A viral Reddit post has sparked widespread debate about whether a woman should go ahead with her plans to marry her fiance, after she walked out of her birthday dinner, furious over what she described as him publicly humiliating her.

Speaking to Newsweek, California-based licensed clinical social worker Lisa Franks said the fiance had turned what should have been a private conversation into a spectacle, which can be embarrassing.

The woman shared her ordeal to the platform under u/WarmSophie on April 8. To date, the post has been upvoted more than 28,000 times, resonating with readers who questioned the appropriateness of the fiance’s surprise topic of conversation.

The post detailed the moment the woman’s fiance, Brian, made a dramatic announcement during a birthday dinner he had organized.

“Dinner’s going fine, food’s good, I’m chilling, and then right before dessert Brian stands up and starts doing this whole speech about how proud he is of me and how he got me a gift that’ll change my life, then he says he paid off my student loans,” the woman said.

Initially overwhelmed with gratitude, the woman described tearing up, with guests applauding and her mother crying, but the mood quickly soured.

“Then he adds that he only paid off half of it, and that the other half is on me because he wants me to learn how to be financially responsible and not rely on other people to fix my problems,” the poster added. “I just sat there frozen, then I stood up, took my purse, and walked right out.”

Brian, she said, chased after her, insisting his intent was not to embarrass her but to be helpful. Some people in their social circle felt she had overreacted, saying that Brian “meant well.” Franks, however, stressed that “intention doesn’t cancel out impact.”

“Paying off a partner’s student loans, even partially, is a big gesture. But when that gesture is paired with a public lesson about ‘financial responsibility,’ it stops being a gift and starts becoming a performance,” Franks said. “Instead of feeling loved, the birthday girl was put on display and her financial history became a punchline.

“When you’re in a relationship, especially one heading toward marriage, respect for your partner’s dignity has to come first,” Franks added.

The Reddit user ended her post expressing frustration: “If you wanna help, just help, don’t use it to humiliate me in front of 20 people.”

Viewers on the platform have largely sided with her, with some even questioning whether Brian is the right man for her.

“In your story you wrote that he did something thoughtful ‘for once,’ are you sure you should be marrying this man?” one viewer said. “He made a joke about your situation in front a load of people so I would have to question whether he’s right for you at all?”

“Here’s a teachable moment for him: Leave your ring and move out! He doesn’t deserve you. The nerve of this guy is unbelievable! He thinks this public display is acceptable? Far from it,” another added.

“Least you now know Brian ain’t worth marrying if he’s willing embarrass and hurt you in public hate to see what it’s like in private,” a third viewer posted.

Franks added: “Walking out wasn’t an overreaction. It was a boundary, and boundaries aren’t about punishment; they’re about protecting your emotional safety.”

“Brian may have meant well,” she continued. “But meaning well isn’t a free pass, especially not when the moment that was supposed to celebrate you left you feeling small.”

Newsweek reached out to u/WarmSophie for more information via Reddit.

Have you noticed any red flags that made you end a relationship? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.