What was supposed to be a cute joke became a reminder of a threat to all women: beardfishing. On Tuesday, Kandi Burruss of Real Housewives of Atlanta fame showed us how her husband, Todd Tucker, looked without a beard.

In preparation for their seventh-anniversary trip, the reality television star posted a video on her Instagram with the caption, “The beard is what got us to 7 years of marriage!”

Kandi has spent the week posting lovey-dovey pictures and videos on Instagram to celebrate the couple’s marriage. Of course, Tucker’s clean-shaven appearance was the product of a filter. 

Beardfishing is loosely defined as men using beards to make themselves appear more attractive than they would be without facial hair.

Another recent beardfishing culprit was the talk of social media after the last Verzuz. Ronald Isley, the lead singer of the legendary Isley Brothers, became the zaddy of the beardfishers after the ladies decided to risk it all for the almost 80-year-old crooner. Isley showed up and out with a sexy silver fox look for the nostalgic music battle. Sisters quickly forgot what Mr.Biggs looked like in real life.

Don’t worry. We’ll remind you.

In fact, some of your favorite heartthrobs like Kofi Siriboe and Method Man have been follicularly toying with your emotions for years and you didn’t even know it. 

Don’t believe us?

We know that some of these came as a shocking blow. Even our editorial director had to go on 24-hour leave after seeing Method Man’s true face.

However, the truth will set us all free.  Sisters can never really know what lies beneath a sea of perfectly groomed facial hair. It’s imperative to get the receipts before deciding that a man is fine, right?

After the pressure that women have faced to look perfect from head to toe, it is liberating to expose the faux sexy among us. Besides, the disappointment of seeing a woman without makeup will never compare to the anguish of beardfishing. 

Single and married women have fallen victim to this scam over the years, with some not finding out that their dude is a four at best until well after the honeymoon. Beardfishing is widespread and respects no race, socio-economic status, or age. Any man can be a perpetrator, and any woman can be a victim. 

There is no known cure for the deception, and you won’t be entitled to compensation until around 2030.

We recommend the best filter you can find to make sure your bae is actually bae-worthy. Of course, cash covers a multitude of facial hair sins.