Breakups are never easy, and when an ex turns downright malicious, they become the kind of evil exes that make you reconsider ever dating again.

Why Evil Exes Can Be So Dangerous

10 Missed Call

In Rotterdam back in late 2011, a 42‑year‑old woman was arrested for obsessively stalking her former boyfriend. Besides flooding his inbox with texts and emails, she dialed his number an average of 178 times a day—for an entire year. That adds up to roughly 65,000 calls, which works out to a call roughly every ten minutes if she slept eight hours a night. She was released on bail with the condition to stay away, briefly obeyed, then fell back into the habit. The man insists they never dated, while she claims they were together the whole time, but one thing’s clear: her persistence was over the line.

9 David Simmons

The rise of revenge porn has turned heartbreak into a digital nightmare. In a particularly twisted case, 57‑year‑old David Simmons of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, decided to weaponise intimate photos of his ex‑girlfriend as Christmas cards. After a rough breakup, he mailed the explicit images to her relatives during the holiday season. Some recipients opened the cards; most intercepted them. Simmons initially claimed ignorance, but eventually pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence in 2009.

8 Tracy Davies

Newcastle’s Tracy Davies turned a simple birthday kiss into a horror story. After learning she wasn’t pregnant, she begged her boyfriend, Mark Coghill, for a kiss to lift her spirits. When he obliged, she bit down hard on his tongue, refusing to release it despite his screams. The bite ripped off the top third of his tongue, which she later spat on the floor. Mark called an ambulance himself, and Tracy was arrested after confessing. The injury left him with lasting speech and taste issues, and she was sentenced to three years in prison.

7 Byron Stokely

Divorced and desperate, Byron Stokely asked his ex‑wife, Terri Thompson, if he could crash on her couch while he looked for a job. She agreed, but when Byron tried to coerce her into a new relationship, she said no. In a fit of rage, he doused her face with boiling oil and beat her with a pot, leaving her with third‑degree burns on her arm and face and second‑degree burns elsewhere. He fled the scene, later dying in the Passaic River. Terri, left without insurance, set up a recovery fund that has struggled to meet its goal.

6 Dominique Fisher

Wayne Robinson and 22‑year‑old Dominique Fisher met one drunken night in June 2008 and spent the weekend together in Blackburn, England. The next morning, Wayne awoke to find Dominique snoring beside him, his body covered in his own blood. She had used a Stanley knife to carve intricate designs—and even her name—into his arms and back while he slept, after mixing Valium with alcohol. Wayne fled and called the police; Dominique claimed he’d asked for the “tattoo.” A jury found her guilty in under thirty minutes, but she received a two‑year community order instead of jail time.

5 Agustin Garcia

Wedding invitations can be a minefield when exes are involved. When Gladys Ricart chose not to invite her former boyfriend, 49‑year‑old Agustin Garcia, he showed up on her wedding day in Ridgefield, New Jersey, and opened fire. He shot Ricart dead just as the final pre‑wedding photos were being taken. Garcia claimed shock over the marriage and alleged a recent intimate encounter, but a plethora of witnesses and video evidence contradicted his story. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

4 Toni Jo Silvey

After 62‑year‑old Peter Main dumped his 49‑year‑old girlfriend, Toni Jo Silvey, she decided revenge was a full‑time job. Over three months she sent him 712 emails and made 1,001 phone calls. She also egged his house repeatedly, posting the mess on Facebook, and even attacked his windows with a tire‑iron and a 5‑foot sword. To cap it off, she rammed his car and garage door with her truck, and after police warned her to stay away, she returned with more eggs.

3 Erbie Bowser

When veteran Erbie Bowser snapped in August 2013, his fury spread to two former partners. First, he stormed the home of his ex‑girlfriend, 43‑year‑old Toya Smith, killing her and her 17‑year‑old daughter; Smith’s 14‑year‑old son and a 17‑year‑old friend were injured. He then drove fifteen minutes to his estranged wife Zina’s house, tossed an explosive inside, and shot both Zina and her 28‑year‑old daughter, injuring Zina’s two sons. In 2017, a jury rejected his low‑sodium defense, handing him a life sentence without parole.

