History Main / InstantlyProvenWrong

Instantly Proven Wrong is a comedic device where a character confidently asserts something, only to have reality swiftly, decisively, and often comically contradict them. This trope thrives on the rapid and often embarrassing exposure of the character's misguided belief, boast, or prediction. It's a quick turn of events, usually played for laughs or irony, as the universe or circumstances conspire to immediately reveal the falsehood in their statement.

Instantly Proven Wrong is a comedic device where a character confidently asserts something, only to have reality swiftly, decisively, and often comically contradict them. This trope thrives on the rapid and often embarrassing exposure of the character's misguided belief, boast, or prediction. It's a quick turn of events, usually played for laughs or irony, as the universe or circumstances conspire to immediately reveal the falsehood or irony in their statement.

Sometimes the [[TemptingFate karmic baggage]] of a daring assertion or {{Blatant Lie|s}} is so heavy that the universe feels obliged to immediately expose said untruth by external circumstances.
Usually this is PlayedForLaughs as we observe the perpetrator [[CringeComedy deal with the uncomfortable moment]] of their false testimony collapsing in front of others.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Machines_Which_Do_Not_Fly This]] 1903 New York Times article predicted that human flight would not be possible for "one million to ten million years". The first successful Wright Brothers' flight occurred two months later.

* ''ComicBook/ImmortalXMen'' has Emma warn the rest of the Quiet Council to watch out for tests (some of them have recently been given tests by a Celestial). She says the tests could be "incredibly subtle and easily missed if we are--". She doesn't finish that sentence because a test begins right then and there, in the form of a massive demon who attacks Exodus.

* ''Literature/DresdenFiles'' In White Knight, Harry invokes this when he's listening in on a meeting of the White Court of Vampires. Madrigal Raith (the villian of the book) argues to Lara that he wouldn't be able to be taken to task for the recent string of murders he and his conspiritors had committed against magic practitioners in Chicago due to the White Council of Wizards being too weak and distracted with the ongoing war with the Red Court to do anything about it. Harry decides that's a great moment to make a BigEntrance and demand retribution as a Warden of the White Council for crimes against his people.

* ''Film/TheFifthElement'':
** Korben Dallas, fleeing from the cops after Leeloo has crash-landed into his taxi, breathes a sigh of relief and notes that "if they don't chase you after a mile, they don't chase you." ''Immediately'', four cop cars rise up behind him. [[VerbalBackspace "Maybe it's two miles."]]
** Upon boarding the spaceship to Fhloston Paradise, Korben insists to the stewardess that he'd rather travel incognito for his vacation. That's the exact moment chosen by Ruby Rhod to make a BigEntrance, calling his name out loud. Ruby Rhod, who has ''50 billion'' "listening pairs of ears" following his radio show.
** After getting to the room where Leeloo got wounded in her fight with Zorg, Cornelius and Ruby notice the countdown clock on the door that was left behind.
--->'''Cornelius:''' It's a — it's a — it's a — it's a — it's a — it's a...\\
'''Ruby Rhod:''' No no no no no no. [[TemptingFate 'Cuz if it was a bomb, the alarms would go off]] 'cuz all these hotels have bomb detectors, right?\\
''[The alarms go off.]''

** In [[Recap/HelluvaBossS2E2SeeingStars Seeing Stars]], Blitz has to tell Stolas his daughter stole his grimoire and teleported to "who-the-fuck-knows-where", he has just enough time to say "That went better than I thought" before:
-->'''Stolas:''' (Breaks down the IMP headquarters door hard enough for it to slam into Moxxie) '''''BLITZ!!!!!!!!!'''''

-->'''Blitz:''' ''(from the next room over) HA!'' There's ''dicks'' in the walls! Oh, that's fucking ''hilarious!''

* In ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' episode [[Recap/HelluvaBossS2E3ExesAndOohs Exes and Oohs]], Moxxie's ignorant and homophobic father Crimson reveals he had retractable dildos planted in his house's walls. When Moxxie protests that nobody of ''any'' sexuality would find that appealing:

* ''WebAnimation/FiftyWaysToDieInMinecraft'': A RunningGag of someone saying "There is no X in Minecraft!", followed by them getting killed by that exact thing. Also doubles as TemptingFate.
--> Someone: "There are no X in Minecraft!" ''(X kills the person who said the line.)''

