'AITA for confronting my uncle over $700 debt as he bragged about a Maldives vacation for his daughter?'

Failing to repay a debt can often put people in a tough spot. A similar situation occurred with a 22-year-old Redditor's uncle, who didn't repay the young man on time. The user shared in the platform's "Am I THe A**hole" (AITAH) forum his doubts about confronting their 43-year-old uncle named Daniel, who hadn't repaid a $700 debt.

The confrontation came after several days had passed without repayment, just as his uncle Daniel was preparing to surprise his daughter Aisha with a Christmas vacation to the Maldives following her recovery from an accident.

During Aisha’s excited reaction to the surprise, the 22-year-old asked his uncle about the debt, leading to a moment of tension. Now, the original poster (OP) is wondering whether he really is an "a**hole" for bringing it up at the moment.

OP lends his uncle $700

On January 8, a Reddit user named Afro_Samurai-7 shared a post detailing a confrontation with his uncle over a $750 debt that hadn't been paid within the promised timeline. 

In a post titled "AITAH for confronting my uncle on a $700 debt while he brags to his family about a surprise vacation to Maldives for his daughter as a Christmas present?", the OP explains how his uncle, Daniel, had asked him for a loan because he "didn't have anyone else to ask." The user clarified that he wasn't rich, but he happened to have the amount Daniel needed at the time.

According to the Redditor, his uncle had explained that it was a serious situation. The OP continued, "According to him it was a serious situation that he couldn't approach or tell other guys in the family, and the issue needed to be addressed soon."

After much insistence, the Redditor agreed to lend him the money, with the understanding that it would be repaid before December, and without charging any interest. "He took it and gave me his word on paying it," the Redditor recalled.

OP details a series of discussions that happened at Christmas dinner with his uncle

However, months passed, and the OP didn't hear anything further. As Christmas dinner approached at their grandmother's house, he assumed his uncle might explain the delay, since the family gathered every year for the occasion.

The Redditor also mentioned that his cousin, Aisha (20), Daniel’s daughter, had recently undergone surgery, "My cousin Aisha, (20, Daniel's daughter) recently underwent surgery a while back as she really had it tough for the whole of last year while she recovered from a traumatic back injury from an accident." 

The Redditor added, "He began to speak on how his business took a really huge boost and long story short, how he has just cashed in a large profit from some deals. He looked at Aisha across the table and took out some brochure with some resort looking location and said it was a gift to her for her tough recovery from the incident."

The OP continued, "All I could see was Aisha visibly crazy excited. Someone asked what it was exactly, and Daniel said he was planning on taking Aisha and the rest of his family to the Maldives as a celebration on Aisha's accident recovery. Everyone was now happily cheering Aisha on her gift as it seemed it was something she always wanted to experience."

It was then that the Redditor, feeling frustrated, blurted out, "You can afford all that but not repay my debt, which you haven't said anything about?"

According to the OP, Daniel, taken aback, responded, "Why are you talking about that now of all places?"

"Now I was pissed, I reminded him In front of everyone on the exact amount and I told him the fact on how he wasn't even communicating on repaying it," the OP added.

The family fell silent in shock, with the OP's mother quickly changing the subject to avoid further tension.

The OP added, "Later on, in the evening my aunt, grandma, and some cousins began to lecture me on how I ruined Aisha's moment after her struggles and embarrassed my uncle in the process." 

The Redditor ended his post by saying that a week had passed and his uncle still hadn't paid or mentioned the debt. He asked, "AITAH for ruining the moment and asking for repayment?"

Internet backs 22-year-old OP as he didn't receive repayment from his uncle

After reading the entire situation, Redditors rallied behind the 22-year-old OP and criticized his uncle Daniel for failing to repay the amount he owed.

One social media user wrote, “NTA. Never loan money to family because they are never going to pay you back s**t. Your uncle sucks and you should feel free to talk s**t to his face until he pays you back (which will be never).”

Another wrote, “NTA. This situation came about because of him and his choices. At worst you’re a justified AH. Stop assuming. Start being assertive. Become more vocal about expecting payment and issue a deadline. Tell your family you heard their concerns but at present you need that money back and this is your repayment for doing a good dead for a family member?”

One person stated, “NTA. His a**holeness, especially in still not paying (thats a send the venmo now moment), overrides everything else. I would say have some grace with your fam cause yea, not best timing on your part but I think its 100% understandable.”

Another shared on Reddit, “NTA.Also if anyone comes at you again about “embarrassing” your uncle ask them if they plan on paying off his debt. If not they may wish to redirect their anger at the man who brags about his wealth with borrowed money.”

One individual commented, “NTA. You didn't ruin it by asking, he ruined it but not paying you back.”

Another added, “Nta he FAFO. In no universe did he expect you to stand up for yourself. I’d have paid to see it. Justified comeuppance tastes like cherries.”

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