go. He proceeded to talk about how broke he was. I wasn’t much better off but felt deep guilt so spent the rest of the night footing the bill. I didn’t mind as he was cool and we had a lot in common.
When it was time to go home, he walked me to my bus stop. Then out of nowhere, he randomly pulled out 20 dollars. He went to get a kebab without so much as an offer for me. I was actually cringing inside. I knew that I wouldn’t be seeing him again.
When I got home, he sent an unsolicited picture inviting me to see him again. See him again, I did not.
20. Bored Of Games
Things were going really well. We were at a bar having drinks when she decided that she wanted to play Scrabble. Apparently, she loved the game, which I am not great at. On top of that, I’ve had a few too many. I was completely not ready to play Scrabble.
She started with a word like “behooves” or something. Meanwhile, I used up my entire time to put down the word “hat”. She then put down the word “incredulous” followed by my “fun”. This continued until the end of the game.
We did not play again. We did not go out again.
21. Beautiful But Rattled
woman covering mouth with sweaterPhoto by JJ Jordan on UnsplashI went on a blind date with someone who had “just gotten out of a bad relationship”. When she first showed up, she looked really rattled. She was beautiful, but shaken up. I asked if she was okay and she said she was fine.
But when a tall guy passed too close by her chair in the restaurant, she practically jumped out of her skin. She finally admitted the horrible story. She had been “dating” her cousin. Yes—her cousin. They were really “into each other” but she finally called it off because she knew it was wrong.
He wasn’t happy—it didn’t seem like she was either. It was a shame because she was gorgeous but her mind was a million miles away the whole time. When the date was over, I went to drop her off in front of her apartment complex.
That’s when I noticed a tall, good-looking guy leaning against a car out front. She gasped and said, “That’s him”! I asked if she’d be okay, if she wanted me to walk her inside or take her somewhere else. She said that she was fine but I might want to leave ASAP.
She then proceeded to practically leap into his arms as he strode towards us. As I drove off, I saw her get into his Tesla.
22. Never To Be Seen Again
After dinner, we went to a bar. Everything seemed to be going well. We had a good conversation and we made out. The bar was getting really busy for some reason so we decided to go back to my place. Before leaving, I told her I needed to go to the restroom first. She said she would wait for me outside.
When I was finished, I went outside to look for her. I saw her just as she was jumping into the back of a pickup with a bunch of people and leaving.
She later texted me saying she bumped into her best friend and they were going to a party but they didn’t want me to go along. I never saw her after that.
23. Painful Slip Up
We met on a dating app in college during the last week before winter break. Once we realized that we lived close to each other, we met for coffee in a nearby cafe. After the coffee, we decided to take a walk around the city. Being winter, it was a snowy day with ice on the ground.
At some point during our walk, I made a joke and she playfully pushed my arm. This small moment changed my life. Unfortunately, I happened to be standing on a sheet of black ice at the time. I slipped and tore both my ACL and MCL.
I ended up spending the next six months on crutches. It wasn’t really her fault of course, but that definitely ruined the date.
24. The Look Of Panic
grayscale photo of woman covering her face with her handsPhoto by Meghan Hessler on UnsplashIt was my first post-divorce date. That poor guy. He had no idea what he was in for. I think I did all the textbook things of what not to do: talked endlessly about my last relationship and drank too much. I was a certified hot mess.
The absolute cherry on top was when he dropped me off at home, I repeatedly asked him if he was going to call me. I could still see the look of pure panic on his face. Shockingly, he did not call. That was our one and only terrible date.
25. I Got The Hint
We went out for drinks and had a great conversation. Afterwards, we went out for some food at a late night sub place. We were still having a good time and started getting flirtatious. Suddenly, an intoxicated dude walked past the table, stopped, and looked at her.
He then said, "Dang it girl. Let me get your number". He then turned to me and said, “Oh man, my bad bro. Is this your girl"? I was stumped. I didn’t know what to say. If I said, “No”, it's like I was denying her. If I said, “Yes”, well it's not true.
