History Main / AtLeastIAdmitIt

* ''Fanfic/StarWarsVsWarhammer40K'': Per [[WordOfGod commentary from the author]], this would be the general attitude of any of the Imperial commanders if the Republic were to call them out on the many atrocities they have committed as InvadingRefugees, pointing out that in many ways the Galactic Republic is already a [[FantasticRacism human supremacist]] dictatorship in all but name -- the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic is human, the Clone Troopers are all engineered from human base stock, the Republic's most influential worlds tend to be human-dominated if not human civilizations, and human supremacist views were spreading throughout the Republic.

** From ''FOX-y Lady'':

* ''Theatre/SeventeenSeventySix'': The point of the song ''Molasses to Rum'', where a delegate from South Carolina protests the dithering over denouncing slavery in the Declaration of Independence by pointing out that sure, South Carolina is a slaveholding state... but the Northern states are ''also'' guilty of participating in the slave trade, and at least South Carolina isn't claiming to oppose slavery while they do it.

-->''The Operative:'' I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there any more than there is for you. Malcolm, I'm a monster. What I do is evil, I have no illusions about it. But it must be done.

-->''That first debate, I'd never seen anything like it. I've never seen a white male billionaire screaming at the top of his lungs, "This whole system is rigged!" he said. And across the stage was a white woman, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama sitting over there looking at him like, "No it's not." I said, "Now wait a minute, bro. It's what he said." And the moderator said, "Well, Mr. Trump, if, in fact, the system is rigged, as you suggest, what would be your evidence?" Remember what he said, bro? He said, "I know the system is rigged, because I use it."''

* In an ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' [[https://youtu.be/_m-gO0HSCYk?si=hl28oNgSHo4zhZeS&t=509 monologue]], Creator/DaveChappelle argued that America elected Donald Trump in 2016 because he was an "honest liar."

** When [[AnythingThatMoves Quagmire]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech chews out Brian]], he calls Brian out for being a pervert like this (though it's undermined by the fact that Quagmire downplays his own crimes, admitting to "dating women for their bodies" but neglecting to mention that he is also a literal rapist):

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'': A consistent trait of [[VillainProtagonist Kazuya Mishima]]'s is his conscious refusal to hide the fact that he is a cold-blooded bastard driven by ruthless ambition. Half because he possesses the power to crush almost anyone who would dare oppose him for it, and half out of spite for his ArchnemesisDad, Heihachi, being a VillainWithGoodPublicity whose good deeds are done [[PragmaticVillainy primarily for his own benefit]]. The closest to exceptions to this is him keeping his Devil form a DarkSecret and utilizing the good PR received by G Corporation opposing the Mishima Zaibatsu during WorldWarIII in ''6''.

** See also ''Joker's Asylum'', where he hijacks a game show and turns it into a DeadlyGame, just to prove how sick the viewing audience and ratings-obsessed staff are.

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/40396812 Snap Before You Break]]'' centers around Izuku calling out Aizawa for being a terrible teacher who abuses his students under the pretext of "logical ruses". When he learns that Nedzu was fully aware of Aizawa's issues and didn't do anything about it to [[SecretTestOfCharacter see whether Izuku would step up and act]], he berates the principal as well. Nedzu shrugs it off, stating that he's well aware that he's manipulative, and unlike Aizawa, he's not [[FreudianExcuseIsNotExcuse using his trauma as an excuse]]. That said, he agrees to drop the habit, at least with Class 1-A.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'': A consistent trait of [[VillainProtagonist Kazuya Mishima]]'s is his conscious refusal to hide the fact that he is a cold-blooded bastard driven by ruthless ambition. Half because he possesses the power to crush almost anyone who would dare oppose him for it, and half out of spite for his ArchnemesisDad, Heihachi, being a VillainWithGoodPublicity whose good deeds are done [[PragmaticVillainy primarily for his own benefit]]. The closest to exceptions to this is him keeping his Devil from a DarkSecret and utilizing the good PR received by G Corporation opposing the Mishima Zaibatsu during WorldWarIII in ''6''.

'''Omar:''' I got the shotgun. You got the briefcase. ''(shrugs)'' S'all in the game, though, right?\\

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'', Jon turns on an infomercial for a weight-loss product with a disclaimer at the beginning that says, "The following show is a half-hour commerical that we've disguised as a real program because we figure you're all too stupid to tell the difference." To which Garfield replies, "At least they're honest." (Seeing as the product being sold is a complete scam and the episode ends with the perky female host being exposed as a ConArtist, the episode is likely meant as a TakeThat towards such programs.)

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'', Jon turns on an infomercial for a weight-loss product with a disclaimer at the beginning that says, "The following is a half-hour commercial that we've disguised as a real show because we assume you're too dumb to tell the difference." To which Jon replies, "Well, at least they're being honest about it." (Seeing as the product being sold is a complete scam and the episode ends with the perky female host being exposed as a ConArtist, the episode is likely meant as a TakeThat towards such programs.)

!!By Creator:
* A meta example. Creator/HideoKojima was widely mocked for telling his critics they would "regret their words and deeds" when implying there was a key plot-related reason for Quiet's {{Stripperiffic}} character design in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain''. There ''was'', but it was pretty specifically tailor-made to get the woman in an objectifying outfit for the sake of showing skin and the mocking never stopped. Creator/YokoTaro, in contrast, has received a degree of grudging respect for admitting "[[AuthorAppeal I like pretty girls]]" as the reason for 2B's sexy appearance in ''VideoGame/NierAutomata''.

!!By Title:

* ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'':
** ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars2BlackHoleRising'': This is Lash's attitude towards Sonja. She feels that they're similar: they both [[WarHasNeverBeenSoMuchFun treat war like a game]], but at least she admits that [[CardCarryingVillain she's a sociopath who doesn't care about her soldiers' lives]].
** ''VideoGame/AdvanceWarsDaysOfRuin'': Waylon says that Will only does his heroism to feel self-important; at least ''he'' doesn't hide the fact that he's a selfish bastard. Will counteracts that he might indeed be [[spoiler:leading Brenner's Wolves]] and helping people just [[HeroComplex just so he can feel like a hero]], but believes if it helps even one person then it's absolutely worth it. [[VillainousBreakdown Waylon does]] ''[[VillainousBreakdown not]]'' [[VillainousBreakdown take it well]].

