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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/big_replication on 2023-06-23 13:56:45+00:00.

Main characters in this story are me (27F)and my aunt (50F).

My aunt is obsessed with the British royal family, and she read some tabloid article saying the royals have a Christmas tradition where everyone gets weighed when they arrive at the palace, and then weighed again after dinner, and whoever gained the most weight “wins” because it means they had the best time.

It’s my aunt’s 50th birthday next week, and she and her husband are having a massive summer garden party to celebrate. My aunt decided that she wants to take the opportunity to emulate the royals, so she’s sent a big WhatsApp to all the guests saying that we’ll need to step on a scale at the front door when we arrive, and then again on our way out, and then whoever gains the most will be announced and get some cake to take home as a prize.

I’ve struggled with an eating disorder for over a decade. This something that most people in my family are aware of, because I was hospitalised 2 years ago. I’m in recovery now but I can barely handle weighing myself on my own, much less in front of anyone else.

I messaged my aunt privately letting her know that I wouldn’t be doing the weighing thing. She didn’t reply, but instead called my mom… So then my mom called me, and basically said she understood my perspective but that it shouldn’t “kill me” to just “suck it up and not cause any drama.” Apparently my aunt argued that it would look weird if one person didn’t participate, because her plan is to have a whiteboard set up in the hallway where everyone’s weights will be recorded and she doesn’t want people to notice that I wouldn’t be included.

My mom also pointed out that it might cause more gossip about my weight (and past hospitalisation) if I came to the party and refused to participate. So now I’m also stressed about that, plus I can imagine my aunt complaining to everyone at the party about me, and I feel like having a complete panic attack whenever I think about it. I messaged my aunt saying I wouldn’t be attending the party, which only caused her to become even angrier and now she’s venting to everyone in the family that I’m a selfish drama queen.

My mom is on my side and says she won’t push me to go, but I can tell she’s upset because she hates it when there’s any drama in the family, especially between her and her sister. So now I just feel really guilty that my stupid body issues have caused all this fighting.

AITA for not just dealing with it and getting weighed like everyone else?