I just found out my closest college friends made a separate group chat to talk shit about my relationship and mock my partner behind my back. I am completely furious. Do I even bother confronting them, or do I just cut them off?

Confront them once, calmly, not to beg for an apology you won't believe anyway, but to let them know you see them clearly before you step back. What is happening here is a classic, petty shift in college dynamics. When one person in a tight circle commits to a serious relationship, it disrupts the unspoken group hierarchy. Instead of handling their jealousy or the fear of drifting apart like adults, they bonded over mocking your life behind your back. That isn't casual venting; it's cowardly. Send a short, factual message to the person you considered closest: "I know about the secondary group chat and what’s been said about my partner. It crosses a line, so I'm stepping away from this circle." Then mute the threads. Do not get pulled into a chaotic group debate where they minimize it as "just jokes." Real friends might occasionally complain that they miss having your undivided time, but they don't build a private audience to tear down the person you love.