* In ''[[Fanfic/WhatHaveYouDone Even As...]]'', [[spoiler:Discord]] admits to screwing with ponies for his own amusement, saying that at least he doesn't act high and mighty about it, unlike Celestia, who manipulates them "for the greater good".

* [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Mako Mankanshoku]] from ''Anime/KillLaKill'' admits to Elite Four's [[DarkChick Nonon Jakuzure's]] constantly calling her "underachiever", but reminds her that she still has a name. Fellow Elite Four member [[PrinciplesZealot Ira Gamagoori]] is both shocked and impressed by Mako's shamelessness to this.

* In ''Literature/{{Twig}}'', Sylvester has an example of this trope after several of his hostages (wealthy young members of the aristocracy) see him have Mary poison a socialite, and call him a monster.
-->''I’m a monster that knows exactly what he is. You’re three monsters who pretend not to see. When and if things get ugly, I want you to remember, the ugliness you’re seeing has been ongoing, affecting the poor, the people who you and your families stepped on to get here.''

* ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'': [[BigBad Dream]] pulls this card with [[WellIntentionedExtremist Sam]][[note]]who allowed Quackity to torture Dream as revenge for Dream murdering Tommy[[/note]], claiming that unlike Sam he's at least honest about being a monster. It rings hollow, since not only does Dream try to present himself as more moral than Sam almost immediately, but he conveniently leaves out having tortured and murdered two people himself simply to test an experiment.
* Commentary [=YouTuber=] Jordan Theresa thinks there's nothing wrong with models and influencers having plastic surgery and Botox, or editing their photos. However, she's highly critical of those who don't disclose it and claim their looks are all-natural, feeling that this is dishonest and can lead to their young fans developing self-esteem issues because they're comparing themselves to an image that literally isn't real. Jordan herself has had some work done and sometimes edits her photos, but fully admits it, along with the time she spends on makeup, specifically because she doesn't want to misrepresent things for her younger viewers. As she puts it, "It cost me money to look like this!:

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** The Grand Pumpkin in a "Treehouse of Horror" episode - who, after expressing apathy over the fate of a ''yellow'' pumpkin (the Grand Pumpkin is your standard orange type of pumpkin), is called out for his racism by, of all people, [[EvenEvilHasStandards Nelson Muntz]]. The Grand Pumpkin claims all pumpkins are racist and that he's different from others because he admits it. And while it's not a saving grace for the Grand Pumpkin, Nelson is being hypocritical here because ''he'' doesn't care about the fate of the little yellow pumpkin, either; in fact, he was precisely the one who had been perfectly willing to smash that little pumpkin [[DirtyCoward in order to save his own life]]!
** In "A Fish Called Selma", when Selma confronts Troy [=McClure=] and demands to know if he married her simply to boost his career, he admits it quickly, and actually convinces her, at least for a while, that being a sham wife isn't so bad. (What actually makes her have second thoughts at the end is the idea of having a child; getting a child involved in a sham marriage [[EveryoneHasStandards is something she can't do]].)

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Total Drama Island]]'', after [[AlphaBitch Heather]] gets her lackey [[DumbBlonde Lindsay]] eliminated from the competition, and [[KickTheDog goes on to insult Lindsay]] and admit she was only using her to get further in the contest, Duncan calls it "[[EvenEvilHasStandards cold]]." After Heather tells him that he's in [[NotSoDifferentRemark no position to criticize her]] since he uses his {{delinquent}} behavior to scare everyone, Duncan replies, "At least I'm straight with people."

* In the ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' episode "The Gamesmaster", Flint, Lady Jay, Cobra Commander, and the Baroness were all kidnapped by a third-party villain called the Gamesmaster and forced into a DeadlyGame scenario. It was clear from the start that the Commander's promises to cooperate with ''any'' of them (the Baroness included) were nothing but BlatantLies. The Baroness, however?
-->'''Cobra Commander:''' Whose side are you on?
-->'''Baroness:''' Why, the same side you are, Commander. [[NoHonorAmongThieves My own.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'':
** Scooby and Shaggy are card-carrying cowards. And they're not afraid to admit it. When Fred tells them to enter a doorway for investigation:
--->'''Shaggy:''' I take the fifth.\\
'''Fred:''' The fifth?\\
'''Shaggy:''' Yes! I refuse to enter that door on the grounds that it might intimidate me!
** Moe does the exact same thing in the episode where Film/TheThreeStooges show up as {{Special Guest}}s, going so far as to cluck like a chicken after calling everyone else chickens for being afraid of the Ghost of the Red Baron. And a minute later:
--->'''Moe:''' On second thought, there's no way this chicken is staying here with that hopping red rabbit around!

---> '''Quagmire:''' You pretend you're this deep guy who loves women for their souls when all you do is date bimbos. Yeah. ''I'' date women for their bodies but at least I'm honest about it!

--->'''Woman:''' Ooh, I'm so bad...
--->'''Peter:''' You gonna buy a cookie this time?
--->'''Woman:''' Ooh, I'd better just stick with a sample. I'm so bad... but at least I know I'm bad, which makes me a little better. Or ''worse''.
--->''[Cut off as Peter clocks her with a cookie tray.]''
* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': Rick is a sociopath who kills without remorse and abuses his family with manipulation and lies. However, unlike his daughter Beth, he is fully aware of how bad of a person he is and doesn’t deny his misdeeds or what a terrible dad he was to her years ago. In “The [=ABCs=] of Beth” he finally calls out Beth, stating that he might be a bad father to her, but she’s no better, listing down a large number of misdeeds she committed without the need of him screwing her up first.
-->'''Beth''': You would rather believe I’m evil than admit that you were a bad father?\\
'''Rick''': Oh, dude, no. No, bad father all the way to the max over here. I’m a [bleep] nutcase. And the acorn plopped straight down, baby.

