A new trend on social media is giving users a public way to list the things they feel have betrayed them. It began with American rapper and songwriter Kanye West , and has since been embraced by younger users as a kind of online group therapy .

On social media, the tone of these lists varies from serious to tongue-in-cheek. Some users are naming friends who ghosted them, while others are joking about family members or even calling out cities and experiences. For example, one user described a city’s traffic as belonging on their ‘ betrayal list ’.
What is the ‘Betrayal List’?

The phrase ‘betrayal list’ began gaining traction after Kanye West publicly shared a list of people he claimed had betrayed him. According to news reports, his list went viral, and social media soon turned it into a space for airing grievances.

The trend quickly spread beyond the original post, with younger social media users creating their own lists — ranging from playful to deeply personal.

Kanye West’s ‘Betrayal List’

Kanye West’s ‘betrayal list’ — a note he allegedly shared online before deleting the post — sent social media into a frenzy. The list reportedly included the names of celebrities, collaborators and family members he believed had “betrayed” him, reading like a catalogue of personal and professional fallouts.

Some reports say that earlier this year, Kanye West alarmed fans by sharing angry tweets naming a “betrayal list” that included his children and ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. However, the September list that went viral was allegedly a fake, created by a fan.

Netizens catch up on the trend
While many users mocked the ‘betrayal list’ drama and began creating their own — naming ex-friends, bad exes or even boring TV shows — others focused on minor annoyances and everyday complaints rather than real betrayals.

A social media post titled ‘2025 Betrayal List’ included items such as wool sweaters, natural deodorant and Brazilian bundles.

Meanwhile, one TikTok user listed everyday complaints like “paper straws, Ticketmaster fees, printer jams, social burnout” as part of their betrayal list. On Reddit, a thread titled ‘What’s your best/funniest betrayal?’ saw people naming odd or petty things as betrayers — one commenter listed “the fire alarm in the middle of my nap” and “the coworker who always steals my pen.”

On Instagram, a user posted a reel captioned “Who betrayed me this year? #betrayallist”, with text overlays mentioning “slow WiFi, loud neighbours, kale chips, cancelled brunch”.