A couple’s evening exploded into chaos during a fierce dispute about a dog named after an ex, leaving the boyfriend stranded on their 27th-floor balcony for the entire night, locked out without his phone while his girlfriend stayed comfortably inside.
He endured the cold hours until morning when she finally opened the door, at which point he immediately contacted the police because his name appears on the lease. Officers arrived, removed her from the apartment without filing charges, yet his own cousin now brands him heartless for taking that step.
A man called police on his girlfriend after she locked him on a high-floor balcony overnight during an argument over a dog’s name
What started as a petty argument spiraled into something far more serious: one partner confining the other outdoors for hours in a potentially dangerous spot. Many see this as a clear power move: using access to the shared home as a weapon during conflict.
The girlfriend’s reaction stemmed from insecurity about the ex’s name connection, which is understandable on some level; past relationships can stir up jealousy. But locking someone out overnight crosses into controlling territory, especially on a high balcony where safety risks like weather exposure or falls come into play.
Some (though few) might argue the man overreacted by involving police right away, suggesting a simple apology or breakup talk would’ve sufficed instead of legal escalation.
Yet the core issue here highlights how quickly emotional flare-ups can become abusive when boundaries vanish. Restricting someone’s freedom of movement in a shared home is widely recognized as a form of domestic abuse, often tied to patterns of control and isolation.
Broadening this out, research shows that confinement and restriction of liberty are common tactics in abusive dynamics. For instance, during periods of increased home time, for instance: the COVID-19 lockdowns, domestic violence incidents rose significantly, with one analysis of multiple studies finding an 8.1% increase in U.S. domestic violence reports following stay-at-home orders, often linked to heightened stress and limited escape options, according to the Council on Criminal Justice report.
From a psychological perspective, the Department of Justice defines domestic violence as including actions that gain or maintain power and control over a partner, which can encompass psychological tactics that limit freedom.
In a Psychology Today article on false imprisonment in relationships, clinical psychologist Ana Nogales Ph.D. explained that perpetrators often act from low self-esteem and fear of abandonment, using control like locking someone out to assert dominance.
She says, “A perpetrator of domestic violence or abuse, whether male or female, is generally someone with very low self-esteem and who doubts their ability to maintain a relationship. For this reason, they feel the need to exercise power and control when they fear being abandoned or betrayed by the person they love.”
In this situation, calling authorities ensured immediate safety and documented the incident, which could be crucial if patterns emerge.
Neutral advice? Both parties need space to reflect. Therapy for jealousy triggers and communication skills could help, but only if both are willing. If control or retaliation continues, prioritizing personal safety and possibly professional support is key.
Check out how the community responded:
Some people declare the OP is NTA and strongly recommend immediately breaking up with the girlfriend.
Some people affirm that the OP is NTA, describe locking him out overnight as abusive, dangerous, or even kidnapping.
Some people share light-hearted or unrelated comments while still judging the OP as NTA.
This balcony lockdown saga shows how fast a silly fight can turn dangerous when jealousy takes the wheel. Was calling the police the right move to protect himself and set a boundary, or did it escalate things unnecessarily? How would you handle a partner who locks you out over something like a pet name? Drop your thoughts below, we’re all ears!
