So my (26F) step-moms brother (50s M) is a billionaire. In all honesty, I don't know him super well, but I know his daughter. We talk a lot and keep in touch regularly. I would consider her my friend. She recently received a diagnosis of a neurological disorder. I won't go into details, but she lost the capability of doing a sport that she enjoyed, and is currently unable to do very basic math, read, or even speak properly. She can form sentences, but very simple ones; like she's 6 years old, even though she is 18. The parents, like any good parents in the world, would give up everything and do anything in their power to have their daughter be healthy again. She has been flown all over the world, they've tried all types of treatments. Nothing is working, and it's getting worse.

Last time I saw her, she wasn't in a good condition, and I feel really bad for her.

Recently, I went to see my step-mom and dad, and we decided to invite some friends over for Easter. Everything went well until the topic of "how is your family" came up. My step-mom was honest about the situation to some of my friends, some of whom I went to school with, and they just sort of... cackled? Like it was funny to them. I was obviously upset, and it turned into an argument.

This friend group has now started to ostracize me for this, telling that I am stealing from people who work hard, and rich people like this sick girl are people who don't deserve sympathy. One of them even called me "evil" for having put time and energy into helping this girl and talking with her about the disease when I could've invested this time to helping people who are homeless or really disadvantaged instead of a girl with a collection of fine art and high jewelry who just "happens to be sick".

So AITAH for having sympathy for this girl and trying to support her, despite of her dad being a billionaire?