A young woman from Melbourne has shared a jaw-dropping dating app encounter that has sparked a fierce debate about modern romance, after a man who ghosted her years ago resurfaced only to admit he vanished because she wasn't attractive enough at the time.
The Ghosting and the 'Level Up'
Rachel McDonald, 25, explained in a viral video that she had casually dated the unnamed man several years ago when she first moved to Melbourne. She described her self-confidence at that time as being quite low. The relationship fizzled out when the man suddenly disappeared, ghosting her without any explanation.
In the intervening years, Rachel embarked on a personal transformation. She underwent a significant weight loss journey and changed her hair back to its natural colour from bleach blonde, a process she called a personal 'level up'. This boosted her confidence considerably.
A Shocking Reappearance on Hinge
Earlier this year, while using the dating app Hinge, Rachel spotted a familiar face among her likes. It was 'Mr Ghosting-Man'. Amazed by his audacity, she decided to message him, asking where he got the nerve from. The man initially acted confused and claimed he had never seen her before.
After Rachel reminded him of their past and revealed her Instagram handle, the conversation took a brutal turn. He replied, "Oh my god, Rach, you are literally unrecognisable, good on you. You are so hot now." When Rachel confronted him about the ghosting, his response was even more shocking.
"He then says to me something along the lines of, 'If I'd known you were going to get this attractive, I never would have ghosted you in the first place'," Rachel recounted.
Shutting Down and Sparking a Debate
Undeterred by his own callous remarks, the man then suggested they meet up to rekindle things. Rachel shut him down immediately, telling him he must be 'deluded' to think she would ever go for a drink with him. She ended the conversation before unmatching, leaving him with a piece of her mind.
The video has ignited widespread discussion online about ghosting culture and the often brutal honesty people display behind the safety of a screen. Many viewers praised Rachel for calling out the behaviour. "The audacity is INSANE," one commenter wrote, while others expressed shock at the man's justification.
Rachel herself stated, "I do not perpetuate ghosting culture. Calling him out is… what we have to do because these men just think that they can do anything and they can't." Her story serves as a stark reminder of the superficial judgments and lack of accountability that can plague online dating.
