Boyfriend Does Not Like My Male Friend: What Do I Do? - The Root

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(The Root) --

"My best friend is a guy I have known for almost seven years. We're former co-workers, and he now lives in a nearby state with his girlfriend. We're both busy with work and our relationships and don't speak very often, maybe once every other week. Mostly we text and send emails sporadically to keep in touch. Our friendship is strictly platonic, but my boyfriend of almost three years has suddenly become irrational and insecure, saying that he is 'uncomfortable' with me having a male best friend, and he has asked me to end that relationship. I cherish my relationship and my friendship and can't imagine giving up either. What do I do?" --T.E.

Despite the opinion of another popular relationship expert, I'm of the opinion that yes, men and women actually can be friends. I've had a male "best" friend, "Tariq," since 1998 and counting. We have a similar dynamic to the one you describe, in that our relationship is strictly platonic; he lives in my hometown (D.C.), and like you, we are both in relationships (he's married); and although we don't speak to or see each other often, I cherish his friendship and couldn't imagine not having him around.

So I completely understand your dilemma -- and yes, it can likely be solved in a way that allows you to keep your romantic relationship with your boyfriend and your platonic relationship with your "bestie" -- but it won't happen if you dismiss your boyfriend's real concerns as "irrational."

I keep putting "best" in quotes for a reason. As much as I do believe that men and women can be friends, I'm also of the belief that your significant other -- especially your spouse or a partner of multiple years -- should be your best friend. If you're heterosexual and closer to a member of the opposite sex than you are to your spouse, it raises the question, "Why aren't you with that person instead?"

It's interesting that your boyfriend has become insecure about your relationship after three years. Unless he just found out about this long-standing friendship --which would give him reason to be "uncomfortable" -- he's been OK with it all this time.

A guy who believes that "his" woman should have only female friends would usually reveal that while dating or very early on in the relationship. This new conflict leads me to believe that there's been a recent occurrence that has made your boyfriend ill at ease.

Source: http://www.theroot.com/views/my-man-wants-me-drop-my-male-bestie

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