* One first-season episode of ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'', "The Sensitive Male," parodies ''WesternAnimation/SchoolhouseRock'' by having a short, plain-looking man (voiced by ''Schoolhouse Rock'' creator Jack Sheldon) offer Johnny lessons on how to be, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a sensitive male]], with lessons on manners, listening to others, and being in touch with one's feminine side. At the end of the episode, the man admits that he [[BitchInSheepsClothing doesn't believe a word of what he preaches]] and simply ''acts'' nice to get women to do what he wants. Johnny is thoroughly disgusted by his attitude--he may be a CasanovaWannabe, but he's 100% honest about it--and so creates an EngineeredPublicConfession to expose the guy in front of all the girls he's been trying to woo, who promptly carry him off for some well-deserved punishment.
* This forms the solution in the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "Shallow Vows", where Stan and Francine discover they only love each other for extremely shallow reasons - Stan is only interested in Francine's beauty, Francine only married Stan so she wouldn't have to work - and at the end of the day they decide that their marriage works anyway because they're honest about how shallow they are, going so far as to renew their vows by stating as much.
-->'''Stan:''' I promise, when you start to sag, to subject you to risky elective surgery.\\
'''Francine:''' And I promise to be with you only if you make money and stay healthy.\\
'''Stan:''' Alzheimer's runs in my family.\\
'''Francine:''' You'll be dealing with that solo.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Bronn knows exactly who and what he is and makes absolutely no apologies or excuses for it. This has the effect of people trying to insult him and he agrees with them.
-->'''Meryn:''' You're an upjumped cutthroat. Nothing more.
-->'''Bronn:''' That's ''exactly'' who I am.
** Also comes up when Sandor accuses him of loving killing and pulls a NotSoDifferentRemark moment.
--->'''Sandor:''' You're just like me. Only smaller.
--->'''Bronn:''' And quicker.
* This seems to be the crux of Omar's takedown of drug lawyer Maurice Levy in ''Series/TheWire'' episode "[[Recap/TheWireS02E06AllPrologue All Prologue]]": When told that he's a leech, stealing from those who steal the lifeblood of the city, Omar's only response is, "Just like you, man."
-->'''Levy:''' Excuse me, what?
-->'''Omar:''' I got the shotgun. You got the briefcase. (shrugs) S'all in the game, though, right?
-->'''Levy:''' (stares at the judge, who just shrugs)
* In the sitcom version of ''Series/DennisTheMenace'', John Wilson is running against his rival neighbor Lucy Elkins for president of the local birdwatchers' society. The first mockingbird makes its nest in Mr. Wilson's yard, and he tries to shoo it away by getting rid of its nest. Meanwhile, Mrs. Elkins puts a tape recorder in Mr. Wilson's yard to record the song of a rare bird, and Dennis accidentally turns it on, [[ChekhovsGun with an accidental recording of her pretending to give her cat away which is played back later on]], and Mr. Wilson admits that even though he tried to throw the mockingbirds' nest out as carefully as possible, Dennis and Tommy found an injured bird which they nursed to health, and they recall the good example Mr. Wilson set, with Mr. Timberlake admitting that mockingbirds are pesky, while Mrs. Elkins only wanted the position to increase her social status, and she doesn't even care much for birds, running for club president with a superficial motive to spite Mr. Wilson, because she doesn't care that much for birds as Mr. Wilson does.
* Parodied on ''Series/TheChrisRockShow'' with the "Mike Tyson for President" ads, which show Tyson admitting stuff like how he's a convicted rapist and "a semi-good husband".

* ''Series/BadToTheBone'': Francesca Wells is a [[EvilIsSexy beautiful]] {{teen|sAreMonsters}}ager whose sole goal in life is to [[GoldDigger screw (and screw over) as many wealthy men as possible]], and [[BlackWidow she doesn't balk at resorting to murder to get what she wants, either]]. Through it all, her one virtue is that at least she is aware of her depraved and degraded nature and will own up to it on occasion.
-->'''Man she's trying to seduce:''' We don't get many whores up here.
-->'''Francesca:''' ''[bitterly]'' Well, you've got yourself one now.
* In ''Series/BurnNotice'', the main character, Michael Westen, formerly had an older, more experienced partner named Larry who was sort of like a mentor figure to him. He and Larry conducted many black operations together for years, some of which, according to Larry, were the kind that only the darkest breed of soldier would have the heart to carry out. This partnership came to an end when Larry decided to fake his death because he was tired of working for the CIA and wanted to go freelance as a mercenary. Years later, Michael is issued a burn notice, effectively firing him from his job at the CIA, and Larry shows up offering him a chance to go freelance with him. The only thing is that Larry has become much crueler in his methods since last they met, and Michael says he would much rather try getting his job with the CIA back than deal with Larry's cruel tendencies. Larry, in all of his appearances, never gives up on trying to convert Michael to his side, saying that there is a dark side to Michael's nature that he saw during their years together, the only difference between them being that Michael is denying his evil nature while Larry has embraced his.

