Sensitive Workplace Situation

Recently, I accidentally upset a colleague at work. On Tuesday, they sent me an email on Wednesday saying I made them feel unsafe due to something that triggered them. I took note of the email and decided to give them some space, still being friendly but avoiding direct interaction to not make them uncomfortable. I also made sure to avoid the triggering topic whenever we interacted.

Unfortunately, my attempt to give them space backfired. On Thursday, I was called into a mediation meeting with some higher-ups and the concerned colleague. They asked why I hadn’t spoken to them directly about the email, thinking that my silence meant I was continuing the triggering behavior. I explained that I avoided direct contact to prevent appearing hostile, as they said they felt unsafe. They understood my reasoning, and we talked things out during mediation. However, on Friday, they took a mental health day because they still felt uneasy around me. I completely understand and feel awful for accidentally triggering them. I never want to make anyone feel unsafe, and I’ll continue to avoid the topic and be a friendly colleague in the future.

Here’s my dilemma: I was supposed to join a weekly group hangout with this colleague outside of work. Now, I’m uncomfortable doing so. Given they feel unsafe around me, I don’t want to risk triggering them again, which could lead to more work issues. My other coworkers think I’m being an asshole for not wanting to hang out outside of work and are pressuring me to continue as planned. I feel like my response is reasonable, but now I’m not sure. Am I wrong?

How would this situation play out if I was on a reality show? The drama and tension could be even more intense, with cameras capturing every interaction and the pressure to handle things perfectly. How would viewers react to my actions and decisions? Would they see me as considerate or avoiding conflict?