Do manipulations absolve a cheater of any blame?

SonOfMan , VT, 4/4/2023, 9:59PM(390 days ago) @Tiqui1999

Just a quick question. Consider this situation:
- X and Y are together
- M manipulates X
- X cheats on Y with Z or leaves Y for Z because of M's manipulations
- X learns the truth about M's manipulations
- X leaves Z and goes back to Y

Is X a victim or is X a cheater? I know each case has a few differences, but these situations are always similar.

- Last example was Ridge and Taylor. Thomas manipulated him. Thomas was wrong. But does the fact that Thomas manipulated absolve Ridge? Does it justify how he left Brooke and slept with Taylor, and then how he left Taylor at the altar? Does it justify his lies to both women?
- Another example is Liam and Steffy's kiss in Italy. Bill and Deacon manipulated them. Liam thought Hope left him, so he kissed Steffy and kept it secret in his vows. He learnt Hope didn't leave him after all and stayed with her. Do Bill and Deacon's manipulations absolve Liam and Steffy?
- Another example is Hope and Wyatt's lovemaking in Monte-Carlo. Quinn manipulated them. Hope thought her fiancee wasn't coming, so she slept with Wyatt and married him. She learnt Liam was there and later she left Wyatt. Do Quinn's manipulations absolve Hope and Wyatt?

Is this all the manipulator's fault? Or do the cheaters deserve punishment too?

No, it doesn't absolve them. All characters need to be treated the way Brooke was when Sheila manipulated Brooke's drinks and Brooke wound up kissing Deacon. Characters on the show still wanted to hold Brooke accountable for that kiss. Same should go for the rest of them then.

For Brooke, I totally absolve her in this case. :) Sheila made her drink alcohol. Brooke didn't know it was alcohol and that's the only reason why she kissed Deacon. I don't blame Steffy, Rdge, Thomas and Taylor for bashing her before they knew the truth about Sheila. But once they learnt the reason why Brooke drank, they should have apologized to her. Instead they continued to make her pay and judge her, that was terrible.

So we agree, it doesn't absolve the cheaters. I can absolve Caroline for sleeping with Thomas because he pretty much raped her. Or Liam for the night Thomas drugged him. But in other cases, a manipulation should not excuse them.

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