* In ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' Root is this, that while she does horrible things, she has no problem admitting what she does. She feels that some people are just bad code that need to be corrected.
* [[Recap/BlackMirrorTheWaldoMoment One episode]] of ''Series/BlackMirror'' has an animation team put a cartoon bear named Waldo in the running for Parliament. He racks up votes by the sheer ridiculousness of the concept and putting out statements saying how he's honest about not standing for anything, but it's subverted when his increasingly pissed voice actor points out that it doesn't change the fact that ''he still doesn't stand for anything'' and voting for a character that has no policies whatsoever just because he admits to it makes a mockery of the whole voting process. [[spoiler:The episode ends with his voice actor becoming homeless and alcoholic while Waldo is used as a figurehead for a ''global'' totalitarian political movement. If you noticed the similarities between the Waldo movement and the real-life alt-right and Pepe the frog, well done.]]
* In ''Series/PeakyBlinders'', Tommy Shelby, one of the titular Blinders, accuses LondonGangster Alfie Solomons of [[spoiler:"crossing the line" by selling him out to the Economic League. Alfie is enraged by this because he can't believe that Shelby considers himself a more moral man than Alfie when they're both equally murderous gangsters.]]
-->'''Alfie Solomons:''' And what fucking line am I supposed to have crossed?! How many fathers, how many sons, have you cut, killed, murdered, fucking butchered, innocent and guilty, sent 'em straight to fucking Hell! JUST LIKE ME! And you fucking stand there—you, judging me—stand there and talk to me about crossing some fucking line?!
* In the ''Series/MurdochMysteries'' episode "Vengeance Makes the Man", Maurice Majors has kidnapped Inspector Brakenreid to force him to sign a confession that he sent a member of Majors' gang to the gallows for a crime he didn't commit (but he had committed other murders Brakenreid couldn't prove). He refuses to do so.
-->'''Majors''': A man is dead because of you!\\
'''Brakenreid''': And several men are dead because of you. Where's ''your'' confession?\\
'''Majors''': I'm not holding myself up as a paragon of law and order. I know exactly who I am.
* In the second episode of ''Series/TheBlacklist'', VillainProtagonist Reddington goes up against a particularly vile sort of {{Hypocrite}}: [[spoiler: a woman who uses a charity intended to help free women from human trafficking as cover for her own human trafficking network]]. Reddington appears to be particularly incensed by this, both because the crime in question pushes one of his EvenEvilHasStandards buttons but also because of the sheer, despicable nature of the two-facedness; Reddington himself is a monster, albeit an AffablyEvil one, but he's one who owns the things he does and certainly doesn't sanctimoniously pretend to oppose the crimes he profits from.

* "My Plague" by Music/{{Slipknot}} features this in its lyrics:
-->I'm just a bastard\\
but at least I admit it\\
At least I admit it!

* Similar to TISM, the 1970s pop-rock group Music/TenCC had "Worst Band in the World":
-->''It's one thing to know it but another to admit''\\
''We're the worst band in the world but we don't give a'' [[SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion *guitar lick*]]
* On Music/ElvisCostello's ''Music/MyAimIsTrue'' the AlbumTitleDrop from "Allison" implies this:
-->''Allison, I know this world is killing you'' = "I know the world is going to break your heart"\\
''Allison, my aim is true'' = "I will too, but I'll be more forthright about it."
* Music/EscapeTheFate starts [[IHateSong "H8 MY SELF"]] with these lines, suggesting it's the reason why the singer hates the target more than themself.
-->I'm a hypocrite but at least I fucking own it\\
-->You never admit that you're anything but golden

* In WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick's review of ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'' she compares it to ''Film/BarbWire''--both are exploitative to women but the latter tries to make up for it by having its protagonist act bitter and angry at the world. She admits she kind of prefers ''Charlie's Angels'' because at least it's ''honest'' about being stupid pseudo-soft-core porn.

--> '''Dole''': I'm a plain and honest man.\\

* This is more or less the basis of [[Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance the Pirate King's]] IAmSong.

Under the brave black flag I fly
-->Than play a sanctimonious part
-->With a pirate head and a pirate heart
-->Away to the cheating world go you
-->Where pirates all are well-to-do
-->But I'll be true to the song I sing
-->And live and die a pirate king
* ''Theatre/NoExit'': While Garcin and Estelle insist they were sent to Hell by some mistake and are good people, Inez openly admits that she was an awful person in life and had this coming. She goads the others until they admit it, too.
* In Act II of ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' the Witch calls out the "heroes" of the play in "The Last Midnight" for their questionable deeds which they justify by needing to get what they wanted. Then when they have to face the consequences they hurry to blame other people.

* ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor'': This is Kaido's philosophy. To him, all people are ugly, selfish, and power-grubbing underneath and try to solve all their problems with force -- he just doesn't see the point in trying to hide it. This comes to light when [[spoiler:he ends up in a fight with the resident KnightTemplar of the lockdown and [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech ends up explaining how]] they're [[NotSoDifferentRemark similar]]. (in using the fact that they're more powerful than others to bully them into following their point of view) just before he uses [[{{Mon}} Pazuzu]] to strangle and fry his opponent to death.]]
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'''s Bishop holds much the same view. He doesn't bother to hide his inherent beastliness and says as much if you try to dig out his FreudianExcuse through conversation.
* ''Videogame/FarCry4'': This is ultimately what sets Pagan Min apart from just about every other major player. While the others all feel compelled to justify their horrible deeds regardless of how ridiculous it becomes in the face of their increasing brutality, he is the only one who admits that [[spoiler:deep down he wanted to commit his atrocities and the death of his infant daughter was just an excuse.]]
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' has Atton Rand calling out the Jedi for their hypocrisy and states that, for as bad as the Sith may be, at least they're honest about what they're killing for.
* The sequel ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', has this line of thought showing up ''everywhere''. Republic-aligned characters will usually have it thrown at them. If you're playing a Sith, especially a light-aligned Sith, you hand it out like Halloween candy.

* ''VideoGame/MarioParty3'': Baby Bowser (along with Toad) will occasionally hand out items to players who land on the item space. He asks you a personal question about your habits (like "Do you keep your room clean?"), and he rewards someone who admits to being rather undisciplined and childish ("You're honest, I like that.") If the player answers that he keeps his room clean, Baby Bowser will accuse the player of just saying whatever sounds good in order to get a prize, and the reward is more stingy than what he gives to someone who admits to letting his room get messy.
* ''VideoGame/{{Tyranny}}'': Verse, one of your companions, is a self-admitted murderer and cut-throat who likes killing things. One of the quicker ways to get on her nerves is to insist that killing things is justified by things like 'higher ideals' or 'glory'; as far as she is concerned, just admitting you like killing is much more honest. This is one of the reasons she can't stand [[JustFollowingOrders Barik]] and gets along well with [[SocialDarwinist Kills-in-Shadow]].
* A meta example. Creator/HideoKojima was widely mocked for telling his critics they would "regret their words and deeds" when implying there was a key plot-related reason for Quiet's {{Stripperiffic}} character design in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain''. There ''was'', but it was pretty specifically tailor-made to get the woman in an objectifying outfit for the sake of showing skin and the mocking never stopped. Creator/YokoTaro, in contrast, has received a degree of grudging respect for admitting "[[AuthorAppeal I like pretty girls]]" as the reason for 2B's sexy appearance in ''VideoGame/NierAutomata''.

