Vault: Is It Wrong To Accept A Gift From Your Ex?

Summary

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The Bert Show: Vault: Is It Wrong To Accept A Gift From Your Ex?

Date: March 10, 2026
Main Theme
The episode revolves around a listener, Nicole, who is caught in a sticky situation after her ex-boyfriend, a Georgia fan, gave her two tickets to the national championship game as a birthday present—then broke up with her when Florida beat Georgia. Now, her ex is asking for one of the tickets back, and the Bert Show crew (with callers) debates whether Nicole has any obligation to return the ticket or to feel guilty about keeping both. The show combines humor, listener experiences, and spirited debate to explore the ethics of gifts between exes and handling post-breakup awkwardness.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: Nicole’s Sports Ticket Dilemma

• [00:40–01:29] Nicole reveals her ex-boyfriend gifted her two championship game tickets for her birthday, prior to the decisive Florida vs. Georgia game.
• Bert clarifies the details: the tickets were her birthday gift, and her ex is a Georgia fan while Nicole is a lifelong Florida fan.
• The relationship ended right after the Florida-Georgia game—her ex broke up with her because Florida’s win was “too much for him.”

The Post-Breakup Ask

• [02:25–03:03] Nicole’s ex requests she drop off "his" ticket at his place, implying he is entitled to one despite the breakup.
• "He called me yesterday telling me that just to leave his ticket in his mailbox today when I drive home from work because he was wanting to use it." — Nicole [02:32]

The Hosts’ Reactions: Humor, Outrage, and Solidarity

• [03:06–04:44] The studio unanimously agrees Nicole owes him nothing:
  • “He’s not entitled to those at all.” — Bert [03:16]
  • “It was a gift.” — Caller 1 [03:17]
  • Multiple hosts suggest she be honest and blunt or even ignore him entirely.
• Several suggest ways Nicole could be spiteful or playful if she wishes:
  • “I'm going with my new friend Wendy.” — Caller 2 [03:32]

Ethical Considerations & Nuance

• [04:44–05:21] Discussion about whether things would be different if it was his team going to the championship, and if the gift-giving scenario was reversed.
• Some empathy expressed—if the roles were reversed and Georgia had won, the ex might have a stronger case for wanting to use the ticket.

Listeners Call In: Similar Stories & Creative Revenge

• [05:33–07:14] Caller “Candace” shares her own story about a birthday concert ticket, using the situation as final closure on a bad relationship.
• Another caller, “Katie,” suggests sending a fake ticket or a note reading "In your dreams" to the ex’s mailbox to drive the point home.
  • “Put in your dreams. Seriously?” — Caller 3 [07:32]

Best Revenge: Go, Enjoy, and Publicly Thank Him

• [08:01–08:34] A caller suggests Nicole take a friend, make a big poster that says, “Thanks for the tickets!” and hope she gets on TV during the game—adding humor and public closure.
  • “Hope like hell that the TV scans in front of her.” — Caller 3 [08:15]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He broke up with me after the game ended. He said he just couldn’t take it any longer.” — Nicole [02:49]
• “Why do you have to be nice about it at all? Why don’t you just call him back and say, ‘Are you kidding me? Those were a gift, you’re not getting anything!’” — Bert [03:27]
• “This is a slam dunk here. You have no obligation to him whatsoever.” — Bert [03:44]
• “I think you should do what every mature adult would do and text him. Or just not say anything at all.” — Caller 1 [03:36]
• “I would feel more sympathy for him if he gave her the tickets and then it was his team that ended up going…” — Caller 1 [04:27]
• “What she needs to do is invite someone else to the game with her, make a big poster that says, ‘Thanks for the tickets!’” — Caller 3 [08:09]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40 — Nicole introduces her dilemma and the ticket-giving backstory
• 02:25 — Ex requests the ticket back post-breakup
• 03:06 — Show's initial reactions (support, advice, and humor)
• 04:44 — Nuanced perspectives: Is it different if the roles were reversed?
• 05:33 — Listener “Candace” shares her own gift-and-breakup story
• 07:20 — Caller offers creative revenge tactics
• 08:01 — Suggestion to publicly thank the ex on TV as playful closure

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Summary & Resolution

The Bert Show firmly sides with Nicole: a gift is a gift, even after a breakup. The consensus is that once something is given—especially as a birthday present—the giver loses entitlement, regardless of relationship status. Suggestions range from blunt honesty to playful revenge (like making a TV sign), but most agree the best route is to enjoy the game with a friend and not feel guilty.

