A freelance journalist's first post-lockdown date descended into a cringe-worthy argument after her companion attempted to 'mansplain' the title of a Louis Theroux documentary series to her.
A promising match turns sour
The woman, then 23, had matched with a man in STEM on Bumble in December 2025. After connecting online, they arranged to meet at her local pub once restrictions lifted, marking her first date since the pandemic began. She spent hours preparing, hopeful for a new connection.
However, the encounter quickly faltered. After a brief exchange about her journalism career, which he met with a disinterested "Oh," he dominated the conversation for 25 minutes detailing his job, without asking her a single question in return. The conversation topics included what she described as "disgusting rugby initiations" from his time at a top university.
The 'Weird Weekends' showdown
After several glasses of wine, the journalist finally steered the talk to television, revealing she had been bingeing Louis Theroux's documentaries during lockdown. Her date immediately interjected.
"You know it's Weird Wednesdays, right?" he said with a smirk. When she gently corrected him, insisting it was called Weird Weekends, he shot her a pitying look. "No," he insisted. "It's Weird Wednesdays. I'd know – I watched it weekly, when it first came out."
The pair then bickered about the correct title for half an hour. "With all due respect, it's my favourite of Louis' series," she told him, pointing out her professional perspective as a journalist. He remained unconvinced.
The awkward aftermath and a lesson learned
The date ended soon after, with the journalist leaving her heels in his car. The next day, he texted to return them, adding, "I had a great time and I'd love to see you again this weekend." Despite friends urging her to give him another chance, she never replied.
Reflecting on the experience five years later at age 27, the journalist says it now makes her laugh. She states she would now leave immediately if a man tried to correct her in such a way on a date. While she wishes him well and admits feeling slightly guilty for finding him boring, she concluded he simply wasn't for her.
The story serves as a stark reminder that even with preparation and good intentions, a connection can be irreparably damaged by condescension, especially on a topic one is passionate about. For this journalist, mansplaining Louis Theroux was completely "unforgivable".