* ''VideoGame/Vampyr2018'': Even when [[KarmaMeter played]] as a FullyEmbracedFiend, Jonathan Reid is utterly disgusted at Dr. Swansea upon discovering that he [[spoiler:betrayed not one, but two of his patients by feeding vampire blood to Harriet Jones, triggering the Skal epidemic in London]]. When Swansea states that Jonathan has no room to judge him due to his own victims, Jonathan retorts that while they're both deceivers, he at least admits [[IAmAMonster he's a monster]].

--> '''Nima:''' Oscar may have been a devil, but he wore his sins on his arm for everyone to see! You... you are just a mask with nothing behind it!

* The BigBad of ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', Lord Recluse, self-identifies as a villain; As a result villains, anti-villains, and anti-heroes that try to justify their actions, piss him right the hell off. This is most blatant as he is confronting the alternate-universe version of the BigGood (in that reality a NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist) - point blank stating the trope as he points out they’re both evil, but unlike the other guy, he doesn’t try to hide it, and yet the citizens are [[RootingForTheEmpire outright rooting for him]] to kick his “well-intentioned” ass.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' has Redcloak attempting to [[BreakThemByTalking break Miko by talking]]. He accuses paladins of being unnatural thanks to their divine immunity to fear, arguing that Xykon the Lich "is an unnatural abomination, but at least he ''cops'' to it". However, Redcloak himself gets an enhanced lifespan from the Crimson Mantle he wears, yet he remains very private about that matter.
** Xykon does this to Redcloak in ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickStartOfDarkness Start of Darkness]]''. Redcloak has just [[spoiler:murdered his own brother to save Xykon and further his plans]], and Xykon is well aware of it. He tells Redcloak that all he succeeded in doing is prove that he is just as evil as Xykon, but hides it under his [[WellIntentionedExtremist good intentions]], and will now serve loyally because he's too chickenshit to accept all the horrible things he's "had to" do [[SunkCostFallacy becoming meaningless if he quits]]. [[spoiler: Redcloak has since convinced himself he's still in charge, just secretly, but he's ''very'' bad at being honest with himself and Xykon has repeatedly proved he's smarter than people assume.]]

--> '''Thrummb''': At least you are honest enough not to pretend to morality, sir.\\

* Tom's excuse for being a ManipulativeBastard in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' is that everyone says what they think will get the right reaction from others, and at least he admits it... to ''himself''. Susan shuts him down by acknowledging that, while the JerkassHasAPoint, the majority of people at least do it with good intentions, which Tom very much does not.
* ''{{Webcomic/Precocious}}'''s Dionne used this in her [[http://www.precociouscomic.com/archive/comic/2010/03/12 campaign for class president.]]
* Brain from ''Webcomic/SamAndFuzzy'' subverts this trope. He's seemingly completely open and honest about being a selfish person who trusts nobody, but also uses this 'honesty' [[HiddenAgendaVillain to cloak his real objectives]] and drove his protege Hazel into becoming an asocial nutcase by {{Gaslighting}} her into thinking everyone is as selfish and untrustworthy as he is over the course of decades.
* In ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' this reasoning leads the Light Warriors to buy an airship from "[[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/08/05/episode-315-the-lesser-of-two-cons/ Jeff's Discount Deathtraps]]" instead of "[[HonestJohnsDealership Akbar's Airships (not deathtraps)]]".

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1603867328040698500
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[[quoteright:237:[[Webcomic/KiwiBlitz https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/no_hypocrite.png]]]]

* CorruptPolitician Job Trunicht from ''Literature/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes'' is completely shameless about his nature as a proto-fascist SmugSnake, at one point during an early episode pointing out that if democracy puts men like himself in charge, [[DemocracyIsBad it's not a terribly good system]]. [[spoiler:Trunicht later goes on to happily become TheQuisling to TheEmpire because all he cares about is his own status and power, disgusting Reinhard in the process.]]
** This can also be incorporated into the fact that Reinhard von Lohengramm, Oskar von Reuenthal, and most of the Empire cast openly enjoy battles, even if it means a lot of pain, suffering and many sacrificed lives.

* In ''ComicBook/VoteLoki'', this is basically Loki's campaign platform: He's a supervillain and a trickster god, but at least he's honest about how dishonest he is while other politicians lie about who they are. [[spoiler: In fact, what ultimately thwarts him is when people realise that is ''literally'' his entire platform and he either hadn't bothered or had genuinely forgotten to make any actual campaign promises, even bad or dishonest ones, and was just letting people project their desires onto him.]]

* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel:

* In ''ComicBook/ThePowerpuffGirls'' story "Drama-O-Rama" (DC issue #48), Sedusa stages a reality TV show in Townsville so the citizens will ham it up for the cameras while she robs the city blind. The Powerpuff Girls aren't immune to it, either. When Sedusa instructs the people to be more dramatic, Blossom takes umbrage...she says she's ''already'' a drama queen.
* ''ComicBook/{{Pathfinder|DynamiteComics}}: Origins'' #4: While evaluating TheTeam for membership in the Pathfinder Society, Venture-Captain Heidmarch somewhat angrily calls Merisiel a thief: [[NoodleIncident apparently she stole an artifact from a party of Pathfinders several years ago]]. Meri retorts that the Pathfinders had stolen the item in question from a tomb to begin with.[[note]]This is a ContinuityNod to the Pathfinder Society's InUniverse reputation in the ''Lost Omens'' setting: they fancy themselves {{Adventurer Archaeologist}}s who bring ancient knowledge to the public and take dangerous items out of circulation, but their methods vary widely in legality and political acumen and they're often accused of being glorified thieves and/or disrespecting native cultures.[[/note]]
-->'''Merisiel:''' You want to split hairs? I'll lend you a knife.