* In 2005, MLB's New York Mets were playing the crosstown rival Yankees when relief pitcher Dae-Sung Koo, who had never previously batted in his entire professional career, stepped into the box against Randy Johnson, one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Fox Sports' Tim McCarver wasted no time criticizing Koo, saying "I'm just going to go out on a limp and say, thus far this young season, this is the biggest give-up at-bat....". ''Those words had only just left his mouth'' when Koo hammered a deep shot into centre field for the only hit of his career.

* The entire point of the "Instant Loss 2koma" format. Panel 1 - arrogant character declares to their opponent that they'll never lose. Panel 2 - [[BreakTheHaughty arrogant character has lost]]. Frequently but not always of [[Rule34 a lewd nature]].

* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', after leading the law enforcement on a chase, Matt finds himself on a blocked off road, surrounded by Takada's bodyguards, who were all pointing guns at him. Feeling that it's only a bluff and that they'll want him for questioning, Matt gets out of his car and puts his hands up in surrender while cockily saying "[[YouWouldntShootMe You won't shoot...]]", and [[KilledMidSentence doesn't get to finish that sentence]] before the army [[NoKillLikeOverKill immediately shows]] that, yes, they ''would'' [[MultipleGunshotDeath shoot him]].

''[cue his whiskey bottle crashing to the ground]''

''[the dry cleaner's wife comes out of the back room]''\\

[walks into the room to find ALAN has his pants down]\\

'''Foley:''' [SpitTake]

* ''ComicBook/NintendoComicsSystem'', in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' story "Bedtime For Drainhead", Mario begins to dream and sleepwalk that he's Dirk Drainhead, his favorite comic hero. Hearing of his condition, Princess Toadstool decides that Mario needs to be locked up in his room. Luigi thinks it'll be no problem, since "There's no way Mario's smart enough to sneak out of that room." In the background, while they were talking, Mario made a BedsheetLadder and already got out of the castle.

** Downplayed in that it isn't instant: he believes that Harry Potter is happy to be at Hogwarts...only to realize over the course of the fic that Harry was left with an abusive foster family that ''no one'' tried to remove him from, and that the Equestrians saved his life. As a result, he trusts no adults but ponies, likes no humans except children (and ponies turned human), intends to leave the Wizarding world behind as soon as he graduates, and he's only attending Hogwarts at all because the Princesses themselves asked him to.

-->'''Merchant:''' Look at this. Yes! Combination hookah and coffee maker. Also makes Julienne fries! It will not break! ''[taps item on table]'' It will not... ''[item falls apart]'' It broke.

'''Minion:''' ''[meekly]'' I kept forgetting where it was.

-->'''John:''' Now remember, the Indian is cunning, but not intelligent. Therefore, we simply surround them, and take them by sur-- ''[John is pulled into the fake tree behind him]'' --PRISE! ''[Indians attack]''

'''Shrek:''' ''[noticing the guard]'' [[OhCrap Donkey!]]

''[[[spoiler:Doc Ock gets blindsided by a flying truck]]]''\\

--->'''Judy:''' ''[following a fiery crash]'' Maybe some of the evidence survived...\\
''[massive explosion that incinerates the train]''

'''Inspector:''' ''[looks embarrassed]''

'''Austin:''' ''[to Vanessa]'' I'm telling you, baby, that's not mine.\\

'''Clerk:''' One book: "Swedish-made Penis Enlarger Pumps and Me: (This sort of thing is my bag, baby)", by... Austin Powers.\\

''[his whiskey bottle crashes to the ground]''

'''Emile:''' ''[handing him a stack of bills]'' Your winnings, sir.\\
'''Louis:''' Oh thank you very much. ''[shouting to casino patrons]'' Everybody out at once!

''[the alarms go off]''

''[huge explosion in the background]''

--->'''Johnny:''' ''[leaning against a button on the wall]'' You are young, miss Campbell, and inexperienced. What you have forgotten is that--\\
''[cut to the hall below where the villains are assembled]''\\
'''Johnny:''' ''[over the microphone he has accidentally switched on]'' --nobody knows we are here.

--->'''Sam Wilson:''' ''[looking down at Scott]'' I can see you!\\

* In ''Film/{{Sonic the Hedgehog 2|2022}}'', [[spoiler:as Tom and Maddie run up to [[SuperMode Super Sonic]], Knuckles stops them and holds them back, telling them he's no longer the Sonic they once knew. Sonic then proceeds to use his god-like power... to create a chili dog, enjoy its taste, then summon one for Knuckles... which lands on his face.]]