I didn't know how to handle it and I ended up saying, “We just met". He walked on and kept saying, “My bad—bro don't mess me up". The conversation went cold after that. She asked to go home and refused my offer to walk her to her car.
I texted her the next day and said that I had a good time. I apologized for the awkward ending. I asked if she wanted to maybe grab a coffee sometime. She replied, "Sure". I said, “Cool, I'll hit you up sometime". She said, “Cool" and that was that. Her previous texts were wordy. I could take a hint.
26. That’s Not Cool
I went on a nice date with a girl. In the morning, I was driving her back and we were talking about how far she lived. She mentioned that it didn’t matter because she would drive even if she was intoxicated. I asked why she would do that as it was very irresponsible.
She said that she used to do it in Idaho all the time so she expected to get a ticket for drinking and driving at some point. Like, what?
27. Ultimate Turn Off
brown wooden table with plates and bowlsPhoto by beth d on UnsplashI met a great looking guy on a dating app. We decided to meet at an Indian restaurant close by—my favorite food.
The conversation was great. We were laughing. He was kind of flirty and I was flirting back. He was really super cute, fit, and financially well off—all the good stuff. Then came the kicker. I don’t know how I just sat through this, but he started making fun of the waiter.
Then the waiter's accent; the way he moved; the way he talked. My face just went blank and then did this little mouth thing that I do when I’m kind of upset. And he was like, “What?”
I told him that I didn’t think that it was cool at all. He didn’t get it and said that he was just having fun. I told him that it’s not fun. So in the parking lot we said good-bye. I had offered to pay for my own meal, but he would not agree to that. And he said, “Yeah, butterfly. You owe me dinner”.
Yeah, I don’t owe you anything. Such a turn off.
28. Now That Was Rude
We were on a date having a good time—at least I thought so, until one of her friends showed up and invited her to a band playing across the street. She said that sounded awesome and left. There was no apology, invitation, reschedule—nothing.
I get if you weren't enjoying the date but some common courtesy would’ve been nice.
29. Too Weird For Me
We went to her house and started watching the movie Fight Club. This was about 15 or 16 years ago. It was a pretty cool movie at the time.
We were in the middle of being very intimate when she suddenly shouted for me to "STOP"! I asked if everything was okay. She just shushed me and started watching the movie again. We were at the part where Brad Pitt burns Edward Norton's hand with chemicals.
I'm on top of her and trying to stay intimate. Meanwhile, she was watching intently and was completely in a trance. When that part of the movie was over, I asked her what was going on. After a series of questions, she made a horrific revelation. She explained that she enjoys watching people being in pain but not inflicting it or being in pain herself.
Needless to say, I didn't hang out with her again.
30. Yep, I’m Outta Here
person holding black samsung android smartphonePhoto by Mika Baumeister on UnsplashI had just turned 18 in high school and hit it off with this girl I met on Tinder. On the date, things were going well. We had similar music and movie tastes, we both loved animals, and so on.
At one point, I asked what she did for fun during the past week. She told me that she got blackout smashed with her friends on the weekend. Although I wasn’t at the lawful age at the time to drink, I didn’t mind if the person I was seeing drank at all. I let her tell her story and the conversation continued.
Later in the date, I asked her what her plans were for the coming weekend—in an effort to show continued interest in going on another date. She told me that she planned on going to a club and getting blackout all weekend with her friend.
Hmmm, okay. So I asked, “What about next weekend"? She then says that she knows that she’s going to get completely plastered with her friends at another different club. For me, at least, that was enough for me to straight up say that I did not think things were going to work between us. I quickly finished the date and left.
31. Freaking Out
I'll start off by saying that I was on a date with a guy who was very handsome, smart, funny, and respectful. Our coffee date was going well. We were laughing and everything—until his ex showed up.
He saw her and started getting paranoid. He kept saying, "We gotta get out of here. We gotta get out of here" and started just freaking out. Of course we left, but I never went out with him again.
32. That Was Super Uncomfortable
He made a weird, seductive joke when we were buying food and snacks together. He said something like, “I’ll give you a snack later” and started laughing to himself quite loudly. Other people heard the whole thing too. It made me super uncomfortable because I’m not into stuff like this, or moving fast in relationships. I lost all interest in him pretty quickly.
