Claudia Correia
Johannesburg
1 October 2026
Dear John,
I know what it feels like to be left without closure, to be stood up and ghosted, questioning yourself while your significant other is on Hinge telling strangers how much they value communication.
Once you get past the insult, there is something almost impressive about the administration. Some people have time to maintain dating profiles, run businesses and meet new people, yet telling the person they are with requires a gap in the diary that never materialises.
I was far less heartbroken than professionally curious. People spend years protecting their reputations in business. They resign with a letter and would never let a deal end in silence, yet somehow consider a blue tick an acceptable way to conclude a relationship. They assume nobody is keeping score, but somebody always is, usually over dinner, where the mention of their name prompts a small but involuntary gag.
I understand that feelings change and that telling someone you no longer want to be with them is uncomfortable. Hearing it is hardly a pleasure either, but at least an honest conversation gives both people the same information. An ending should not require your partner to develop a working knowledge of Inspector Clouseau’s methods.
That is why I created Dear John. How you leave a relationship is part of your reputation and deserves the same care as everything else you put your name to. There is also the small matter of karma, should basic consideration prove insufficient motivation.
We help people say the difficult thing they have been putting off, with enough care to be kind and enough clarity to actually end it. Whether we write the letter or make the call, you approve every word before it reaches the person who deserves to hear it. Where appropriate, we can arrange flowers, chocolates, champagne or tequila, because an ending can be considerate without being entirely sober in its presentation.
The dating industry has invested considerably in helping people meet from the comfort of a couch. I thought someone should give a little attention to how they leave. And so I leave you with my personal motto as Chief Ex Officer. To not be a dickhead, but to rather be a Dear John.
Yours in breakups,
Claudia Correia
Founder & Chief Ex Officer
