Baby showers and ball Pythons.

Celebration of life!

The Emotional Support Snake – AITA?

My (26M) sister (30F) is having a baby and just threw a lavish baby shower at our parents’ house. It was a huge deal—tons of guests, decorations, catered food. She invited me and my girlfriend (27F), who has an emotional support animal—a ball python named Felix.

My girlfriend has anxiety and is legally allowed to have Felix with her. She carries him in a soft travel sling around her neck or lets him curl up in her hands. He’s completely harmless, doesn’t make noise, and mostly stays hidden.

Before the shower, we told my sister that Felix would be coming. She said, "No problem, just make sure he stays in the carrier."

When we arrived, some guests noticed Felix in my girlfriend’s hands and started freaking out. Someone called my sister over, and she lost it, saying we needed to leave immediately because a pregnant woman shouldn’t be stressed out.

I reminded her that she knew about Felix, and he wasn’t doing anything. She said it wasn’t about logic—it was about her guests being uncomfortable.

I refused to leave unless we got a real reason why Felix couldn’t stay. She finally said: "Because I don’t want a f**ing snake at my baby shower!"*

We left, and now my family is split down the middle. Some say we were disrespectful for bringing an ESA to a formal event, others say my sister was overreacting.

So, AITA?

It's not exactly baby shower material.

The AITA Court of Public Opinion is Now in Session.

Plaintiff: Sister (A.K.A. The One Who Wanted a Reptile-Free Party)

Charges: ESA Discrimination, Snake Bias

Defendant: OP & Girlfriend (A.K.A. The Keepers of Felix the Support Serpent)

Defense: Emotional Health, Legally Approved Anxiety Assistance

Statement of Facts:

• OP’s girlfriend has a legally recognized emotional support snake.

• Sister approved Felix’s attendance as long as he stayed in the carrier.

• Felix was seen outside the carrier, causing some guests to panic.

• Sister immediately demanded they leave, citing stress and discomfort.

• OP argued that Felix was harmless, and sister admitted she just didn’t want a snake there.

The Verdict

Did OP have a right to bring Felix? Technically, yes.

Did OP completely disregard the spirit of the agreement? Also yes.

This isn’t about whether or not Felix is dangerous—it’s about basic social awareness. Unless you're the Queen of Pop Britney Spears - you don’t pull out a snake at an event full of unsuspecting guests and expect zero backlash.

Yes, Felix is an ESA, but that doesn’t mean he belongs at every social function. There’s a time and a place for anxiety management, and maybe a crowded baby shower wasn’t it.

On the other hand, sister could have just been honest from the start. Instead of pretending it was about pregnancy stress, she should have just said: "Look, I love you, but I don’t want a f**ing snake at my party."*

Final Judgment: ESH (Everyone Sucks Here).

Sentence: OP is sentenced to reading the room better before introducing reptiles into social events. Sister is sentenced to learning how to set clear boundaries upfront.

What’s your verdict? Was OP out of line, or did his sister overreact? 

Drop your ruling below! ⚖️🔥

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