2 Catherine Kieu

In July 2011, 48‑year‑old Catherine Kieu decided her 51‑year‑old husband “deserved” a gruesome punishment. She drugged him with Ambien‑laced food, tied him to the bed, and then cut off his penis, tossing the severed part into a garbage disposal. Police rescued the man, but doctors could not reattach the organ. Kieu was sentenced to seven years to life, making her eligible for parole in 2020.

1 Jebidiah James Stipe

Former Marine Jebidiah James Stipe engineered a nightmare for his ex‑girlfriend, Sarah Kostovny. In 2009 he posted five Craigslist ads pretending to be a woman with a rape fantasy, attracting 161 responses. He eventually connected with Ty Oliver McDowell, who believed he was communicating with the real woman. McDowell broke into Kostovny’s home, held her at gunpoint, and raped her. He later emailed the entire episode to Stipe, who was still posing as his ex. Both men received 60‑year‑to‑life sentences; McDowell, a husband and father, now claims he forgives Stipe.

When it comes to the top 10 worst dating experiences, love can quickly turn into a series of bizarre, cringe‑worthy moments that leave you questioning humanity.

Why These Are the Top 10 Worst Dating Disasters

From clogged toilets to fatal kisses, each tale below showcases how a simple meetup can spiral into a nightmarish saga. Buckle up, because these stories are as outrageous as they are unforgettable.

10 Next Time, Use A Plunger

Liam Smith thought his Bristol evening was shaping up perfectly. He had matched with a girl on Tinder, enjoyed a nice dinner together, and then decided to keep the momentum going back at his flat with a bottle of wine and a Netflix binge.

Mid‑movie, his date announced she needed a quick minute in the bathroom and promptly proceeded to take a dump. When she tried to flush, the toilet refused to cooperate, leaving her mortified and desperate not to ruin the mood with a floating mess.

In a panic, she seized the offending waste and attempted to hurl it out the window. Unfortunately, the window was a sealed double‑pane unit, so the poo simply rolled down the inner pane and framed itself like an unwanted portrait.

Desperate to retrieve the evidence, she reached into the gap between the panes, only to become stuck. The fire department was summoned, dismantled the window, and finally freed her. When asked if he’d consider a second date, Smith dead‑panned, “We’ve already cleared the toughest hurdle first.”

9 The Kiss Of Death

Romance inside a prison’s guest area is a complicated affair, especially when guards loom nearby. Anthony Powell, a life‑sentence inmate for killing his mother‑in‑law, met his new girlfriend Melissa Ann Blair through a mutual contact named Brandy Pokovich.

Melissa, who specialized in dating convicts via social media, visited Powell at Oregon State Penitentiary. Their goodbye seal was a passionate kiss that seemed straight out of a thriller.

Unbeknownst to the guards, Melissa slipped seven tiny meth‑filled balloons into Anthony’s mouth, planning for him to later retrieve them from the bathroom toilet. The balloons, however, ruptured inside his stomach, delivering a lethal dose.

Powell died from an overdose, and the court held both parties responsible, sentencing Melissa to two years behind bars plus mandatory drug and mental‑health treatment.

8 Mismatched

Darlene Daggett, a high‑ranking executive at QVC, struggled to find time for romance after four children and a divorce. She turned to Los Angeles‑based matchmaker Amber Kelleher‑Andrews, who charges $150,000 for access to a curated database of vetted singles.

Daggett paid the hefty fee and embarked on a string of disastrous dates. One suitor confessed he was still married, yet his terminally ill wife forced him to wait for her death before moving on.

Another encounter involved a New York judge fresh from a scandal for sleeping with an attorney; he collapsed from heart complications during their first meeting. A third date was with a married man who, after being rejected, began stalking her and later stole $10 million from an unrelated party.

The final blow came when an Australian entrepreneur whisked her away to Costa Rica and Panama, only to ghost her with the excuse, “I need to go dark,” claiming he was an Interpol spy. Daggett eventually sued Andrews for a full refund of her $150,000 investment.

7 I Am Groot?

Brandon Vezmar’s first date with a Bumble match took place during a 3‑D showing of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Unfortunately, his date spent the entire film glued to her phone, texting nonstop.

When Vezmar politely asked her to stop, she ignored him. He warned that if she needed to use her phone, she should step out into the lobby or risk being escorted out, prompting her to abandon the date entirely and leave him stranded.

