A woman says she is planning to sue her parents after they took money that was put aside for her education and spent it on her brother's wedding.
The unnamed woman, who lives in the US, took to the popular Reddit forum 'AmItheAsshole' last week to anonymously share her grievances under the username u/Accomplished_Bar5656.
In the subreddit, which allows people to anonymously seek strangers' advice on their most pressing moral conundrums, u/Accomplished_BAr5656 began by titling her dilemma, "AITA [am I the asshole] for suing my parents for my college money?"
Beginning her story, the woman explained that her great-aunt had established savings accounts for her nieces and grandnieces to ensure they had a fair chance at an education, adding: "In our culture education for women is not really valued and she thought that was bulls**t."
She went on to claim that her parents recently managed to access both her and her sister's trust funds, using a significant portion of the money to fund her brother's wedding.
"They used it to pay for my brother's wedding. My sister didn't care because she got married two years out of high school and had no intention of going to college," the woman said.
"When I graduated I went to the bank to get money for school and it was almost all gone. There was like [US]$13,000 left.
"I asked my parents about it and they said they needed the money. I finally found out where the money went. I got furious. I got student loans and moved out. I am a great source of shame to them and I don't give two f***s."
She claimed she is currently suing her parents in a bid to win back the money that had been left for her education, but the move has turned her entire family against her.
"They all think I am a complete asshole for airing private family business in public and that I am putting money ahead of [my] family. My friends are all on my side but they are all Americans and don't really get my culture. Neither do I to be honest," she continued.
"My brother called me up and offered to pay for my university if I [dropped] the lawsuit. I agreed as long as we had a legally binding contract. He said I was being an asshole for not trusting him. I said he should not have accepted my money for his wedding. It is causing all kinds of embarrassment in our community."
She concluded: "I am somewhat ashamed to be doing this but I don't want to have this debt I should not have."
The post has since amassed almost 40,000 upvotes, with thousands of people taking to the comments to confirm that u/Accomplished_Bar5656 is not the asshole in the situation. Many reassured her that suing her parents was the right thing to do, offering words of support and encouragement as well as sharing their own similar experiences.
"NTA [not the asshole]. Your parents didn't borrow your money. They stole it. I hope you have all the documents to show that money was yours. Your brother is also the AH for trying to get you to drop a lawsuit with what is most likely a lie. If you have a chance to start life without student debt you do whatever you can to do that," one wrote.
Responding to the comment, the woman confirmed the student law centre at her university is helping her with her case, adding: "I have proof that the money was mine. I am trying to do everything I can so this does not become a criminal matter.
"I'm getting help from my university. I guess I'm not the first student with this problem."
A second weighed in: "They think you are an asshole for holding them accountable for their awful actions. They thought you would be a pushover, but you are showing them you're not. Your great-aunt would be proud of you. And you aren't the one putting money ahead of family. They did when they stole your money."
A third added: "Your parents and your brother had the opportunity to keep this a private matter when you told them you would sue them if they didn't return the money or pay for your schooling. Since you have already been betrayed by family members you trusted, your brother should not be offended that you want a written contract."
"She set up that fund precisely to stop this kind of sexist preferential treatment. Do it," said a fourth, with a fifth agreeing: "The fact the money was setup specifically so the FEMALES could get an education and then it was stolen to be used for a MALES wedding is just all kinds of extra messed up… Get your money OP!"
When one user asked how much money had been stolen, u/Accomplished_Bar5656 replied: "Enough that both my sister and I could have finished our undergraduate degrees without debt."
As users speculated on the amount of money that had been stolen, many agreed it would be enough to warrant jail time and was indeed a criminal matter.
