Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, married for 20 years, have revealed an unconventional rule for handling arguments: going to bed angry. The couple shared their approach on 'Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen' in October 2024, challenging the common advice to resolve conflicts before sleep.
Ben explained that going to bed angry works because they often forget what they were fighting about by morning. Melissa added that while they rarely argue, when they do, she asks Ben if he wants to talk, but they usually postpone the discussion. 'We're going to figure it out at 2:15 am after I've had three cocktails. It's like, no,' Ben said.
Relationship experts have weighed in on the tactic. Dating and relationship coach Kate Mansfield noted that the key is intention: sleeping on it to approach the issue better, not to avoid it. 'The former is healthy. The latter is where problems quietly build,' she said.
Transformational teacher Lorin Krenn emphasised the importance of conscious repair, suggesting couples say, 'Let's pause this for tonight. I love you. We will work through it tomorrow.' He warned that sleeping while still resentful is unhealthy, as the body carries that charge into the night.