Vezmar responded by filing a small‑claims suit for $17.31 – the exact cost of his ticket – claiming the texting was his biggest pet peeve. He told reporters, “It was like the date from hell.”

The woman later countered, saying Vezmar’s odd behavior made her uncomfortable, that she had to reply to a friend’s crisis, and that she kept her phone low to avoid bothering anyone. She also claimed he began contacting her family for the money, prompting her to seek a restraining order.

6 Absolutely No Chill

Lindy Lou Layman, a classic Texas beauty and court reporter, landed a date with successful attorney Anthony Buzbee. Their first evening took a wild turn when Layman became heavily intoxicated at Buzbee’s mansion.

In a fit of unexplained rage, she drenched Buzbee’s priceless artworks – sloshing red wine over an original Andy Warhol, ripping a Renoir and a Monet from the walls, and flinging two sculptures across the room.

Buzbee ordered an Uber to get her out, but instead of leaving, Layman hid in a hidden room, forcing Buzbee to call the police. He later estimated the damage at roughly $300,000. The motive behind her fury remains a mystery, though Buzbee’s close ties to Donald Trump and a 2016 fundraiser at his $14 million home have been noted.

5 Material Girl

Chris Thompson, a YouTube creator behind the series Tinder Terrors, recounted a bizarre encounter with a woman in her forties. After a dinner at a fancy restaurant, the woman arrived at her mansion in a luxury vehicle, where a maid greeted them at the door.

The night progressed with heavy drinking, and soon they were upstairs. Just as intimacy seemed imminent, the woman pressed a button, prompting the maid to appear with a condom in hand.

She then popped Ecstasy, retreated to a closet, emerged dressed like Madonna, and proceeded to whip Chris’s naked body with her long ponytail. Terrified, he called off the encounter and summoned a Lyft to get home.

The next morning, Chris discovered a first‑class ticket to New York tucked to his windshield with a note saying, “See you soon.” He never boarded.

4 Wait For It

Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar was born in Odessa, Ukraine. At nine, his mother married a much older Texan she’d met online, prompting the family’s move to the United States.

She persuaded her new husband to fund her nursing education, only to divorce him shortly after she graduated, relocating to the Hamptons and securing a nursing job. She then married two more affluent, older New York men, leaving Yevgeniy to shuffle between homes and witness his mother’s pattern of exploiting wealthy spouses.

As an adult, he spent less than a year in the Air Force before being discharged. At 26, he traveled to Osaka, Japan, and met a woman named Saki Kondo on Tinder.

One month later, while leaving his rented apartment, police stopped him. When they opened his suitcase, Kondo’s severed head rolled out, confirming the worst‑case scenario.

3 Too Much Too Soon

Peter Kraus, the runner‑up from the 2018 season of The Bachelor, recounted his most mortifying first‑date story during an interview. He had met a woman in Chicago who arrived visibly intoxicated.

Attempting to salvage the evening, Kraus discovered they both loved football, hoping common ground would ease the tension. Instead, the woman proudly confessed that during college football games she would deliberately pee her pants to avoid the long lines at portable toilets, letting the stream run down her legs.

The revelation was enough to end any chance of a second date, leaving Kraus to wonder how many other candidates might have hidden such odd habits.

2 A Twisted Tinder Trap

In December 2017, 18‑year‑old Mikayla Norris struggled to find friends and romance after skipping college. She turned to Tinder and matched with Kareem McCoy Lee, arranging a date.

When Norris never returned home, her loved ones grew alarmed. The following day, her lifeless body was discovered on a road. Investigators learned that Lee had killed her, then returned to his car and shot himself.

Social‑media sleuths uncovered Lee’s threatening Facebook posts about harming his ex‑girlfriend, suggesting he intended to use a Tinder victim as a means to reach his former partner’s house.

The tragic encounter appears to have been a botched attempt, with Lee regretting his actions enough to end his own life shortly after.

1 You’ve Got Mail

Back in 2002, when email was still a novelty, Jacqueline Kim composed a lengthy office memo dissecting her weekend date with Casey O’Brien. She graded his attire, vehicle, haircut, and manners, elevating his score from a “B” to an “A” after noting his BMW, boat, and wine‑tasting excursion.

Kim also boasted about her own drunken antics, awarding herself an “A+” and declaring herself a “BABE” who had the upper hand.

