The Original Post
I (22F) have a very strict dad (44M), that has a very strong aversion to women travelling alone. Because of this he’s always kept my passport but one day I decided I had enough and sneakily stole his keys to open up his safe where he has lots of different important documents. I took my passport and closed the safe again as if nobody was there. Fast forward he calls me today to calmly ask me about whether I took my passport, I played dumb and said no-he kept pressing about but since I’ve already lied I decided to dig my grave. He doesn’t believe me and stressed that he needed to know if I took it so he won’t need to worry about other possibilites. I still lied and said no and he told me that what I’ve done with my passport is between me and god (yeah he’s religious) and that all my lies will be exposed. I’m feeling really anxious and guilty about this, but I did lie because he’s emotionally disowned me for less and me travelling with my mom to see my other relatives seems to be a huge trigger. Maybe I should’ve come clean, I don’t know. I keep getting mixed reactions from people. AITA for lying to my dad?
What Reddit Said
Reddit users were absolutely furious on OP’s behalf. The top comment bluntly stated that a 22-year-old shouldn’t be under such parental control. Moreover, commenters pointed out this behavior crosses serious legal boundaries.
Many Redditors emphasized that withholding an adult’s passport is actually illegal in most countries. In fact, several users noted that passports belong to the issuing government and must remain with the designated holder. Therefore, OP didn’t steal anything – she simply reclaimed her own property.
The Verdict
The overwhelming consensus: OP is Not the Asshole (NTA). This situation where a dad stole adult daughter passport represents controlling and potentially illegal behavior. Reddit recognized this as a clear case of family drama involving parental overreach. While lying isn’t ideal, OP’s actions were completely justified given her father’s toxic control over her basic freedoms.
Original post from r/AmItheAsshole (1,789 upvotes, 447 comments)