As Nicole wraps up, camaraderie and good nature prevail, with the cast offering solidarity, possible plus-ones, and a final reminder: "Do what you want with the tickets. You got no obligation to this guy." [08:34]

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Transcript

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[Bert]

Learn [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase bank and a member FDIC subject to credit approval. Get it The Bird show so Nicole's got herself some tickets to the championship game. She will watch Florida and she will watch Oklahoma Duke it out. But her ex boyfriend will not be there and he doesn't know it yet. Hey, Nicole.

[Nicole]

Hey, Bert.

[Bert]

How are you?

[Nicole]

I'm actually doing pretty great after Saturday.

[Bert]

I bet you're a Florida fan, right?

[Nicole]

I hard. I bleed orange and blue since birth.

[Bert]

Well, congratulations.

[Nicole]

Thank you very much.

[Bert]

So how many weeks ago did you buy these tickets?

[Nicole]

We bought them just either way, no matter who was going to make it. We bought them actually just before the Florida Georgia game this year.

[Bert]

Okay, we have to get all of the facts straight here. So when you say we bought them, did you buy them or did you go fast? 50. 50 with him on them.

[Nicole]

They were technically a birthday present from him to you. From him to me. Because my birthday is on Florida Georgia games this year.

[Caller 1]

Okay.

[Caller 2]

So did you know they were coming? Like, did you guys talk about it and say this is.

[Nicole]

I had no idea. It was a big surprise.

[Caller 2]

So you got that, you open up a box and in there is a note that says, I've purchased you two tickets to the game. They'll be here in a week.

[Nicole]

Yes.

[Bert]

All right. And while you guys were dating, I'm assuming he's a Florida fan also?

[Nicole]

No, he's a Georgia fan.

[Bert]

Okay.

[Caller 1]

Okay.

[Caller 2]

But is Georgia going to the national championship this year?

[Caller 1]

I don't think so.

[Bert]

I've got some pictures coming up on the 18th that will ask a question for you.

[Caller 1]

It's got a bad payoff that proves otherwise.

[Caller 2]

Are you totally unrelated, but are you really putting on one of Those little Georgia GS that people paint on their cheeks? On your ass cheeks?

[Bert]

Well, I wouldn't say little. Okay, so. Okay, so he buys Them for you. He's a Georgia fan, so he's not as invested in Florida. So what makes you even think that he's going to be upset that he's not going to the game?

[Nicole]

Well, see, we ended up. He broke up with me on the Florida Georgia game because Florida won. I guess whatever is kind of a shady character. But he called me yesterday telling me that just to leave his ticket in his mailbox today when I drive home from work because he was wanting to use it.

[Bert]

I. Hold on. We got to back up. He broke up with you on. On game day. Florida. Georgia. Game day. Because Florida beat Georgia.

[Nicole]

He said what? He told me. He said he just. He just couldn't take it any longer, so he broke up with me on after the game ended.

[Caller 2]

So he gave you the tickets before the game, dumped you after the game, and. And now want you to drive one of the tickets over to his house and leave it for him?

[Nicole]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Caller 1]

Oh, hell, no.

[Bert]

I'm a little torn because as a Georgia fan, I do respect that he broke up with you on that day. Come on.

[Caller 2]

Doesn't matter.

[Bert]

Those are your tickets.

[Caller 1]

Your tickets.

[Bert]

He's not entitled to those at all.

[Caller 1]

It was a gift.

[Nicole]

Yeah. So my. My thing is, how do I spitefully tell him that there is no way over my dead body he's getting one of those tickets?

[Bert]

Why do you have to be nice about it at all? Why don't you just call him back and say, are you kidding me? Those were a gift. You're not getting anything.

[Caller 2]

Those were a gift. And I'm going with my new friend Wendy.

[Caller 1]

Yay.

[Nicole]

There you go.

[Caller 1]

I think you should do what every mature adult would do and text him. I'm just not saying anything at all. I just avoid the phone.

[Bert]

This is a slam dunk here. I mean, you have no obligation to him whatsoever. It should be an easy phone call. You bought the tickets for me, and it was my birthday. They were both a present. You didn't get me one ticket for the game. You got me two. It's over.

[Nicole]

All right. Just making sure I was covering my end. So I wasn't going to be that girl.

[Caller 3]

That girl?

[Bert]

No, I don't think so. Right?

[Nicole]

No, no, not at all.

[Caller 1]

I think that you are absolutely in the right.

[Bert]

Like, the only way it would be controversial is if, like, you bought him the tickets.

[Nicole]

Yeah.

[Bert]

You broke up with him, maybe, and you wanted one of the tickets. But this is a slam dunk here, right?

[Caller 1]

And it's your team that's going to the national championship.

[Bert]

Yeah.

[Nicole]

All right, good to know.

[Caller 1]

You know, I think that he might actually have more of an argument if it were his team.

