Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Love isn’t a business transaction, but one boyfriend apparently didn’t get the memo. When one woman shared her story, the internet was left cringing and cheering her on after she dumped her boyfriend for giving her a performance review—just like a boss would with an employee. Instead of talking through relationship concerns like a normal person, he decided to critique her ‘performance’ as a girlfriend, complete with a folder of written notes. The reaction? Exactly what you’d expect.

The relationship audit no one asked for

The couple had been together for three years, living in a modest apartment that worked for them. According to the girlfriend, Mark always had quirks—like folding his socks into little balls and getting upset if she didn’t do it the same way.


"I deal with it because I love him, you know?" she said.

But recently, Mark had become obsessed with “optimizing” their lives, thanks to a string of self-help YouTube channels. The influencers he followed preached that “relationships are about ROI” and that partners should “add value” to each other’s lives.

So, naturally, he decided to put those theories into practice—with a relationship performance review.

"So last week, we’re eating dinner, and out of nowhere, he goes, 'I think we need to have a performance review for our relationship.' I’m like, 'A WHAT now?'" she recalled.

Representative photo by Eric Ward | Unsplash

The cringe-worthy ‘review’ that ended it all

At first, she thought he was joking, but when Mark pulled out a folder, she realized he was dead serious.

"This man wrote up a whole list of stuff I need to 'improve on' like I’m a bad employee or something."

His “constructive criticism” included points like:

  • "You’ve been slacking on cooking meals."
  • "Your gym attendance is inconsistent."
  • "You don’t fold my socks the right way, which shows a lack of attention to detail."

Her initial shock turned into anger when she asked if he had also reviewed his own performance. His response?

"Well, I don’t think that’s necessary because I’m already doing a lot."

media.giphy.com

She dumps him on the spot

Realizing that Mark truly saw their relationship as some kind of business contract, she refused to play along.

"I said, 'Mark, I’m your girlfriend, not your employee. And if you want 100%, maybe try being a 100% boyfriend first.' I grabbed the folder and threw it in the trash."

Instead of owning up to his bizarre behavior, Mark accused her of being “emotional” and “not open to constructive criticism.” His best friend even chimed in, saying she should have “heard him out” because it was a “unique approach” to relationships.

Needless to say, that “unique approach” got him dumped immediately.

Representative photo by Zoltan Tasi | Unsplash

Internet reacts: ‘Put him on a performance improvement plan’

Reddit users had a field day with this story, offering both support and savage suggestions for how she could have flipped the script on Mark.

Image Source: Reddit | u/sparksgirl1223

u/Stormy8888 suggested turning the tables:

"List all the areas he could improve to be a 100% boyfriend. For everything he put in his performance review about her, she should put in three or four bullet points where he has to improve."


Image Source: Reddit | u/corgi-king

Others recommended business-style revenge, with u/Spiritual_Region_841 proposing:

"Put him on a PIP (a performance improvement plan) and tell him he has one month to improve or he can go find a new job being a crappy boyfriend elsewhere."
— u/Spiritual_Region_841


media.giphy.com

u/spinjinn didn’t hold back either:

"At the top of the list put his tone-deaf and tactless way of approaching criticism, as evidenced by the fact that he thinks he didn’t need a report."

A breakup that felt more like ‘getting fired’

The girlfriend might have lost a boyfriend, but it’s clear she dodged a bullet.

If Mark’s idea of relationship communication involved spreadsheets and “constructive criticism”, it’s safe to say she’ll be better off without him.

Sometimes, the best performance review you can give is a “thanks, but no thanks.”

media.giphy.com

More For You

A basement under construction.

Representative image - These days the choice between a place of your own and a basement custom built for you by mom is pretty easy.

Photo by Cal David

Mom's basement makeover gives her daughters a rent-free start in life

How children leave the home varies across generations, cultures and even individual families. For some, turning 18 marks a race toward independence, while others linger in the nest until they're pushed out with a “good luck” and a swift kick in the rump. In today’s world of skyrocketing housing costs, however, many families are rethinking these norms, choosing support over separation.

One TikTok mom, @lxxndaa_, is breaking the mold by giving her daughters a head start—rent-free. In a viral video, she shared how she transformed her basement into a fully equipped apartment for her daughters. This move has earned her widespread admiration and over 16.6 million views.

Keep ReadingShow less
Widow refused to share inheritance as teen stepdaughter faces homelessness—backlash erupts
Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Mikhail Nilov; Reddit | u/Spiritual_Alps3413

Widow refused to share inheritance as teen stepdaughter faces homelessness—backlash erupts

Inheritance disputes often lead to heated debates, especially when a family is divided. One woman recently sparked outrage after revealing that she inherited her late husband’s entire estate—nearly a million dollars—without leaving anything for his 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

Posting on Reddit as u/Spiritual_Alps3413, the widow asked if she was wrong for keeping everything while her stepdaughter and her mother struggled to survive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chris Hemsworth's response to his daughter's big question deserves applause

Chris explains what happened.

Image from ellentube/YouTube video.

Chris Hemsworth's response to his daughter's big question deserves applause

Chris Hemsworth might be best known for swinging a hammer as the Norse god of thunder in “Thor: Ragnarok,” but when it comes to being a dad, he’s just as legendary. The 35-year-old actor and father-of-three had a standout parenting moment that proves he’s more than just a superhero on screen.

It started with a curious question from his daughter

In a 2015 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Hemsworth shared a story that starts with his daughter, 4-year-old India, having a very specific question about anatomy—and ends with a beautiful message about identity and acceptance.

Keep ReadingShow less
An image of a restaurant with the quote "This is my real smile..."

Representative Image: It's a wonder what one simple note can do.

A widower left a note with his tip, the waitress wasn’t ready for what it said

Amid all the noise and negativity that tends to dominate our days, moments of pure human kindness remind us how much good is still out there. And sometimes, it’s the simplest gestures—like good service at a restaurant—that carry the most emotional weight.

That’s exactly what happened to Megan King, a server at a Perkins Restaurant & Bakery in Yankton, South Dakota. She shared the emotional moment on X, where it quickly went viral and touched hundreds of thousands of hearts.

Keep ReadingShow less