Confident in her assessment, she demanded that Casey cut his hair and buy her gifts before any further commitment, even offering to set up friends with his single, day‑trading associates.

The memo, however, didn’t stay confined to her inbox. It spread throughout the office, went viral online, and eventually reached Casey himself. By then, they’d already gone on a second date, but after reading the email, he decided never to call her again.

Reality television offers a perfect escape from the daily grind, and dating shows sit at the heart of that guilty‑pleasure lineup. From exotic getaways to dramatic rose ceremonies, the genre dishes out a steady stream of laughter, tears, and (sometimes) true‑love moments. In this roundup of 10 dating shows, we’ll dive deep into the numbers that tell a very different story than the glossy promos suggest.

While viewers love to root for the hopeful romantics on screen, the data shows that many of these televised romances fizzle out faster than a candle in a hurricane. Below we rank ten popular dating series by how often they actually deliver lasting love, and the results are, to put it mildly, underwhelming.

10 Dating Shows With Underwhelming Success Rates

10 The Bachelor: Less Than 4% Success Rate

The Bachelor sparked a wave of imitators, all built around a single rose‑bearing gentleman and a legion of hopeful women. The formula—glittering locations, heated confrontations, and a final rose ceremony—has been churning out television romance since 2002. Yet the fairy‑tale ending rarely survives beyond the final episode.

According to USA Today, only five couples out of the entire franchise’s history remain together. The outlet reported, “As of 2022, only five couples from the Bachelor franchise are still with their final picks,” and noted that “with 26 bachelors in total, that makes the success rate less than 4%.”

That sub‑4% figure is a stark reminder that even a show built on romance can’t guarantee a happily‑ever‑after. For hopeful participants, the odds are undeniably slim.

9 The Bachelorette: 22% Success Rate

Mirroring its male‑led counterpart, The Bachelorette flips the script, placing a single woman at the center while a fleet of suitors vie for her affection. Since its 2003 debut, the series has become a cultural staple, promising a grand proposal at the season’s climax.

Despite the higher win‑rate compared to the bachelor version, the show still falls short of lasting love. A USA Today analysis highlighted that “the overall success rate for The Bachelorette is, therefore, slightly higher than its male counterpart, clocking in at 22%.” In other words, less than a quarter of the couples stay together after the cameras stop rolling.

While the bachelorette’s journey seems a tad more fruitful, the numbers prove that true love remains elusive on reality TV.

8 Love Is Blind: 12.5% Success Rate

Love Is Blind frames its experiment around the idea that love can flourish without sight. Contestants date in private pods, only meeting face‑to‑face after an engagement is proposed. Those who tie the knot then retreat to a couples’ getaway, hoping to cement their bond.

The Cut reported that after two seasons, eight engagements materialized, yet only four of the 16 engagements (25%) turned into marriages. Of those four, two dissolved within a year, leaving a net success rate of just 12.5% for marriages lasting beyond twelve months.

Despite the modest numbers, the series continues to captivate audiences with its blend of hope, heartbreak, and the question: can love truly be blind?

7 Too Hot to Handle: 14% Success Rate

Picture a sun‑kissed resort teeming with attractive, commitment‑averse participants who must forgo any physical intimacy to win a monetary prize. That’s the tantalizing premise of Too Hot to Handle, which challenges contestants to build deeper connections under strict “no‑sex” rules.

Research cited by the Daily Mail placed the show at the top of the “least successful dating shows” list, with only 14% of its couples staying together after three seasons. The data underscores how difficult it is to shift from pure chemistry to genuine commitment.

So, for viewers hoping to see fireworks turn into forever, the odds remain decidedly low.

6 Married at First Sight (Australia): 6% Success Rate

Imagine meeting a stranger, saying “I do,” and then living together for months under the watchful eye of cameras. That’s the bold premise of Married at First Sight, which pairs couples through expert matchmaking and follows their married life from day one.

The Australian edition, as reported by the Daily Mail, matched 82 couples over nine seasons. Of those, merely 6% remain together, and only 2% are still legally married, highlighting the steep drop‑off once the initial novelty fades.

While the concept is undeniably daring, the statistics suggest that tying the knot at first sight rarely leads to lasting love—at least Down Under.

5 Love Island (US): 15% Success Rate

Love Island transports singles to a lavish villa where they must couple up or risk elimination. The American spin‑off aimed to capture the same sizzling chemistry that made the UK version a global hit.