* In a similar vein, the strip of ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' on New Year's Eve 1978 has Garfield pondering to exercise and lose weight as his New Year's resolution -- only to suddenly worry that he has lost his mind and decides right then and there to not lose weight after all: [[IAmWhatIAm "I'm fat, and I'm lazy, and I'm proud]] ''[[IAmWhatIAm of]]'' [[IAmWhatIAm it!"]]

* After [[Manga/LoveHina Keitaro]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere leaves the]] [[Manga/LoveHina Hinata Inn]] in ''Fanfic/ForHisOwnSake'', Kitsune eventually [[HeelRealization realizes just how much she hurt him]]. Naru later tries claiming that the fact Kitsune hurt Keitaro in the past means she can't complain about the things THEY did; however, Kitsune shoots back that she recognizes now she was wrong and is ''trying'' to [[CharacterDevelopment change for the better]]. Naru, by contrast, [[NeverMyFault refuses to admit she ever did anything wrong]] and keeps [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming blaming Keitaro]] for all the hell she put him through.
* In ''[[Fanfic/WhatHaveYouDone Even As...]]'', [[spoiler:Discord]] admits to screwing with ponies for his own amusement, saying that at least he doesn't act high and mighty about it, unlike Celestia, who manipulates them for the greater good.
* In ''Fanfic/KitsuneNoKenFistOfTheFox'', [[TheAggressiveDrugDealer Yagura]] approaches [[TheBully Aoi]] and offers him a chance to join forces with [[TheSyndicate LOVE]] in selling Gaara's Gold Sand drug in Konoha Town. Aoi's hesitant to take up the offer, pointing out that Yagura himself is not a nice guy, but Yagura responds that he's not trying to hide that fact: "At least I don't try to pretend I have standards of any sort."
* In ''Fanfic/MassEffectHumanRevolution'', when Lt. Corvin tries to call Johann out over his brutality and psychotic tendencies, the latter retorts that at least he doesn't try to hide under the pretence of being a patriot and doing it for his species or nation.

* In ''Fanfic/BringMeToLife'', Buffy actually considers Jasmine ''worse'' than Glory for this very reason. While Glory was evil and [[AxCrazy insane]], she never tried to make excuses for her actions or pretended to be anything else, while Jasmine adamantly insists she did what she had to do and was trying to save the world.
* In ''Fanfic/DespairsLastResort'', the fourth killer admits that he committed murder out of desperation to escape and disdain for the others. When one of the others calls him out on this, he says that the three previous killers, as well as a would-be murderer who was one of the victims, may have had different reasons, but they committed the same crime he did.
-->"Unlike them, I'm not about to justify my actions or excuse them. I'm a murderer, and I murdered so I could get away from all of you. That's all there is to my crime."
* In the fifth ''Fanfic/HalloweenUnspectacular'', Ovard Grim's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech towards [[spoiler: Athena]] includes him telling her that, while he may be a sociopathic liar, he at least ''admits'' to it.
* ''Fanfic/TellingLiesNoMama'': Chloé stands up for Marinette against Lila, shedding light on her methods and motives for falsely accusing Marinette. She acknowledges that she hasn’t been the nicest person to Marinette in the past, but also reminds the class that [[EvenEvilHasStandards she hasn’t tried to pit her friends against her]], unlike [[BitchInSheepsClothing Lila]].

* Harry in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13701065/14/Metagaming Metagaming?]]'' remarks that the Kirin Tor are a bunch of self-important assholes, just like him. The only difference is he knows he is and doesn't care.
* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainKnightOfTheOrangeLily'': What separates Paul London from Grace and Simon is that he admits that he's a killer and has done horrible things -- namely sacrificing Masacrita Sacrada even though he did a kind gesture to let him see the White Rabbit and then offering up his other Rabbit Tribe members to Mantanza -- while Grace and Simon refuse to humor the idea that they're hurting denizens since they "aren't human". This becomes harsher to look at when it's later revealed that most denizens are the souls of ''reincarnated passengers'' who died on the Train [[spoiler:and Grace had actually known this the entire time but lied so she didn't have to face the truth.]]
** In ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'', when The Cat realizes that how the truth about how she abandoned Simon to save her skin is now online, she tries to save face by blaming Amelia for usurping One-One and causing all the trouble by not revealing the truth about what the Train's purpose is. Amelia, who has done a HeelFaceTurn, admits that she ''has'' done a lot of horrible things, but at least is trying to ''work'' at it, whereas The Cat was a ''single car away'' from Simon, and never returned to him after eight years.
* In Chapter 54 of ''Fanfic/BlazBlueAlternativeRemnant'', [[Franchise/BlazBlue Yuuki Terumi]] points out to [[Franchise/{{RWBY}} Adam Taurus]] that this is the main difference between the two of them. While Adam deludes himself into believing he's in the right by his actions and makes any excuse he can, Terumi makes no attempt to hide what a depraved monster he is and openly relishes in that fact.
* This is one of the reasons why Britannia and the Decepticons have such [[TeethClenchedTeamwork a difficult time working together]] in ''Fanfic/CodePrime''. Britannia spends most of the time acting righteous in their horrific actions, while the Cons don’t even bother trying to hide their evil and outright relish in the atrocities that they commit.
* ''Fanfic/{{Couturiere}}'': Hawkmoth fully admits to Couturiere that he sees her as nothing more than a means to an end. However, he points out that unlike Marinette's [[AllTakeAndNoGive friends]] and [[UngratefulBastard classmates]], he at the very least is willing to give her something back in return.
-->'''Hawkmoth''': I have kept my promise. Can you say the same for ''them?''
* ''[[Fanfic/StarWarsVsWarhammer40K Star Wars vs Warhammer 40K]]'': Per [[WordOfGod commentary from the author]], this would be the general attitude of any of the Imperial commanders if the Republic were to call them out on the many atrocities they have committed as InvadingRefugees, pointing out that in many ways the Galactic Republic is already a [[FantasticRacism human supremacist]] dictatorship in all but name -- the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic is human, the Clone Troopers are all engineered from human base stock, the Republic's most influential worlds tend to be human-dominated if not human civilizations, and human supremacist views were spreading throughout the Republic.

