Update, 12/16/2019:
The anonymous woman who claimed she caught her husband cheating via a restaurant review has told The Washington Post that she made the story up as a joke. "I think I had just come home from happy hour," she said. The Post said that it confirmed the woman's identity by asking her to post another comment and matching her IP address to the original claim. Identifying herself only as a "40-year-old lawyer," she said that the prank was motivated by her previous experiences with cheating. "I've used a lot of dating apps, and there are a lot of married men on them," she said. "Those men ask you out to public places," she said. "And I'm like, 'What are you thinking?'"
Here's the original story:
The day before Thanksgiving, The Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema gave readers an opportunity to ask him questions via an online chat. Most of the questions were what you'd expect: "Where can you find the best risotto in Washington, D.C.?" "What's a good place for a second or third date?" And then, nestled among all of the predictable recommendation requests was a comment from a woman who caught her husband cheating thanks to one of Sietsema's recent reviews.
"Well, Tom, your latest review is accompanied by a picture of my husband dining with a woman who isn't me!" she wrote. "Once confronted with photographic evidence, he confessed to having an ongoing affair. Just thought you'd be amused to hear of your part in the drama. This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful to you for exposing a cheat!"
Sietsema replied saying he hoped this was a "crank post," then shared the comment on Twitter with the warning, "Cheaters, take heed!"
So, this popped up on my live online food chat today. Cheaters, take heed!
— Tom Sietsema (@tomsietsema) November 27, 2019
Many Twitter users speculated that the comment was either made-up or a sign that, thanks to the internet, it's impossible to not get caught cheating these days. But, according to one Twitter user, this is something that used to happen in the days of print as well.
Happened to someone I knew in Philadelphia, years ago. The Inquirer would print a picture on the first warm day of spring, showing a scene of springtime. One time it was two lovers under a tree, holding hands. Only they were married to other people. Front page.
— elaine potwardoski (@potwardoski) November 27, 2019
Washington City Paper food editor Laura Hayes also posted the comment from Sietsema's chat and her followers quickly got to sleuthing.
Here are the suspects. Pick out the cheater!
— Dane Venable (@iamthedane2) November 27, 2019
This might be the most excited the internet has gotten over a restaurant review in a long time.
Me trying to find the photo in question!!
— Christabel (@wheresbel) November 27, 2019
At the very least, it's certainly more drama than you'd expect from a Q&A with a food critic!
Everyone, and I mean ev-er-y-one, in these comments:
— Jessica All[opinions my own]sberg (@jessicsm) November 27, 2019
At least the woman sounds like a much happier party of one! And for another unbelievable tale of infidelity, check out: Bride Reads Groom's Cheating-Related Texts Aloud at Her Wedding, Goes Viral.
Diana Bruk Diana is a senior editor who writes about sex and relationships, modern dating trends, and health and wellness.Read moreFiled UnderCheating • Marriage • NewsRead This Next17 Dumb Ways Men Have Been Busted Cheating
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