We’ve all been there. Someone wrongs you, and that little voice whispers, ‘Paybaaaack!’ Most times, we’re the bigger person, right? We forgive, forget, and move on. But sometimes, oh sometimes, the urge for a little bit of mischief is just too strong. And when people get creative with their revenge, it can be downright hilarious! Get ready to chuckle (and maybe take a few notes… or not!) as we dive into 10 of the most creative and funny ways people have dished out their just desserts.
10. The Lone Tattoo
Discovering your partner has been unfaithful can unleash a storm of emotions. Most would opt for a dramatic confrontation. But one Twitter user? She kept her cool and cooked up a revenge plan that was as simple as it was genius.
Her tweet laid it all out: “My boyfriend cheated on me, so I convinced him to get matching tattoos…he went first, and I went home.” Ouch! While cheating always has consequences, an ironic, half-finished matching tattoo probably wasn’t on his list. It’s a brilliantly effective lesson, leaving him with a permanent, inked reminder of his big mistake!
9. The Big Rock
Divorce can bring out the desire for a little payback, and this was definitely true for Dany Larivière, a Canadian town mayor. When he and his wife split, he felt so bitter that he decided to grant her wish for a ‘big rock’.
Now, she was probably hoping for a sparkly diamond. But Dany took her request literally. On her birthday, he dropped a massive 20-ton boulder right on her front lawn! He even spray-painted “Happy Birthday” on it. Talk about a statement piece! Sadly for Dany, his grand gesture led to an investigation and charges for his petty act. Some might say his revenge plan hit rock bottom.
8. Dance, Thief, Dance!
Having your stuff stolen is incredibly frustrating, especially when you feel helpless. But sometimes, a little tech-savviness can turn the tables. A man in Massachusetts had his laptop swiped. Instead of just calling the cops, he decided to hack into his own device. And what did he find? Pure gold: an embarrassing video the thief had made.
The thief had recorded himself practicing dance moves for 12 minutes in front of the webcam! The original owner promptly uploaded the video to YouTube, cheekily titled “Don’t steal computers from people who know how to use computers.” The video got the thief’s attention. He returned the laptop, begging for the video to be taken down. The owner got his laptop back and his sweet revenge – because that video stayed online!
7. A Song About Luggage
Airlines and luggage don’t always have the best relationship. Things get damaged, lost, and passengers are often left fuming. When this happened to Canadian musician Dave Carroll, he knew exactly how to strike back.
His guitar was damaged by an airline, so he did what any musician would do: he wrote a song about it. ‘United Breaks Guitars’ became a viral sensation! The BBC reported that the song’s popularity caused the airline’s stock value to drop by 10% within just four weeks of the video’s release. That’s a loss that could have bought Dave over 51,000 new guitars! Now that’s a high note for revenge.
6. Don’t Eat My Food
They say revenge is sweet. But in this case, it was decidedly savory – and spicy! Shared fridges and cupboards at work can be a battlefield, especially when it comes to food disappearing.
One man from Leeds, as told in a Reddit story, got tired of his colleagues munching on his doughnuts. So, he decided to teach them a lesson. He brought in a fresh box of doughnuts, but with a secret ingredient. Using a syringe, he carefully injected each one with a generous dollop of English mustard and then resealed the box. You can bet nobody dared to swipe his treats again after getting a mouthful of that surprise!
5. Got Change?
College student Jordan Renken took petty revenge to a whole new level in 2009. After a night out, he found his car had been towed. The $88 fee and a 15-mile walk home left him less than pleased.
Jordan decided to pay the fine, but on his own terms. He showed up at the towing company with 8,800 pennies! At first, the cashier refused the payment, thinking he was crazy. But Jordan had done his homework; they had to accept legal tender. He stood his ground, even when the police were called (who reportedly found it hilarious). After nearly an hour of debate, Jordan got his car back and gave the towing company employee a day she wouldn’t soon forget.
4. Drive-Thru Trickery
Sometimes, the quietest acts of revenge are the most satisfying. This was certainly true for a McDonald’s drive-thru customer in August 2019, who ordered a side of payback with his meal.
While he was placing his order, an impatient woman behind him started honking and yelling at him for taking too long. In a surprising move, the man kindly offered to pay for her food as well as his own. Seeing this, the woman probably felt a pang of regret for her rudeness. However, when he reached the pickup window, he calmly showed the receipt for both orders, collected all the food, and drove off, leaving her foodless and flabbergasted! While this story might be a bit of an urban legend, it’s a hilarious reminder to be patient at the drive-thru!
3. The Shopping List
Blogger Karen Alpert, also known as Baby Sideburns, found a brilliantly funny way to get back at her husband in March 2019. She was tired of his lazy couch-potato ways while she handled all the housework. So, she concocted a clever plan.
Karen wrote out a very long shopping list and sent her unsuspecting husband to the supermarket. The catch? Most of the items on the list didn’t actually exist! She then turned her phone to silent while her clueless husband wandered the aisles searching for ‘unsour cream,’ ‘seedless strawberries,’ and ‘diet diet coke (it’s new!).’ That’s one way to get some peace and quiet, and a good laugh!
2. Airport Arrest
Angel Exford from London got the ultimate revenge on her boyfriend in 2018 after she realized he was a total scammer. Red flags started waving when he’d post Instagram pictures with fancy cars, despite being broke in real life. On their first date, he claimed he lost his wallet, making Angel pay.
It turned out he’d sneakily stolen her card details during that date! He used her money to buy Instagram followers and even gifts for another girlfriend. Angel exposed his deceit on social media, and her story went viral. But she wasn’t done. Discovering he was planning a trip with his other girlfriend, Angel arranged for the ultimate public humiliation: he was arrested at the airport before he could jet off on his romantic getaway – funded by Angel’s cash!
1. The Airport (Doggy) Mess
Sometimes, revenge doesn’t just satisfy one person; it can benefit a whole plane full of people! Stand-up comedian Steve Hofstetter experienced this firsthand in 2017 when he encountered an incredibly rude woman at an airport. She was talking loudly on her phone, completely ignoring the fact that her dog had just done its business right beside her. When other passengers asked if she was going to clean it up, she shockingly replied, “They have people for that.”
Everyone tried to sit far away from her in the boarding area. But Steve sat down next to her and politely asked where she was headed. ‘I’m going to Tokyo,’ she grumbled. Steve then calmly said, ‘Oh, then you better hurry. That flight got moved to gate 53C. This is the flight to London.’ Panicked, the woman sprinted to the other side of the airport. By the time she realized she’d been tricked, she had missed her flight! Steve later admitted he only meant to give her a moment of panic, not make her miss the entire flight, but it certainly taught her a lesson!
Well, there you have it – ten tales of revenge, ranging from the cleverly petty to the downright genius. While we mostly advocate for taking the high road, you have to admit, there’s a certain satisfaction in seeing someone get their comical comeuppance. These stories show that with a little creativity (and sometimes a lot of audacity), payback can be pretty entertaining! Just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone actually drops a 20-ton boulder on your lawn.
What’s the most creative or funniest act of (harmless) revenge you’ve ever heard of or dished out yourself? Share your stories in the comments below – we’d love to hear them!