* ''Film/WagTheDog'': After having not taken his meds, Willie Schumann becomes more unhinged than usual and tries to rape a farmer's daughter, leading to her father chasing him around with a shotgun. Conrad, Stanley, and Winifred, who have been forced to escort Schumann in order to keep up their ruse, run after them, and after a while Stanley declares that Schumann is okay...and then a gunshot goes off, causing Stanley to retract his statement.

''[ping!!! device activates -- surprised looks all around]''\\

* In the early going of ''Literature/TheKrakenWakes'', the powers-that-be try to calm public fears by issuing BlatantLies about the cause of a passenger ship sinking: it wasn't hostile undersea aliens, it was metal fatigue! Mike tells Phyllis that people will probably buy it.. only for their friend Tuny to immediately sneer at the idea. Though she's RightForTheWrongReasons, blaming [[RedScare the Soviet Union.]]

''[knocking on the door and an assistant entering]''\\

--->'''The Doctor:''' ''[not changing his tone at all]'' On the other hand, I could be wrong about that.

'''Postal Worker:''' ''[outside]'' Can somebody open the door?!\\

* In the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Ki96Lsxhc "Three Sad Virgins"]], Creator/PeteDavidson invites Martin, Ben, and John--the writers of Please Don't Destroy, a web comedy group that now writes for the show--to appear in a rap video with him. They eagerly accept, only to discover that the song is about [[ThisLoserIsYou how pathetic and miserable they are.]] When the trio protests, Pete assures them that they're just playing characters and it's not actually about them. Then the next verse starts:

''[a Fraggle '''falls''' into camera shot]''

''[the door opens and the snowman comes inside shivering]''\\

'''Fozzie:''' ''[with a vague dismissive gesture]'' Okay, so it's cold.

-->'''Johnny:''' ''(hears the doorbell ring)'' And that's Malibu's finest. ''(answers the door and sees his new guests)'' What in the actual [[CurseCutShort fu-]]\\

''[enters a hallway]''\\
''[immediately comes back out of the hallway]''\\

-->'''Stormtrooper:''' ''[over a radio]'' Sector is clear.\\
''[enter MAUL]''\\

--> Someone: "There are no X in Minecraft!" (X kills the person who said the line)

''[Geese propels himself back towards Heihachi in the attempt to kill him, unaware that Heihachi was prepared for it]''\\

''[with one electrifed punch, Heihachi managed to impale Geese onto the stagmite to ensure that Geese doesn't escape before he gets consumed by the lava]''

''[Tex lifts the crate]''\\

-->'''Snow:''' ''[calmly]'' Attempting to break in by force is silly and a waste of time.\\

'''Soldier:''' ''[enters]'' Um, sir, the diggers have run into a problem. They've tunneled down twenty feet and hit metal. They can't dig any further. The lab must be mostly buried under the ground, and all of it is made from the same magic... resistant... I... I think I'll be going now.

''[Saslamel says something]''\\

** Vegeta scoffs at his more pragmatic son Trunks' idea of giving Goku a healing senzu bean to help him fight in his battle against [[OmnicidalManiac Cell.]] Vegeta angrily tells Trunks that [[ProudWarriorRace Goku is fighting for his Saiyan pride]] and would never accept that senzu bean, [[BloodKnight and that he'd keep fighting until it kills him]]. At that exact moment, Goku cheerfully tells Cell he's giving up, sending Vegeta into a shocked fury.
** In another episode, Trunks brought the team to the spot Goku would touch down on when landing back on Earth. Trunks says Goku should be arriving any moment now and after a few seconds Vegeta says Trunks is wrong and has been lying about everything. The second he finishes speaking, Goku's pod lands right where Trunks said it would.
--->'''Vegeta:''' ...that could be anyone.

-->'''[[UsefulNotes/VladimirLenin Lenin]]:''' ''[absolutely outraged]'' '''''I HAVE NO PRIDE FOR YOU, WHO RUINED EVERYTHING MY REVOLUTION WAS DOING TO STOP THE BOURGEOISIE!'''''
* WebVideo/FreshyKanal: Trump's final line in his rap battle against Mr. Burns is mocking how Burns is so physically weak, Trump's "[[DodgyToupee hair]]" can stand better against a breeze, only for it to fall off immediately after Trump says that.
* The ''WebVideo/GameGrumps'' have an almost ''uncanny'' ability to do this. Arin in particular, because he has a habit of talking from a place of authority but often is going in blind to a new game or playing one he hasn't touched in years. This leads to events like where he matter-of-factly declares that the ghosts in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' don't cover their faces like they did in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3''... quite literally one full second before [[https://youtu.be/AHr7SsnaCuU?t=17 a massive ghost skanks onto the screen covering its face]], confidently declaring a helicopter couldn't see him in ''VideoGame/DeadRising'' because "he was in the shadows"... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrjGSFWTy8E&t=653s and it completely rocks him the second he's done speaking]], and chastizing Dan for searching for secrets in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' because "he's never gonna find one"... right before [[https://youtu.be/8lUhwC-sCxs?t=60 Dan finds a Star before even advancing the screen]].