According to the Daily Mail, only 15% of the U.S. couples stay together after leaving the villa, a figure that pales in comparison to the British original’s higher retention rate.

Despite the lower success metric, the show’s dramatic twists and sun‑soaked scenery continue to draw a loyal audience.

4 Temptation Island: Less Than 1% Success Rate

In Temptation Island, four established couples are placed on a remote island with a group of singles of the opposite sex, testing the strength of their relationships. The premise thrives on drama, temptation, and the fear of infidelity.

Research by Parade revealed a dismal success rate: out of four seasons and hundreds of participants, only three couples remained together, translating to a success rate of less than 1%. The publication noted that none of the Season 4 couples are still together.

Given the show’s very premise—testing fidelity—it’s perhaps unsurprising that lasting love is a rarity, yet the intrigue keeps viewers tuning in.

3 Are You the One?: 3.3% Success Rate

Are You the One? promises a scientific approach to romance, pairing contestants based on a matchmaking algorithm that claims to identify their “perfect match.” Over seven seasons, the experiment has produced a handful of true‑love stories.

Business Insider reported that only one of the designated perfect matches is still together. Overall, out of roughly 150 participants, just five couples remain, yielding a success rate of about 3.3%.

While the premise sparks curiosity, the low retention underscores how challenging it is to find a perfect match on reality TV.

2 Perfect Match: 4.5% Success Rate

Netflix’s Perfect Match gathers reality‑show alumni from nine different series, tasking them with finding a genuine connection amid a house‑full of personalities. The show’s title suggests a flawless outcome.

However, TIME noted that out of 22 contestants, five couples made it to the finale, but only one couple truly endured beyond the show, resulting in an approximate 4.5% success rate. Even that winning pair eventually split.

Despite the underwhelming longevity, fans enjoyed watching familiar faces interact and compete for love.

1 90 Day Fiancé Gives Reality Show Viewers Hope With A 75% Success Rate

Unlike most dating series that pair culturally similar participants, 90 Day Fiancé chronicles couples navigating international love, where one partner must secure a K‑1 visa to enter the United States within 90 days and then decide on marriage.

The show boasts one of the highest success rates among its peers. A producer disclosed that more than 75% of couples featured on the series stay together, far surpassing the typical 50‑50 divorce expectation.

While the series only earns a modest “C” grade academically, its impressive longevity offers a glimmer of hope that televised romance can indeed survive beyond the screen.

Looking for fresh inspiration to spark romance? These 10 dating tips, harvested from the annals of history, offer quirky, clever, and sometimes downright daring strategies to up your love game. Whether you’re courting a new flame or rekindling an old spark, let the past be your guide.

10 Use A Fan For Subtle Flirting

Fans have fluttered through centuries, but it was the eighteenth‑century European ladies who turned them into covert communication tools. By mastering a secret ‘fan language’, women could send flirtatious signals without uttering a word, turning a simple accessory into a sophisticated love‑signal.

The repertoire was surprisingly extensive—over thirty distinct gestures. For instance, shielding one’s eyes behind an open fan whispered, “I love you,” while holding the fan in the left hand hinted at a desire to converse. Twirling the fan on the left side warned a suitor that onlookers were watching, making every flick a nuanced conversation.

9 Find A Partner At The Marriage Market

Herodotus recorded a Babylonian custom that guaranteed everyone—rich or poor, beautiful or plain—found a spouse. The community gathered at a bustling marriage market where men placed bids on prospective wives.

Initially, the most attractive women fetched the highest offers, pairing them with affluent suitors. As the auction progressed to women deemed less desirable—whether due to age, disability, or appearance—the dynamic flipped: the auctioneer paid participants to take these women as wives, and the lowest bid secured a match. The funds came from the surplus generated by the earlier sales, ensuring every woman walked away with a husband and a dowry.

The market welcomed outsiders, barred fathers from dictating matches, and required each bidder to have a guarantor. Moreover, every transaction carried a money‑back guarantee, safeguarding both parties if the union soured.

8 Share A Secret Language

When privacy was a luxury, clever couples devised covert ways to whisper sweet nothings. Thomas Edison, courting his second wife Mina Miller, turned to Morse code—a series of dots and dashes—to keep their affection hidden from disapproving parents.

