A woman’s disappointment over a Christmas gift has snowballed into a full-blown relationship debate online.
On December 27, 2025, a TikTok user, @223in2023, also known as Cloe, shared a video that has garnered over 8.3 million views, explaining why the mug her fiancé bought her wasn’t what she wanted.
What began as a seemingly harmless unboxing quickly turned into heated discourse among the viewers, who overwhelmingly criticized the woman.
“Her lack of communication is not his problem,” said one user.
“Not what I was going for”: A woman from NYC documented her fiancé’s failed mug gift on TikTok
Image credits: 223in2023
In the video, Cloe explained that she had asked her fiancé for “one very specific gift,” a latte mug shaped more like a bowl.
“I want, like, a bowl, a mug that’s like a bowl,” she said, cupping her hands to illustrate the shape she had in mind. Before opening the box, she told viewers, “I’m gonna unbox on camera and see if he got it right.”
Image credits: 223in2023
When she revealed the mug, her reaction was immediate.
“Oh, that’s not… that’s not what it looks like,” she said, visibly deflated. “This is not at all what I wanted. Whomp. Whomp. Not what I was going for.”
Meanwhile, her fiancé, who was off-camera, didn’t miss the shift in her tone. “You clearly don’t [like it],” he replied after she half-heartedly tried to recover with, “No, I like it.”
Image credits: 223in2023
Although Cloe later explained in the caption that her fiancé knew it was “a shot in the dark” and that she was grateful he tried, viewers weren’t convinced, as several began to question what the moment revealed about their relationship.
The internet debates over a woman posting her fiancé’s failed efforts online
Image credits: 223in2023
The backlash was swift and brutal as a large portion of viewers felt Cloe’s disappointment came off as unnecessarily public.
“Imagine getting someone a gift, and they laugh at you and say ‘whomp whomp,’” one commenter wrote.
Others pointed out what they saw as a communication failure. “She should’ve just sent him a picture of what she actually wanted,” said one netizen.
Image credits: 223in2023
Meanwhile, some commenters sympathized with the fiancé, arguing that her description was vague. “Guys, wtf is a French latte bowl and how was he supposed to know what that is?” one person asked. “I sure as hell don’t, so I don’t blame him.”
But the most dramatic reactions were focused on the relationship itself, as several detractors warned the guy to “run.”
“Buddy, run before it is too late. Don’t ask for the ring back, just run!” one echoed.
Despite Cloe’s disappointment, she was grateful for her fiancé’s efforts
Not everyone thought Cloe was at fault. A handful of commenters defended her honesty.
“I think he did great due to the description she gave him,” one wrote, while another said, “She wanted a LARGE bowl mug that looks cool. Easy peasy.”
“Not a latte mug, all he needed to do was Google it,” added a third commentator.
Apparently, Cloe’s video isn’t an isolated case, as social media has been flooded with posts where people publicly vent about their partners’ shortcomings.
The viral “bad fiancé” posts are becoming a recurring internet phenomenon
Over the years, several viral stories have featured women sharing humiliating gifts from their fiancé.
For instance, one woman shared that her partner brought her groceries as a Christmas present, which sat unrefrigerated under the tree for two days.
Another incident noted a boyfriend who surprised his partner by shaving her ba**s, while another cut off his dreads as a gift for his girlfriend’s birthday.
@223in2023I fear I’m the cuff link guy, but side note if anyone knows what I’m talking about and has links, send them my way. Also I promise he’s not upset about this, he knew it was a shot in the dark because I was being so confusing, also I’m very grateful that he really tried to see my vision♬ original sound – Cloe
In many cases, commenters weren’t just critiquing the gift; they were actually diagnosing the relationship.
One netizen bluntly summed up the trend on Cloe’s video, “The bad husband posts where the woman doesn’t want to hear it is a cultural thing.”
From gifting a waist trainer to a can of dairy cold foam, the internet is quick to turn everyday relationship moments into cautionary tales.
“He followed directs perfectly,” said one netizen
