No one wants to end a long-term friendship – but sometimes a rift is unavoidable. Experts suggest the most ethical ways to approach the conversation
In a recent viral video, New York psychologist Arianna Brandolini was called “callous” by some after she posted a TikTok guide to breaking up with a friend. While she claimed that phrases such as “I’ve treasured our season of friendship” and “I have no capacity to invest” could be useful, others disagreed. Some even found her approach so “cold and insincere”, they said they would rather be ghosted.
While the clinical approach is clearly not for everyone, leaving a friendship is rarely easy, no matter how you choose to do it. So, what are the best and most ethical options for ending it? Can you ever resolve your differences? And when is it essential to leave?
