A childhood friend sold his business a year ago and bought a big yacht on the sound near where we both grew up. I also have a modest home nearby but nothing like his. For his birthday bash he pulled out all the stops, actually hiring some 90s rock celebs to be on his boat. I’m just kinda tired of the guy so I made up a white lie about being out of town. I wanted to spend the weekend relaxing with family and decompressing from a long hard work week. Anyway, his boat came by my place. He texted me a telephoto pic of me on my deck drinking a glass of wine. He called me an asshole for lying to him, and missing this “important” celebration. I’m just tired of him flaunting his wealth. Doesn’t seem like the guy I once knew, but I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings. AITH?
Edits: fixed typos
You’re the asshole to the normal extent that anyone who makes an excuse to skip a party is an asshole.
That being said, a party thrown by someone who is trying to be conspicuously wealthy is an excuse to drink for free, so skipping it is kind of lame.
I’m sorry, but one has no obligations beyond themselves. I’d rather pay for a nice bottle of my own wine than be trapped on some douche canoe’s mega douche canoe.
You are not the asshole. White lies were invented by god to get out of friends’ parties. Using a telescope to spy on you, on the other hand, is a bit of an asshole move.