Facts, Faith & Fidelity

Published: 12th June 2025

Category: Relationships


I could never hurt her the way she hurt me. That’s the difference between love and betrayal.
— Steve Maraboli



In one of the most polarizing moments of Indian celebrity culture, a popular female actor’s candid confession during a televised interview, where she admitted to “seeing other men” while being in a committed relationship, sparked a massive public backlash. While self-proclaimed progressives applauded her honesty, most viewers, especially men, viewed it as a betrayal not just of her partner but of the very values of trust and commitment in relationships.

But this moment wasn’t just about a celebrity anecdote. It revealed something deeper; an unsettling truth about modern relationships. At the core of this discussion lies an age-old but profound truth:

Maternity is a fact. Paternity is faith.

This statement looks simple, and some may even call it outdated due to technological advances in paternity testing. But what must be remembered is that the foundations of male-female relationships in most societies evolved under the shadow of this biological imbalance.

A woman always knows the child is hers. A man believes it to be his, based on her word. This biological asymmetry has existed for ages. Many social norms that sought to regulate female sexuality can be traced back to this biological uncertainty.

In other words, a man’s trust in the word of his wife is the bedrock of his relationship with her and with the child. It’s the main motivation for him to strive and to provide and protect for his wife and family.

If we look at history from this point of view, it makes sense why civilization developed many concepts and structures now considered archaic or oppressive:

      - Honor
      - Virginity
      - Marriage
      - Fidelity
      - Territoriality
      - Patriarchy
to name a few.

Even the tradition of attaching the father’s name to the child is an attempt to counter this inequality imposed by nature.

Their primary purpose wasn’t oppression, but to create structures that balanced this evolutionary gap. Yes, some people misused them, leading to the exploitation of women. But the original intent of creating these structures and norms was to give men a sense of certainty in a world where they could never be fully sure.

Cheating is wrong, regardless of gender.

But what is equally true is that the consequences of betrayal aren’t equal, because the biological stakes never were. The social expectation of fidelity wasn't about controlling women. It was about preserving men’s faith in lineage, loyalty, and love, and thereby confirming their accountability. A man’s trust reposed in his partner must be respected for him to work on the marriage. A common source of conflict in modern relationships stems from perceived breaches of emotional or physical trust.

For all those who feel that this is conjecture, look at some data points. The number one cause for domestic violence and homicide against women is infidelity or suspected infidelity. Below chart is derived from data published in the guardian (based on a 2024 study on male-perpetrated violence against women.)

Infidelity / Suspected Infidelity is the largest cause of male perpetrated violence against females

If you combine infidelity/suspected infidelity with patriarchal cultural norms, it accounts for more than half—around 55%—of all cases.



Domestic violence and homicide are not being justified here; this is an attempt to examine the underlying causes.

Loss of trust in their partner is the largest trigger for violence in men.

So in a world today where women have full autonomy, and old systems of moral restraint are being rejected; what replaces the sanctity of men’s belief? That’s the real question.

The now-infamous statement “I was seeing other men while committed” --- was framed casually. But for many men watching, including her husband who sat beside her during that televised moment, it hit like a gut punch. It confirmed a long-feared suspicion: that even loyalty is now optional, and commitment can be redefined unilaterally.

Imagine being in that husband’s place: someone who stood by her, defended her, loved her openly. Now, as the cameras roll and laughter echoes, he's reduced to the “nice guy” (“cuck” as labeled by the netizens) who waited while she “explored” other options. Some might frame it as “progressive love,” but in plain terms—it was betrayal.

This isn’t about slut-shaming or moral rigidity. It’s about emotional betrayal disguised as empowerment. Cheating should be judged equally across both sexes. What we’re seeing is a symptom of a larger trend: where modern feminism no longer demands equality, but immunity from accountability. It tells women they can do no wrong, that every past behavior was “just a phase,” and that men should adjust, forgive, and even applaud.

A man’s loyalty is his love language. He sacrifices, builds, provides, protects. And in return, he seeks what little evolutionary certainty he can—fidelity. When even that is mocked, he begins to feel there’s no safe place left for his heart or his efforts.

Because paternity is based on belief, men need trust more than women do. They need consistency and assurance. They need to know that their efforts won’t go in vain. Most importantly; they need peace of mind. When cultural narratives suggest that a woman can experiment while still being “committed,” or that monogamy is outdated, that belief begins to crack.

Over time, these cracks grow into emotional withdrawal, distrust, cynicism, or even anger, emotions that, if left unaddressed, can lead to unhealthy outcomes.

This isn’t toxic masculinity. It is wounded masculinity. It’s men silently realizing that in the new world, they’re playing a game where the rules change mid-match. And the worst part? Even the laws being developed are against men. When betrayal happens, she’s empowered. When he reacts, he’s dangerous. The law assumes her fear and dismisses his heartbreak and loss.

This is not equality. It’s institutional gaslighting. That one televised moment wasn’t just celebrity gossip. It was a window into the emotional chaos of the modern male. A man today no longer knows where he stands. He can give everything for his partner and still be Plan B.

Yes, maternity is knowledge and paternity is faith.

But when that faith is constantly tested, ridiculed, broken, and betrayed… don’t be surprised when more men stop believing in the system altogether and rebel against it—a la Andrew Tate. To all readers who are still not convinced, ask yourself this question. Why is there such a large eager audience for what he has to say? Rest assured, ignoring this question would be more dangerous than anything Andrew Tate himself can preach. But that’s another story for later.

As for the tv show episode itself, it remains one of the most watched and rewatched episodes of the series /seasons and labeled by the netizens as the story of "A Twink, A Cuck and A Hoe who stole the show"