Mina, only twenty, and Edison, thirty‑nine, were cautious about public displays. Edison taught her the telegraphic alphabet, and legend says he even proposed using the code, allowing a discreet, romantic confession that escaped prying eyes.

This technique illustrates how a simple, universally understood system can become an intimate bridge, letting lovers converse privately even in a crowded room.

7 Don’t Get Drunk In Front Of The In‑Laws

Winning over a future spouse’s family was once a matter of honor. The tale of Hippocleides of Attica warns us that a tipsy display can cost you a bride. In sixth‑century BC Sicyon, Cleisthenes organized a grand competition to find a husband for his daughter Agariste, inviting twelve of the era’s most eligible men.

After a series of athletic challenges, Hippocleides emerged as Cleisthenes’ favorite. Yet, at the celebratory banquet, he overindulged, performing a reckless handstand and kicking his legs to the music. The outraged host declared, “He danced away his wife,” and the honor passed to another suitor.

The moral? Keep composure in front of prospective in‑laws; a drunken mishap can swiftly dissolve even the most promising match.

6 Be Practical

Ancient Egyptians favored straightforward unions over elaborate rituals. When a woman moved her belongings from her parents’ home into a man’s house, the two were considered married—no grand ceremony required.

These unions often featured a prenuptial agreement between the husband and the bride’s father, outlining asset division should a split occur. Divorce was uncomplicated: possessions were divided, children stayed with the mother, and adultery invited severe penalties, sometimes even death.

Despite the pragmatism, romance still thrived. Vizier Ptahhotep’s “Maxims of Ptahhotep” urged husbands to love, feed, and clothe their wives, while early Egyptian inscriptions praised wives’ beauty, showing that practicality and affection coexisted.

5 Spend Some Quality Time Together

While many ancient societies relegated women to domestic duties, the Teutonic tribes defied that stereotype. Their women stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with men on battlefields, providing sustenance, tending wounds, and, when necessary, brandishing swords and axes.

Plutarch recounts a Roman legion encountering a Teutonic camp defended by fierce women, their resolve captured in the phrase “furor Teutonicus.” Their unwavering bravery earned them a reputation for shared ferocity, a cultural hallmark of the tribe.

Tragically, after their defeat at Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC, many Teutonic women chose death over slavery, pleading to become sacred servants of Vesta before committing mass suicide—a testament to their devotion and unity with their warriors.

4 Try Love In A Bottle

When conventional courtship fails, some turned to chemistry. Across cultures, love potions—crafted from herbs, roots, and sometimes questionable ingredients—promised heightened desire or even guaranteed affection.

Medieval scholar Albertus Magnus described a concoction of periwinkle, leeks, and earthworms, powdered and sprinkled over a meal to strengthen marital love, warning that the same mix would kill fish if poured into a pond.

Other traditions favored marigolds, wild columbine, or the toxic jimsonweed of Indian folklore. While many ingredients lacked scientific backing, placebo effects often delivered the desired boost, making these brews a fascinating footnote in romantic history.

3 Write Your Feelings Down

Not everyone can speak eloquently in person, but the Vikings proved that ink could convey passion. Their sagas and poems celebrate love that endures beyond death, as seen in Njal’s Saga, where Njal’s wife chooses to die beside him, honoring their marital oath.

Saxo Grammaticus, in the Gesta Danorum, records Hagbaror’s haunting verses before his execution, expressing a yearning for eternal reunion with his wife: “Let the encircling bonds grip my throat… the final anguish shall bring pleasure, for our love shall be renewed.”

Yet, such poetic devotion carried risk. Writing lewd verses about an unmarried girl could tarnish her honor, provoking violent retribution from her family. In extreme cases, the offended kin might kill the poet to protect the woman’s reputation.

2 Exchange Gifts

Gifts have long been the language of affection. Across ages, societies instituted bride price, bridewealth, or dowry systems, where the groom or bride’s family transferred wealth to cement alliances.

During the Renaissance in Italy, lovers exchanged ornate belts, girdles, and pendants adorned with fertility symbols. These tokens—often sensual in design—served both as declarations of desire and as tangible reminders of a bond, bridging the gap between commerce and romance.

Beyond material value, such gestures fostered intimacy, allowing partners to showcase thoughtfulness and creativity, reinforcing the emotional connection that underpins lasting relationships.