* ''Film/DickTracy'': Underworld figure Breathless Mahoney is hardly heroic, but you have to respect her complete lack of bullshit. Unlike her boss [[spoiler: (and [[TheStarscream future rival]])]] Big Boy Caprice, who wants the police and the media to believe that [[VillainWithGoodPublicity he is the champion of the very citizens he terrorizes]], Breathless is not ashamed to admit that [[ItsAllAboutMe It's All About Her]].
-->'''Dick Tracy:''' Whose side are you on?
-->'''Breathless Mahoney:''' The side I'm always on. Mine.

* This exchange from ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro''; The Dons are being given a tour of a gold mine, when 3-fingered Jack, a captured bandit who's being forced to work the mine, calls them out on the fact that the mineworkers are slaves:
-->'''Captain Love''': Ignore him, gentlemen, he's a common thief.
-->'''Jack''': Oh, I'm as common as they come, but I ain't nuthin' compared to you! I steal gold, I steal money, but you... ''you steal people's lives!''
* Shows up in ''Film/RomancingTheStone'', when Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas find the [[MacGuffin plot-driving]] emerald and then Danny De Vito steals it at gunpoint and accuses Douglas of having similiar designs.
-->'''De Vito''': But at least I'm honest. I'm not trying to [[TitleDrop romance it]] out from under her.
* ''Film/{{Patton}}'s'' title character, fully aware of his own large ego, dislikes Montgomery for not admitting he's a prima-donna and drops this trope by naming while claiming that this is the difference between the two of them.
* In the film ''Film/TheFuneral1996'', Creator/ChristopherWalken plays the oldest of three brothers who are part of a generational crime family. He spends most of the film searching for the man who killed his little brother in which the funeral is centered around, while at the same time regretting his life and the life of his brothers. [[spoiler: When he finds the murderer, he discovers that the guy wasn't a member of a rival crime family, but an average Joe who killed his little brother over a [[DisproportionateRetribution petty dispute]]. He tells the guy that he would've let him live if his little brother seriously wronged him, but is disgusted to find out he was killed over something pointless. While the man is begging for his life, the oldest brother starts telling the murderer about his life and how he chose to follow in the crime family's footsteps when he didn't have to. He concludes by telling the man that he knows he's going to hell, but the trick is to get used to it because when you do, you no longer care about morals. He proves this by killing the man, avenging his little brother's death.]]
* ''Film/LawrenceOfArabia'' has the slimy diplomat Dryden chide Lawrence for expressing disgust at the Sykes-Picot Treaty, which divides the post-war Middle East between Britain and France:
-->"If we've told lies, you've told half-lies. And the man who tells lies, like me, merely hides the truth. But the man who tells half-lies has forgotten where he's put it."
* ''Film/TheDarkKnight'': This aspect of Joker (listed under comics) gets played up big time. He believes everyone will resort to evil methods for their own safety, and engineers "social experiments" designed to prove it.
--> "When the chips are down, these, ah, civilized people? They'll eat each other... see, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve.''
* In ''Film/JupiterAscending'', [[spoiler:unlike their sister, Balem and Titus don't try to sugar-coat the fact that obtaining their youth serum results in the deaths of untold billions of people]].
* In ''Film/QuizShow,'' the subcommittee questions Stempel, and one points out that, by his own admission, he "prostituted your intellectual ability for money." Stempel replies that, unlike Van Doren (the guy he had to take a dive for), he's moral enough to admit it. Since the subcommittee suspects that he's lying because of an irrational hatred of Van Doren (which, to be fair, he totally has), this doesn't really make him look good.
* In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', Rey calls Kylo Ren [[YouMonster a monster]] [[CallBack once]] [[Film/TheForceAwakens again]]. This time, however, Kylo [[IAmAMonster agrees with her]], leaving her visibly stunned. Notably, it's after this admission that she stops being so antagonistic to him.
* In ''Film/TheBourneLegacy'', Creator/EdwardNorton coolly presents this to Creator/JeremyRenner as ''raison d'être'' for the existence of the ''Outcome Program'':
-->''"We are the sin eaters. It means that we take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our cause can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary."''
--->-- '''Eric Byer'''
* In ''Film/KnivesOut'', Ransom is one of the few Thrombleys who isn't a BitchInSheepsClothing... because he's an outright {{jerkass}} who is 100% aware of the fact that he's an unpleasant, petty, IdleRich freeloader, and has absolutely zero interest in even attempting to be anything else. He specifically notes that his parents and uncles all claim to be "self-made," when really, they're anything ''but''. Ransom, meanwhile, very openly just wants his piece of the inheritance so he can go back to his life of doing absolutely no work whatsoever. [[spoiler:This is part of why it's a genuine surprise that he's the BigBad -- he's so open about his flaws, both the audience and the other characters underestimate the depths he'll actually sink to in order to maintain his lifestyle.]]
* ''Film/HeadOffice'': In a rare moment of vulnerability, Jane tells Jack that her SleepingTheirWayToTheTop might have started out with idealistic views about what she could do in a position of power, but is just about getting more power now, and warns him not to think it will be any different if he tries to sacrifice his morals for a promotion, ForTheGreaterGood.