33. So Distasteful
man holding tray of glassesPhoto by Rumman Amin on UnsplashHe showed discriminatory behavior towards our server, then he wanted to get a pat on the back for it afterwards. When he realized I didn’t agree with what he did, his reply was so stupid. He didn’t stop being an idiot. He simply looked away but continued being clearly both annoyed at the server AND me.
I paid the bill directly to the server with a good tip, apologized for the situation, and skedaddled. Nope.
34. Let’s Cut This Date Short
The date started normal and fine. I was visiting town and wanted to have some fun and found him on Tinder. He was taking me to a bunch of different bars in the area that he liked.
Then randomly halfway through our date he did a 180. While walking to another bar, out of nowhere, he started shouting and being snarky at me. He kept saying, “You women hate short guys like us”.
WHAT???
He was short, yes. But I hadn’t said anything to him about it. I didn’t draw any attention to something that didn’t seem to matter to me. And I was ON the date! I chose to keep going around with him knowing he was that tall. I thought we were having fun. It’s not like he tried anything on me and I turned him down.
To this day I am still baffled as to what made him snap. Was he expecting me to randomly throw myself at him at some point? Was I supposed to try to cut the date short and insist on jumping on him right then and there, or what??
After his trash talk, I just stood there gobsmacked. I was the woman who gave him a chance. But then I tearfully said, “I thought we were having fun, but thanks for making me feel like garbage” and I literally ran away, leaving him standing in the street. I blocked him like the madman he was.
I feel bad for him, but not enough to accept mistreatment when I did nothing to deserve it. Ask me why I only dated tall, confident men after that.
35. You Thought Wrong
There was tons of flirting leading up to the date. On the actual date, there was more flirting, arm touching and hand holding. We even talked of doing a movie night sleepover with extra cuddles.
After I walked my date to her car, I went to kiss her. She got nervous so I pulled back before I got too close. She said, “Oh sorry. I just uh…” then paused for a good five to ten seconds. Meanwhile, I was left standing in a little bit of confusion. She then continued “…I thought you were gay!”
I immediately asked about all the flirting and she said, “Yeah, I don’t know—I usually don’t do that with my gay friends. I’m sorry”.
I was so confused that I just mumbled, “Okay, have a good one” rather than try and figure out what the issue was. In her defense, it’s not incredulous for me to come off as gay, but it also just didn’t correlate with anything that happened before.
36. Stakes Were Too High
woman wearing gray denim jacket and black scarfPhoto by Vinicius Wiesehofer on UnsplashOur online conversations were phenomenal and we connected instantly. On our first date, within fifteen minutes of being seated, she declared that in order for this to continue I needed to fully and permanently commit to her right then and there.
When I asked what she meant, her next comment was totally unhinged. She said, "You will either agree to be mine forever and we will go back to my place and have passionate intimacy all night so I can get pregnant or we can call dinner off now and go home".
The night of passion sounded fun but the risk was way too high. I paid the check and left immediately.
37. The Truth Is—
We were out on our fifth dinner date when I decided to open up about my anxiety and tell him why it limited me in our relationship. He cut me off and loudly proclaimed, “Is that why you won’t be intimate with me—because of your ‘anxiety’?”
He then proceeded to leave me at the restaurant—when he was my ride.
38. Act Your Age
My date got squeamish that I had blonde stubble on my legs and because I mentioned the existence of menstruation. I forget the context in which I mentioned it, but it was apropos to the conversation. I literally just said the word, not like I was having a detailed discussion or anything.
Anyways, the odd thing was that he was a second year med student. So one would think that he wouldn’t have acted like a juvenile about basic human biology. It honestly was so weird and childish.
He’s 25 years old and says “ewww” on a date at the sight of a 2-day-old leg stubble. And he wants to be a doctor? Good luck with that.
39. Adios, Princess
woman in black leather jacketPhoto by Joshua Rondeau on UnsplashWhen my date arrived, all was going well. She seemed nice and we started getting on. When the waiter came to take our order, she asked what their best cabernet was. She then made sure that he double checked that it was "the stuff from the top shelf".
