GEN1486 A person should rather give up his life than publicly shame someone.   … The sages Baba Metzia 59a said that a person who shames another in public loses his share in the world to come. They did not say this concerning someone who committed murder, because a murderer might repent and retain his share in the next world. When a person shames another, however, he is unaware of the enormity of his transgression, and it will not occur to him to repent.  Shaarey Tshuvah 3:139, 141.  Because of the gravity of embarrassing someone in public, the Chofetz Chayim warns us not to join the company of people who are likely to shame others.   If you join such a group, you too are apt to make some comment that will embarrass another person.   If for some reason you are unable to leave such a group, be on your guard: Even if you happen to think of something funny about someone, do not say it Chovas Hashirmah.   PLYN 111-2