* In ''Film/MrRicco'', Ricco accuses Steele of embezzling government money that was supposed to go to programs to help black people. Steele retorts that everyone steals government money and asks Ricco when he last volunteered for an audit.
* ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'':
** Amanda Young is arguably ''worse'' than John Kramer, the original Jigsaw Killer, but she openly calls out how his philosophy is deeply, ''deeply'' hypocritical, claiming that while she's a murderer, he's a self-righteous prick who tortures and kills under the veneer of helping people, which as she demonstrates, ''doesn't usually work''.
** Mark Hoffman admits to [[{{Sadist}} enjoying seeing people suffer]] in their traps, and angrily snaps at John to stop pretending he doesn't.
** ''Film/Spiral2021'' features the Spiral Killer, who uses Jigsaw's M.O. and methods to become a [[DirtyCop Dirty]] CopKiller. In direct contrast to John, the Spiral Killer never denies that he's a murderer; his games may give his victims a chance to survive, but he doesn't pretend he isn't responsible for their deaths.
* ''{{Film/Serenity}}'': The Operative tells Mal that neither of them has a place in the better worlds he is trying to make.
-->''The Operative:'' I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there any more than there is for you. Malcolm, I'm a monster. What I do is evil, I have no illusions about it. But it must be done.
* ''Film/TalkRadio'': During cruel ShockJock Barry Champlain's climatic VillainousBreakdown, he tears into his listeners and bluntly admits that he's a selfish {{Jerkass}} who only cares about himself, but unlike them he acknowledges he's a terrible person and doesn't hide behind self-righteousness.
--> '''Barry Champlain:''' I should hang; I'm a hypocrite. I ask for sincerity, and I lie. I denounce the system as I embrace it. I want money and power and prestige: I want ratings and success. And I don't give a damn about you, or the world. That's the truth: for that I could say I'm sorry, but I won't. Why should I?
* ''Film/TheDistinguishedGentleman'': Thomas Jefferson Johnson is a conman who gets himself elected to Congress, seeing it as another means to bilk people out of money, [[EveryoneHasStandards but becomes so horrified at the dirty dealing in Washington]] [[BecomingTheMask that he genuinely starts to take a stand against it]]. When [[BigBad Dick Dodge]] tries to expose Johnson as a conman, Johnson admits to it, but retorts that [[NotSoDifferentRemark his history of cons aren't any different than the corruption in Congress]].

* In ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'' O'Brien claims that their version of totalitarianism is superior to the regimes of Hitler and Stalin because the wicked means is the end goal in itself.
* Inverted in ''Literature/TheDiamondAge'', when a character's illegal activities are exposed, a legal official reassures him that there is a difference between those who oppose the law and those who genuinely respect it, but are too weak to uphold it.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}: Last Son of Krypton''.
-->In solitary Luthor decided that his motivation was beyond even the love or hate or whatever it was he had for humanity. It was consuming desire for godhood, fired by the unreasonable conviction that such a thing was somehow possible. He began by being an honest man. He was a criminal and said so.
* In Creator/RobertEHoward's Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian story "Literature/RoguesInTheHouse," Murilo does this on Conan's behalf.
-->''This Cimmerian is the most honest man of the three of us, because he steals and murders openly.''
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', the cynical, anti-villainous Sandor Clegane calls out the Brotherhood Without Banners for putting on airs about their own murderous actions and attempting to condemn him for crimes of his employer with which he had no connection:
-->"A Knight's a sword with a horse. The rest, the vows and the sacred oils and [[TheLadysFavour The Lady's Favours]], they're silk ribbons tied 'round the sword. Maybe the Sword's prettier with ribbons hanging of it, but it'll kill you just as dead. Well, bugger your ribbons, and shove your swords up your arses. I'm the same as you. The only difference is, I don't lie about what I am. So, kill me, but don't call me a murderer while you stand there telling each other your shit don't stink. You hear me?"

* In ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', when the Wizard's true identity is revealed, and the heroes accuse him of being a humbug (which means a charlatan) he admits it, saying sadly, "Yes, that's exactly what I am, a humbug." (However, he protests when Dorothy calls him a bad man, insisting, "No, I'm a very good man, I'm just a very bad wizard.") The scene was pretty much the same in [[Film/TheWizardOfOz the movie version]].
* In ''Literature/AndThenThereWereNone'', Philip Lombard is the only guest who freely admits that he's guilty of the murder [[PoeticSerialKiller U. N. Owen]] accused him of without trying to hide it. This is lampshaded in the [[Series/AndThenThereWereNone2015 2015 BBC miniseries adaptation]]; when everyone gets on their high horse and begins to condemn him (albeit with reason, since his crime was pretty horrible), he points out that he's not the only one in the room facing an accusation of something terrible, but ''is'' the only one who's admitting to it:
-->'''Lombard:''' So either I'm embellishing a story for shocking effect, or I'm the only one telling the truth in a room full of liars.

* ''Literature/HorusHeresy'': In ''Betrayer'', a pre-battle argument between Angron and Leman Russ in the lead-up to the Heresy takes much this form. Russ criticizes Angron for having his Space Marines implanted with the Butchers' Nails[[note]]cybernetic implants from Angron's homeworld that [[BehavioralConditioning make the user associate violence and bloodlust with pleasure and all other actions and emotions with pain]][[/note]] and speaks of the GodEmperor's high ideals. Angron, who was enslaved as a gladiator on his homeworld and led a rebellion against its ruling class that the Emperor kidnapped him from (leading to its defeat), retorts that [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans the Emperor's "ideals" demand the bloody conquest of any planet that dares say no to his vision]], while calling it "liberation", and then conscription of their citizens into his armies, "and I am told to call this a tithe, or recruitment, because we are too scared of the truth. We refuse to call it slavery."
-->'''Angron:''' I am loyal, the same as you. I am told to bathe my Legion in the blood of innocents and sinners alike, and I do it, because it is all that's left for me in this life. I do these things, and I enjoy them, not because we are moral, or right--or loving souls seeking to enlighten a dark universe--but because all I feel are the Butcher's Nails hammered into my brain. I serve because of this "mutilation". Without it? Well, perhaps I might be a more moral man, like you claim to be. A virtuous man, eh? Perhaps I might ascend the steps of our father's palace and take the slaving bastard's head.\\
'''Russ:''' You are lost. You gelded, black-hearted heretic.\\
'''Angron:''' I am merely honest, brother. In all but this you are no different from me.