[Nicole]

Right.

[Caller 1]

Do you know what I'm saying? I would feel more sympathy for him if he gave her the tickets and then it was his team that ended up going and it wasn't her team, but she was gonna. You know what I'm saying? I would feel like, oh, man, that does really stink for him because his team is going, but his team isn't going, yours is. And he broke up with you because your team won.

[Bert]

This may be pretty basic, but if you. I wonder if he's using that ticket to get back to hang out with you for a couple of hours, just.

[Nicole]

Yeah, I hope not.

[Bert]

Maybe he's using that as just the time to start to get back in your good graces because he's trying to, I don't know, get back with you.

[Caller 1]

If that's the case, then just take his best friend.

[Bert]

I don't believe that he broke up with you because his team lost that badly and he couldn't take it. He had to have another reason.

[Nicole]

Well, I certainly. At least I can say, I certainly hope it was for something more, you know, substantial than, you know, of game.

[Caller 1]

I just don't know. That's pretty substantial.

[Bert]

Did he break up with you during the game or was it right after the game?

[Nicole]

Because it was about an hour and a half after the game.

[Bert]

Yeah, I'm surprised he didn't wait till second half. He could have done that and saved himself a couple hours. It was over by then.

[Caller 1]

That's true.

[Bert]

Hey, Candace. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 2]

Remembers all those losses.

[Nicole]

Good morning. First of all, I have to say

[Caller 3]

I absolutely love you guys. I moved from Texas a year and a half ago and I listen to you every morning on the way to work.

[Caller 1]

Thanks. Thanks.

[Nicole]

I just have.

[Caller 3]

First of all, she's. She has no obligation just say, I mean, however she wants to do it. The tickets are not his. But I had a similar. Well, kind of similar situation. I had gotten Deftones tickets for my birthday from my little brother. And I had been in a three and a half year relationship. And the last, you know, the last stretch of it was pretty bad with this guy that I was with. And I had actually bought. My brother bought me one ticket. I had bought the other ticket. And at the weekend was rounding about for the Deftones concert and we just were not getting along, period. It just was not working. He was being a complete, you know what? And so I just. That Friday I told him, I called him and I said, you know what? At this point, I just don't even see how we're going to be able to have a good time together. And this was a birthday present for my brother, and, you know, we're going together, and I feel like it's just not possible for us to have fun. So I'm not going with you. And I ended up taking my. One of my best friends, Hana, instead. And by the time I got back Sunday, he was already telling people we had broken up.

[Caller 1]

Oh.

[Caller 3]

And, well, that was pretty much the end of our relationship was that turning point of the concert. But, you know, when we got back Sunday, I talked to him and. And, you know, that it was over. But he was that kind of guy that he just had already told people in my hometown and, you know, was spreading rumors and stuff.

[Bert]

Tell him again, because that ain't gonna happen. There are some women calling up that want to get a little bit more spiteful about it than that. Hey, Katie, good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 3]

Good morning.

[Bert]

Good morning.

[Caller 3]

Okay, just to get the facts straight, he got her a birthday present of these tickets that he gave her. He broke up with her because he's a sore loser on her birthday, right?

[Bert]

Correct.

[Caller 3]

Okay. What I think she should do is send him a text message saying, I'm on my way to drop the tickets off in your mailbox. Now, cut out a little piece of cardboard, put it in an envelope, and on the piece of cardboard, put in your dreams. Seriously?

[Caller 1]

Yes.

[Caller 3]

I don't know where he gets off thinking that he's actually going to this game.

[Bert]

We can do better than that, even.

[Caller 1]

See, we can do arts and crafts when we get spiteful, start cutting letters

[Caller 2]

out of magazines and stuff.

[Caller 1]

It's therapeutic.

[Bert]

Hey, Susan. Go ahead. You're part of the Burt Show. Hi.

[Nicole]

Hey. Just wanted to tell the caller that she owes no obligation to him to give him a phone call or a text message. What she needs to do is invite someone else to the game with her, make a big poster that says, thanks for the tickets, and hope like hell that the TV scans in front of her.

[Bert]

Yes, that I like. That's the one that they pan to, too. Like, I'm here with my. My ex boyfriend's tickets.

[Nicole]

Love it.

[Bert]

That would make it.

[Caller 1]

That is a great idea.

[Bert]

All right, Nicole, you got no obligation to this guy. Do what you want with the tickets.

[Nicole]

All right, well, Wendy, if my friend doesn't decide not to go and has her kid, you have the other ticket. All right, I'M ready to go Orange

[Caller 1]

and BL needs to be and I'm gonna be there.

[Caller 3]

There you go.

[Bert]

Thanks for calling. Bye bye.

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