1 Dissect A Woman To Learn Her Anatomy

Honore de Balzac, the 19th‑century French novelist, ventured into the macabre with his treatise “The Physiology of Marriage.” He argued that marriage resembled a science, insisting that a prospective husband should dissect at least one woman to study her anatomy before tying the knot.

Balzac believed men possessed a finite reserve of energy, which they should channel into work, while women needed to be kept busy to avoid succumbing to caprice. He even warned against offering women plain water, recommending instead a light infusion of Burgundy wine to keep them content.

Ironically, Balzac himself married late—at fifty—twenty years after penning his controversial guide, and he passed away merely five months later, leaving his eccentric advice as a curious footnote in marital literature.

Finding love online can feel like a roller‑coaster, but for some it turns into a nightmarish ride. In this top 10 horror roundup we dive into the most unsettling dating‑app experiences ever reported.

Why the Top 10 Horror Stories Matter

These chilling accounts remind us that behind every swipe lies a real person – and sometimes a very real danger. From elaborate revenge schemes to outright murder, each tale showcases a different shade of terror that can lurk behind a profile picture.

10 Date Sends 1,100 Strangers To Him For Sex Or Drugs

Revenge can take bizarre turns, and Matthew Herrick learned that the hard way. After a breakup on Grindr, his ex‑partner fabricated more than a thousand fake accounts using Herrick’s own photos and personal details, spreading rumors that he was HIV‑positive and into extreme role‑play. Over a five‑month period, an astonishing 1,100 men showed up at Herrick’s Manhattan apartment and even his workplace, each expecting sex or drugs based on the fabricated profiles.

Herrick eventually sued Grindr in April 2017, arguing that the platform failed to protect users from such malicious abuse despite receiving over a hundred flag reports on the bogus accounts. His legal battle raised tough questions about the responsibility of dating apps when users weaponize them for personal vendettas.

9 Her Date Loved Himself A Bit Too Much

A Reddit user recounted an unsettling evening with a man she met on OkCupid. The date started off innocently enough, but during the movie trailers the man abruptly unzipped his pants and began masturbating right beside her. She writes, “He just unzipped his pants and started going at it, and I sat next to him horrified!”

The man tried to justify his behavior, claiming that “every normal person jerks off in movie theaters.” When he later attempted to force himself on her, she swiftly moved to the opposite side of the theater to watch the film in peace, grateful that at least the movie itself was still enjoyable.

8 Toilet‑Loving Tinder Match Threatened Revenge Porn

Trent John Samuels, 27, thought he’d found a promising connection on Tinder, only to have it spiral into a nightmare. After weeks of chatting, the woman he was speaking to deleted him from Snapchat in December 2019. In a misguided attempt to impress, Samuels sent her a photo of himself on the toilet, captioned “Poo time.” She had previously shared intimate videos of herself, which Samuels later screenshot and used to threaten her on Instagram, warning her to watch his story.

The woman reported the threat to police, fearing the content had been made public. In court, Samuels pleaded guilty to revenge‑porn charges. Though such offenses can carry up to three years behind bars in Queensland, Australia, he received $2,500 in fines and was ordered to pay $1,000 in compensation to his victim.

7 Men Posing As Women To Rob Their “Dates”

According to eHarmony, 20% of women have used older photos to appear younger, and over 40% of men lie about their occupations on profiles. In 2020, Maryland dating‑app users encountered a more sinister twist: men creating fake female personas solely to ambush and rob unsuspecting dates. Police reported that these impostors would assault victims before stealing wallets, car keys, and phones.

Similar schemes rippled across the United States. In Detroit, investigators chased a serial robber masquerading as a woman, coercing victims to withdraw cash from ATMs. Chicago saw a quartet—three men and one woman—employ the same deception. The pattern prompted authorities to urge users to verify identities before meeting in person.

6 He Was Robbed At Gun Point By His Date And Two Men

Even thorough background checks can’t shield you from every danger. A California man met Shalena Lopez on the Meet Me app and arranged a first date at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville. While there, they encountered Lopez’s relative, Mario Garcia, and her friend Cesar Cameron Domingo Jr. The trio joined the evening, turning a casual night out into a high‑stakes crime scene.

