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Home • Relationships

Why I Cheated: Women Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions

These brave readers come clean to ESSENCE about when and why they cheated.
By Charli Penn · Updated October 27, 2020
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01
‘Fess Up

Sometimes the only way to move on is to come clean. Read along as readers who committed an indiscretion anonymously spill the beans.

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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02
Dorm Daze

“I once slept with my boyfriend’s college roommate while he went out to get us breakfast. There was a lot of chemistry between us and it all just happened so fast. I felt so bad when he returned that I almost threw up. I told him months later and he couldn’t forgive me. I don’t blame him.” – W.W

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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03
Funny Seeing You Here

“My current boyfriend was out of town for the weekend and I bumped into an ex from way-way back while shopping at a nearby Target. We talked in his car in the parking lot for hours and I’m not proud of what happened next. Never told a soul but it happened.” – T.S

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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04
Sorry, Honey!

“I cheated on my husband because I was tired of him watching porn instead of watching anything I ever did. He liked the porn more than me at that time, so I found something I liked more than him. I ended the affair and we’re both in a better place now. I don’t think he suspects anything but it will always weigh heavy on my heart.” – A.L.

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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05
On Second That

“I cheated on my boyfriend just because he wasn’t giving me enough attention at the time. Then along came *Mike, this charming guy and I fell for him at hello. We’re together now but I regret everything that ever happened then. Later on he still discovered that I cheated on him.” – C.H.

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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06
Close Call

“I cheated on my ex-boyfriend because he was a cheater himself. I was getting even with him. But it turned out very badly. He almost killed me when he found out, so I had to leave him.”

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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07
Two Can Play That Game

“I must admit that I have cheated before. I met this man I thought was the perfect guy for me. He had everything my mate was missing so I started a relationship with him. Come to find out, the guy was already married. But by the time I found out I was already so in love with him. To make a long story short, I separated from my mate to be this man’s sidepiece for two years. I soon found out that he was cheating on me. I went back to my guy and left that man alone. It doesn’t pay to cheat. It might feel good in the beginning, but in the end, it hurts everyone.” – A.F.

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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08
Where Is the Love?

“I cheated on my boyfriend because I felt neglected. Whenever I wanted to hang out with him, he said he just wasn’t feeling up to going out. I cheated on him with the guy I met during the first year I dated my boyfriend. I felt guilty immediately and whenever I was with him I couldn’t look him in the eyes. That’s how scared I was. I felt like my boyfriend knew that I was cheating on him. Now we’re no longer dating.” – L.  For more cheating confessions from real women, pick up the May 2014 issue of ESSENCE magazine, on stands now.

Readers Reveal Their Biggest Cheating Confessions
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