* Played up to the max in [[https://youtu.be/CxwZLWtNfhE?t=485 this]] video about strange things that UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague players have been seen doing during a game. After one entry about running back Eddie Lacy eating something that was mistaken for a hot dog but which Lacy later claimed was just a pack of sunflower seeds, the video narrator remarked at length about how silly the misconception was because "you would never see an NFL player ever, ''ever'' eat a hot dog during a game. You would never see that... There's literally no-one that would ever eat a hot dog during a game." After this spiel, he moved on to the next item in the list: "[Quarterback] Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog."

** In a running gag, the Critic would cite an often ridiculous hypothetical or cliché scenario that at least didn't happen, only for the screen to cut to exactly that. For example, during his review of ''Film/{{North}}'', he commends the movie for at least getting a UsefulNotes/{{Native American|s}} to play an Eskimo and not resorting to a cheap stunt such as putting someone like Creator/KathyBates in BrownFace... only to see that the film did exactly that.

--->'''Critic:''' You know, movie, I'm not sure if you know this, but, um... cameos have to make sense. Just because those two people were in movies doesn't mean it necessarily makes sense to have them in your movie. I mean, it's like having a cartoon cat running around all over the place-- ''[it turns out to actually be in the movie]'' WHAAAAA?! What the hell is that?! Are you serious? Why is there a cartoon cat there?! That doesn't make any sense!\\
''[a clip from the movie plays: Jack Slater explains, "He's supposed to be back on duty. He was only suspended for a month."]''\
'''Critic:''' No, movie, no! There's no reason a cartoon cat should be there! It's like saying... Music/LittleRichard's in the movie! ''[indeed, he is; the Critic pauses to think up more out-of-place cameos]'' Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme. ''[he's in it, too]'' [[Creator/JamesBelushi Jim Belushi]]. ''[also true]'' Music/MCHammer. ''[ditto]'' Creator/HumphreyBogart! ''[DeliberatelyMonochrome and all]'' Creator/ChevyChase and Creator/DamonWayans walking side by side-- ''[do we need to spell it out?]'' What is going on?!! Why are there so many pointless random cameos?! Am I in Franchise/TheTwilightZone? I mean, movie, just because you can have someone in your film doesn't mean you should! It's like having-- ''[finally shuts himself up, having learned his lesson]'' Nope! No! If I mention that person's name, they might spontaneously jump out of somebody's anus! Let's just keep watching the movie and be done with it.

'''Steve:''' ...oh.

''[image on the card comes to life and swirls around her]''\\

''[shortly later]''\\

''[the weight of his diving helmet gives way, sending him rolling into some objects]''\\

'''Glomgold:''' ''[[LargeHam NO IT'S NOT]]'' -- ''[gets grabbed by a massive sea monster]'' [[LargeHam AGH! CURSE YOU MACDUUUUUUCK!!]]

''[the contract disintegrates]''\\

''[cue an offscreen explosion, followed by a mailbox reading "[=McBadbat=]" falling into the shot]''\\

''[cue a gunshot going off in the distance]''\\
'''Peter:''' ''[shouting off-screen]'' Quagmire, you rat bastard! Come near my fence again, and that'll be your head!

-->'''Harriet:''' ''[jiggling a pair of keys]'' Daddy keys!\\

''[Hank bursts in, totally stressed out, and sees Bobby tossing a softball against the wall]''\\

''[Hank grabs the ball and throws it out the window, nearly hitting the social worker]''\\

** One of show's most famous {{running gag}}s was Freddie always accusing [[MeaningfulName Red Herring]] of being the MonsterOfTheWeek, only to be proven incorrect. At first, Red was usually a genuine suspect or had a motive for committing the episode's mystery, but [[{{Flanderization}} time went by]], the connection between him and the crime became more and more tenuous until it was non-existent. When that happened, Freddie's accusation fell into this trope -- immediately after he said that Red was the culprit, something would occur (like a phone call or telegram) to announce that Red was out of town or otherwise engaged, and thus couldn't have done it.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'': In "Camping It Up", the Ghostbusters find a Sasquatch/Bigfoot while on a camping vacation. When it's time for bed, Slimer asks where Bigfoot will sleep and Ray suggests the woods. Egon backs him up, [[PrefersRocksToPillows saying Bigfoot prefer being at one with nature to civilized comforts]]...and is promptly interrupted by the creature snoring. Bigfoot had fallen asleep in his [[FancyCamping fancy tent]] offscreen.

