Cheating is one of the most popular tropes on television. Love it or hate it, it’s bound to happen even to your favorite characters. But when the cheating gets exposed, it makes that affair worthwhile. The reveal could leave the audience feeling heartbroken or irritated. Nonetheless, that’s why it’s so popular even when it happens to our TV favorite couples. So, here’s our top ten cheating reveals in television history.
Nico and Kimberly (Sex lives of college girls)
They weren’t exactly “dating” or in an established relationship. Watching Kimberly find out about Nico having a long-distance girlfriend after doing everything under the sun with him was crazy. I was heartbroken for her. I saw this in real-time when it aired in 2021; everyone was still rooting for Kimberly and Nico on the X (formerly Twitter) timeline, even if she was sleeping with her best friend’s brother, they had great tension, and the audience felt it was justified. The scene where Kimberly finds out at a frat party, and they have an angsty conversation afterward, has me rooting for them (Yes, I know). It was too good, the tension made me want more.
9. Jenna and Matty (Awkward)
The MTV scripted era was honestly one of the best eras of TV. They gave us so many enjoyable shows. Awkward, being one of the iconic ones, Jenna and Matty were the situation of all situationships. They defined it. When they finally got together in season 3 and Jenna cheated on Matty after yearning for him for 3 seasons, it was wild. It was even crazier because the tensions between her and Colin were building, and it made her feel hot (Me too). For them to kiss at her surprise birthday party, with her boyfriend Matty there, was nuts; it was a surprise for her and everyone else. Such a funny, jaw-dropping reveal.
8. Devi, Ben, and Paxton (Never have I ever)
Devi Vishwakumar, how I miss you. Devi has had so many crazy moments throughout the show’s run, but one of the wildest things she did that takes the cake is when she decided to date Paxton and Ben simultaneously. I wasn’t even mad at her because at least she was dating Paxton, but imagine dating both of your crushes, how fun. She just made cheating look so fun, so when Ben found out about her plan, when she confessed in a fit of jealousy, and they both broke up with her, I couldn’t help but laugh because only she, of all people, can make getting caught being a cheater funny. But, Hey! At least she got her man back—both of them at that.
7. Wade and Zoe (Hart of Dixie)
Hart of Dixie is an underrated small-town show where everyone knows everybody. Wade and Zoe were one of the cutest couples on the show. They were one of the most charming will-they-won’t-they relationships ever. So, I was ecstatic when they finally decided to become a couple. But imagine my annoyance when the self-sabotage “I’m not good enough for you” trope starts to kick in and Wade cheats on Zoe. I was just as heartbroken as Zoe when Wade confessed to his infidelity because that was my man, too. The most angst-filled breakup of all time had 12-year-old me ugly crying.
6. Craig, Manny, Ashley (Degrassi)
Ah, Degrassi, home of the cheating trope. There were so many storylines where people got cheated on or became homewreckers, but hey, they were messy teenagers, it was expected. So, it wasn’t any different when it happened to Craig and Ashley when Craig cheated on Ashley with Manny. That scandal led Manny to get pregnant and have an abortion soon after. Even so, the craziest thing about the whole thing is that Ashley exposed them both at the school cafeteria, especially exposing Manny’s pregnancy. Oh my gosh, that followed Manny around school for a few years, and it ruined her reputation. There’s much discourse about whether what Ashley did was right, but what would you do? The whole storyline just filled me up with anxiety, oh my goodness—frankly, one of the most iconic cheating storylines of the series.
5. Cory & Topanga (Boy Meets World)
Boy Meets World had many wild moments that shocked the audience. However, nothing was more absurd than when Cory decided to kiss Lauren in the cabin. I wasn’t born when this episode aired, but I know the audience felt the shock and annoyance at Cory when he cheated on Topanga. I watched it during quarantine when I had all the time in the world. I couldn’t believe the biggest yearner of all time, Cory Matthews, could do that to Topanga. It shifted the tone of the show to me.
4. Belly and Jeremiah (The summer I turned pretty)
Now that The Summer I Turned Pretty has ended, let’s talk about the emotional turmoil Jeremiah put Belly and the audience through. The way Belly found out was brutal. Imagine your man’s spring fling talking about having sex with your man and laughing at you being his girlfriend outside of the dirty frat bathroom you’re in, sickening. I fear Belly didn’t do enough when she found out she should’ve slapped her and Jeremiah, but she only slapped Jeremiah (deserved). The conversation between her and Jeremiah while she confronted him was so angsty that my stomach bubbled with despair. Nonetheless, at least she ended up with the love of her life. Not Jeremiah.
3. Dean and Rory (Gilmore Girls)
Oh, Rory, what happened to the self-respect you built over the seasons? Her losing her virginity to her ex, Dean, while he was married baffled me. I can’t believe she didn’t understand that a married man you used to date is no longer yours. The best reveal wasn’t between her and Lindsey and Lindsey’s mom, where she tears her a new one, but it was the one between her and her mother. Her mom was so disappointed, I, too, would be disappointed that my daughter, who usually has her head on straight, became a homewrecker. The dialogue between her and her mother was so sorrowful and intense, I swear I heard a pin drop in my room because of how engaged I was in that scene, though Rory didn’t understand the weight of the situation until it was too late.
2. Nate, Cassie, and Maddy (Euphoria)
Ahh, Euphoria Sundays, how I miss you. This moment defined the 2020s television history. Rue exposes Cassie for sleeping with Nate by saying, “How long have you been f*cking Nate Jacobs?” That was one of the moments on TV where I was truly, completely shocked. All I could do was scream at Cassie through the screen. Maddy confronting Cassie, whew, one of the best confrontations ever. “You f*ck my ex and you’re the one crying?” Chef’s kiss, oh my goodness. Being on X that night was phenomenal. Everybody was active and engaged in live tweeting. Everyone was coming for Cassie because, truly, how could she do that to her best friend for years? I swear it was better than the episode where Maddy beat Cassie up, oh, jolly. It was one of those moments on TV where you just had to be there.
1. Derwin and Melanie (The game)
The Game was ahead of its time. It is one of my all-time favorite cheating reveals because Melanie did that and more. Melanie tore him a new one when she found out about the cheating at the end of their date. Whew, I was so heartbroken for her. She did not let Derwin or Drew Sidora go unscathed when she overheard them discussing what they did. Especially since Derwin told them they kissed (only telling a part of the truth), Drew laughed, and was nice to her face. She acted like a fool, which makes it my favorite reveal because we need more angry reveals that act like a fool. For the next couple of episodes, she had Derwin going through it, and that’s what they needed. He needed to be humbled, and she needed to be more strict. I loved that she grew cattier and more rude after.