After the casino, the man drove the group home. In the car, Garcia brandished a revolver, firing twice and forcing the driver at gunpoint to pull over and withdraw cash from an ATM. The victim reported the robbery to Tulare County Police, who later recovered $400 of the stolen property.

5 She Went On A Date With A Serial Rapist

Sexual assault remains a grim reality for many online daters. Kelly Neagle met Zach Anderson on OkCupid, describing him as a handsome, hobby‑sharing gentleman. After a week of messages, they met at a local grill and pub. The evening turned terrifying when, once inside Anderson’s car, he aggressively grabbed Neagle’s thigh, forced her pants down, and manipulated the passenger‑side seat lever to restrain her before assaulting her.

Neagle reported the incident to OkCupid, only to learn the platform could not locate Anderson’s profile. Further investigation revealed Anderson operated multiple OkCupid accounts under the real name Devin Richard Hartman, a married father of three and a serial rapist. Hartman later drugged and raped another woman, Jillian, in mid‑2014, leaving her disoriented and injured. In late 2015, a court convicted Hartman of rape and aggravated sodomy, handing down two consecutive life sentences.

4 She Was Murdered During The Second Date

In November 2017, Tinder paired 24‑year‑old Sydney Loofe from Lincoln, Nebraska, with Bailey Boswell. After a promising first date, they arranged a second meeting the following day. Loofe’s last known post was a Snapchat photo captioned “ready for my date” on November 15th. She never reported to work on the 16th, prompting a missing‑person report.

Investigators discovered Boswell had enlisted her 51‑year‑old boyfriend, Aubrey Trail, for the second date. Despite her friend sending Boswell’s Tinder profile to police, the duo fled. Bizarrely, they posted videos on social media two weeks later, claiming innocence and accusing law enforcement of persecution.

On December 4th, police recovered Loofe’s dismembered remains in garbage bags scattered across a field. By June 2018, Boswell and Trail faced first‑degree murder and improper disposal of human remains charges. Evidence showed they had purchased tools from Home Depot to dismember Loofe before the second date, underscoring the chilling reality that a great first encounter can mask lethal intent.

3 His Date Was Paid To Set Up A Robbery Leading To His Death

Adam Hilarie, a 27‑year‑old Florida father, met 18‑year‑old Hailey Bustos on PlentyOfFish and enjoyed a promising first date in August 2016. Bustos requested a second meeting, but arrived at Hilarie’s house with three accomplices. The trio proceeded to steal his televisions, Xbox, alcohol, jewelry, and iPhone before shooting Hilarie in the head.

During the attack, Hilarie pleaded for his life, mentioning his five‑year‑old daughter. Police later arrested Andre Warner, Gary Gray, and Joshua Ellington on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with a firearm, and first‑degree murder. In 2020, a jury convicted Warner of execution‑style murder. Investigations revealed Bustos had been paid $50 to set up the robbery, claiming she was unaware of the planned killing.

2 She Was Attacked And Hospitalized After Breaking It Off

Widowed Mary Kay Beckman turned to Match.com in September 2010, where she matched with Wade Ridley. After ten days of dating, Beckman ended the relationship. Ridley, enraged, compiled a “kill list” and three months later confronted Beckman, stabbing her ten times with a butcher’s knife until it snapped, then stomping her on the head before fleeing.

A neighbor’s quick call to police saved Beckman’s life; she endured months of hospital stays and multiple head surgeries. Ridley later met Anne Simenson on Match.com and murdered her with a machete. Las Vegas police arrested Ridley for Simenson’s murder; during interrogation, he confessed to the kill list. He faced attempted murder and robbery charges, receiving a 28‑to‑70‑year sentence before committing suicide in May 2012.

1 He Went On A Date With A Murderous Cannibal

A London Metropolitan Police officer, Gordon Semple, connected with 51‑year‑old Stefano Brizzi on Grindr. The meeting turned fatal when Brizzi strangled Semple to death in his apartment. Inspired by the TV series Breaking Bad, Brizzi attempted to dissolve the body in an acid‑filled bathtub, later trying to consume parts of the flesh. Police later discovered Semple’s remains scattered across an oven, a tea strainer, and chopsticks, with Brizzi’s bite mark evident on a rib.

In 2016, Brizzi received a life sentence, but two months into his incarceration, he hanged himself, ending a gruesome chapter of dating‑app horror.