Woman claims she suffered from familial abuse for years, then says she found out that the foreign exchange student she trusted was in on it too

A woman who says she endured years of emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her mother has shared another disturbing part of her childhood story. According to a TikTok video by Scarlet, a foreign exchange student who lived with her family and whom she considered someone she could trust allegedly became involved in the mistreatment. The woman shared her alleged experiences with the student, whom she calls Jenny.

Scarlet claimed that Jenny was from South Korea and was around the same age as her when she moved in with the family. Although she described the student as “evil,” she acknowledged that the situation might have been more complicated than that. She suggested Jenny may have been “curious about the psychological effects of emotional and physical torture” or simply adapted quickly to the abusive environment inside their home.

Jenny allegedly benefited from the situation

Scarlet claimed that Jenny did not simply stand by while her mother mistreated her. Instead, she allegedly helped create situations that made Scarlet look like the problem. Whenever Scarlet’s belongings went missing from her room, she said they would sometimes turn up in Jenny’s possession. “She was profiting off of things that she was able to stir and put together,” the user asserted.

She also recalled running to Jenny for support after her mother’s outbursts, only for the exchange student to approach her mother afterward and apologize for Scarlet’s behavior. “After my mom’s explosion would end, Jenny would go to my mother and be like, sorry, Auntie, that Scarlett’s so bad. I would never talk to you like that. She’s so awful, and you’re such a good Mom!” Scarlet claimed.

The user further alleged that Jenny learned how to use her mother’s behavior to obtain things she wanted. If Jenny complimented one of Scarlet’s belongings, her mother would sometimes take it away and give it to the exchange student instead. Scarlet described this as another way Jenny benefited from the situation while she reportedly continued to lose things she cared about.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network notes that repeated exposure to abuse, particularly when it involves caregivers or other trusted people, can interfere with a child’s ability to develop healthy relationships and feel secure around others. These children may become hypervigilant, constantly monitoring other people’s moods and reactions to anticipate potential conflict. The effects can also follow them into adulthood, influencing their self-esteem, emotional regulation, and ability to trust others.

According to the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories have laws establishing procedures for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect, even if it comes from a parent or a family member. Although the exact requirements differ by state, certain professionals, including teachers and healthcare workers, are required to report suspected cases.