The waiter just looked at my cheap clothes and said, “What we have on the menu is what we’ve got”. She just puffed and pouted for the rest of the date. After that, I made sure that we got separate bills. When I requested that, she nearly lost her marbles.
“You are a man. It’s your job as the man to pay for everything. If you are far too poor to pay for things then maybe we shouldn’t go out again!” My comeback was perfect. I just said, “I’m way ahead of you there”. I paid and left.
40. You’ve Got It All Wrong
I generally try to be courteous to people, so I often open doors for both men and women.
On our date, I opened a door for her and she absolutely laid into me. She thought that as a woman, I didn’t think that she could open her own door. I was a bit perplexed as I never saw it as anything other than being nice. I certainly appreciate it when others do it for me.
Oh well, there was no second date.
41. You Couldn’t Wait To Tell Me
I took a girl on a date to our city's local zoo. During the winter, they decorate the entire place with Christmas lights. They have a light show and even a Ferris wheel. It really is a cute winter date idea.
Well, we were on the Ferris wheel looking down on all the cute lights and holding hands. I then asked if she was having a good time. She looked at me nervously and told me, “I’ve been talking to someone else. I told him about our date and he decided to beat you to it”.
Awkward. At least wait until the ride is over to tell me.
42. I Need A Breath Of Fresh Air
woman in black crew neck shirtPhoto by OSPAN ALI on UnsplashI was on a date where the guy showed up and had really bad breath. The date was going well, but it’s a huge turn off to meet someone for the first date and they couldn’t even be bothered to freshen up beforehand.
I mean, I would’ve have kissed him and maybe even more if it didn’t smell like he had been nibbling on little pieces of dung droppings before our first date.
43. An Ugly Moment I’d Like To Forget
This was in high school. She invited me to her house to have dinner with her family, whom I didn't know very well.
The conversation turned to names we thought were old-fashioned and ugly-sounding. We all threw out a few like Gertrude, Bertha, and Eugene. Then I said the worst thing possible. I said something like, "At least that one's not as bad as Deborah!" I used my ugly voice and everything.
Her mom's name is Deborah. Her grandmother was also at the table with us. But hey, we've been married for almost seven years!
44. Funny Mix-Up
My aunt set me up on a date. I am half Asian and half European. So when I visited my family in Asia, they wanted me to date and probably marry this girl because she comes from a rich family.
On the date, we met at a restaurant. She brought her brother. He brought his girlfriend. I went there with a cousin. He thought it was hilarious. We all introduced ourselves to each other, but because the restaurant was loud and they’re mumbling, I didn’t manage to understand their names.
I decided not to ask them all for their names again, fearing I’d come across as rude. So I talked to my date and she was well-educated and good-looking as well. I started to think—Hey, this wasn't a bad idea. I actually liked her and we seemed to be on the same wavelength.
I started to flirt with her and she seemed to like it. Then suddenly, the brother said something and he and my date both got up to leave without saying anything else. I was totally confused. It turns out I was flirting with the brother’s girlfriend the whole time.
I never even looked at the girl I was supposed to date except when we first introduced each other.
45. In Your Dreams
man kissing woman's forehead while lying on bedPhoto by Toa Heftiba on UnsplashWe just went out as friends, so it technically wasn't a date but it functioned as one. It was with a girl I worked with. I'd been interested in her for a while but we were just friends and that was fine. Still, we hung out a lot and eventually one night, we went out for drinks after work.
Things started to escalate from there. Fast forward to later that night, we were both asleep at her place. Now, I hadn't been sleeping well all that week, partially because of her dragging me out with her. And when I'm sleep deprived, I have very strange dreams and am prone to sleepwalking/talking.
In my dream I was walking down this tunnel—like a metro tunnel. I saw this girl on the ground crying. She had no clothes on. I asked her what was wrong and she lunged at me. She was a zombie or something. She wrapped her cadaver-like arms around me.
