Pulling a Bruce

Definition of "Pulling a Bruce" "Pulling a Bruce" refers to the behavior of an irresponsible friend who, in a moment of emotional turmoil or inadequacy, uses a "friend" as an emotional surrogate to express and manipulate their feelings. The person in question (the "Brucer") often attempts to shame their friend for not recognizing their personal struggles—particularly related to failed relationships, such as a divorce prompted by infidelity. This term also suggests a broader pattern of lack of personal responsibility and emotional maturity, where the "Brucer" fails to address their own issues while projecting their emotional pain onto others. In more extreme cases, "Pulling a Bruce" can also be seen as a form of escapism, where the individual distracts themselves with voyeuristic behaviors or attempts to compensate for personal deficiencies by finding fault in others.