Media personality and Genevieve Magazine founder, Betty Irabor, has shared a personal story from a wedding that left her reflecting on the importance of kindness and respect in marriage.
According to Betty, she and her husband, Soni Irabor, attended a wedding where they ran into one of Soni’s old classmates and his wife. While exchanging pleasantries, the man jokingly compared his wife’s looks to Betty’s — a remark that quickly changed the atmosphere.
“The husband turned to his wife and said, ‘Guess Auntie Betty’s age? She’s over 60 — ten years older than you! See her and see yourself!’” Betty recounted.
The statement instantly dampened the mood, leaving the wife visibly uncomfortable. Betty said her husband had to quietly caution his friend, while she tried to make the woman feel at ease again.
Using the incident as a teachable moment, the 67-year-old author reminded men that comparing their wives to other women — whether jokingly or seriously — is emotionally damaging.
“Putting your partner down, whether publicly or privately, is a form of emotional abuse. It chips away at her self-esteem, layer by layer,” she wrote.
Betty further emphasized that everyone ages differently, and the physical toll of life’s challenges affects people in unique ways. She advised couples to speak words that uplift rather than tear down their partners.
“A woman who constantly endures criticism and comparison from her husband soon loses her light. Her laughter becomes guarded,” she concluded.