I managed to throw her off and started yelling. That's what I saw in my dream and I was fighting for my life. What really happened was so embarrassing. What actually happened outside of the dream was her trying to cuddle with me. I responded by freaking out and literally throwing her out of the bed.
She screamed and that partially woke me up, but I was still mostly in the dream. She asked me what was wrong and I just started yelling things out—”Who are you? Where are your clothes? Get away from me!” I woke up fully as she stormed out of the room.
She thought I was trying to be an idiot, I suppose. I felt awful. I thought I blew it. Once I explained what happened, she thought it was hilarious and came back to bed. She still bugs me a lot for it, though.
46. Talk About Weird
A girl and I are on a first date. We have a nice dinner, and there's definitely some chemistry going on. We decided to go see a movie, but had just missed the one we wanted to see. Our other options were Scream and some Sylvester Stallone action movie. We opted for Scream.
At this cinema, there were a LOT of people talking back to the screen during the movie. It got quite infectious and eventually it got to the point where I was doing it too. I started yelling out, "DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!!!!" along with half the people in the audience.
Anyway, after the movie ended, she barely said a word to me and I never heard from her again. Either she knew I was too good to be real and couldn’t trust herself around me, or she got drier than the Sahara once I was labeled the kind of person who talks back to movie screens.
47. A Narrow Escape
I finally took a girl out on a date who was flirting with me for over a month. Throughout most of the evening, she was really into me. She kept hanging on me and whatnot. So I thought, “cool, I’ve found myself a great girl to continue with”.
Then just before the end of the date, her boyfriend showed up—like what in the world! We had been playing pool for at least four hours at the time. The boyfriend took over so I just slipped over to the counter and requested for my ID back and left
Three hours later, she called me. She started ripping into me for messing up the date. My only answer to her was, “You have a boyfriend. What date were we on?” Apparently, the total cost of the pool table was over 200 bucks because her boyfriend tore the felt.
Talk about a close call.
48. Let The Ink Dry First
woman sitting on U-Haul trailer wheel fairingsPhoto by Brooke Cagle on UnsplashI was on a date with a newly divorced woman. We were having a nice dinner and getting to know each other. Then it turned awkward. She didn't tell me she had kids until we were eating dinner. Things started to move much too fast after that.
She started talking about me meeting her kids right away, moving in together, etc. This was on our first date! I didn't want to be anybody's step parent, much less get U-Hauled so quickly.
We finished our dinner and parted ways amicably. After a heart-to-heart talk, there were no hard feelings. She was simply getting carried away with the excitement of being single and going out with new people. She agreed that she needed to let the ink dry on her divorce a little longer and take her time before introducing new people to her children. We fell out of contact soon after.
49. Oops, Botched That One
We ordered a small snack for our coffee date. As it's arriving at the table, he pulls out his Nokia phone. Trying to make a lighthearted joke, I say "MAN, that has got to be the oldest phone I've seen in a while".
I really dug it in, trying to break that friendly wall. I'd screwed myself so badly. It turns out it's not a Nokia phone. It was his insulin pump.
50. What A Buzz
When I was about 20 or so, I was on a date with a girl who I really liked. She was exactly my type. I couldn't believe my luck.
We met in a local pub for a few drinks and things were going great. I was getting all the good signs that she was into me—lots of hand touching and the like. An hour of pure bliss went by and I needed to pee.
After washing my hands, I went to use the hand dryer. It didn't work. It looked like part of the protective grill was hanging from it. I wanted to dry my hands because I wanted to do more hand holding with her.
In the single most stupidly brain lapse moment of my life, I thought, "I can fix this!" and put my hand inside the nozzle of the dryer. WHY!? WHY THE HECK!?
Obviously, I got buzzed by the electric heating element. I fell back and cracked my head on the wall. I didn't get knocked out, but needed a few minutes to sort myself out before going back to my date. I didn't have the guts to tell her what had happened—brain lapse number two.
I had a banging headache and I wasn't quite right. Not much later, she made her excuses and left. She turned me down when I asked her for a second date.
A year or so later, I found out that she had told her friend that she really liked me, but when I returned from the washroom I was acting really weird and she "wasn't up for dating someone on narcotics".