-->''[cue giant bug going berserk]''\\
'''[[OnlySaneMan Bow:]]''' ''[grabs sword]'' Do it again! ''Do it again!''

'''Fiona:''' ''[walks out the door]'' A white Christmas! Oh, how perfect. And it's our first one together as a family. Isn't this exciting?\\

'''Donkey:''' Ahem, Princess, I think there's a little something Shrek needs to tell-- ''[Shrek silences him]''\\

--->'''Burns:''' Naturally I can't afford to pay you much of a reward because I'm strapped for cash. ''[the ceiling above gives way and a heap of money and jewels fall around him, including a crown on his head]'' As you can see, this old place is falling apart.

*** Professor Frink is informing park staff that the Itchy and Scratchy robots will "eventually [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters turn against their masters]] and run amok. But he adds that "[[IfMyCalculationsAreCorrect According to my calculations]], the robots won't go berserk for at least 24 hours." Immediately, all the robots start attacking the humans. Frink says in a slightly embarrassed tone, "Oh. I forgot to CarryTheOne."

''[Homer drives by in a stolen ice-cream truck, vigorously stuffing his face]''

** In "Stuck in the Wringer", after [=SpongeBob=] gets [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin stuck in a wringer]] (and thanks to Patrick, he's supposedly trapped in it forever), he bemoans that his life was ruined, but Patrick gave his a RousingSpeech that he could carry on with his life in spite of it. Turns out, however, that Patrick was wrong and [=SpongeBob=] ''really was'' incapable of doing anything while caught in the thing.

* Many instances in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' with Beast Boy, like the time he swore Mad Mod will never hypnotize ever again and is then immediately hypnotized.
* In the Halloween Special of ''WesternAnimation/WhatsNewScoobyDoo'', Daphne suspects Velma's cousin Marcy to be behind the attacks of the Scarecrows and the Ghost of Hank Banning (mainly because she dislikes Marcy for [[ClingyJealousGirl getting too close to Fred]] and acting catty towards her) and asks where she was before she met the gang at the town square. Marcy explains she was working her part-time job at the mall and even shows them the security footage to prove it. Daphne doesn't believe the girl in the footage is Marcy at all, declaring it's not her before a guy outside the camera's field of vision calls out Marcy's name and the girl turns her head in response, leaving Daphne embarrassed. [[spoiler:It turns out Daphne was right about Marcy being the culprit, [[RightForTheWrongReasons albeit not for the reason she thinks]]. She even still believed that the girl in the security footage wasn't Marcy until Velma corrected her.]]

** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Yamaguchi Tsutomu Yamaguchi]] was best-known as the only person confirmed to have survived ''both'' atomic bombings.[[note]] (''Officially Confirmed'', that is. It is believed that there were at least 70 people who were affected by both bombings; however, Yamaguchi is the only person officially recognized as such by the Japanese government) [[/note]] After narrowly surviving the bombing of Hiroshima while suffering serious burns, Yamaguchi returned to his hometown of ''Nagasaki'' and returned to work on the morning of August 9th despite still being injured. Reportedly, he was describing the incident to his supervisor, but the supervisor [[{{CassandraTruth}} dismissed Yamaguchi's story as absurd]] even saying that he must have only imagined that a single bomb could have destroyed Hiroshima... and moments later, the second atomic bomb was dropped and destroyed Nagasaki.

* ''Literature/TheOverstory'': A PlayedForDrama example when Adam thinks to himself that, no matter what the studies show, he will make sure his knowledge of cognitive biases actually makes him a better person. Seconds later, him proceeding to do nothing when his professor has a heart attack, an example of the Bystander Effect.

'''Hunt:''' ''[from the trunk]'' Let me outta here!\\

* The entire point of the "Instant Loss 2koma" format. Panel 1 - arrogant character declares they'll never lose. Panel 2 - [[BreakTheHaughty arrogant character has lost]]. Frequently but not always of [[Rule34 a lewd nature]].

* * The entire point of the "Instant Loss 2koma" format. Panel 1 - arrogant character declares they'll never lose. Panel 2 - [[BreakTheHaughty arrogant character has lost]]. Frequently but not always of [[Rule34 a lewd nature]].

* The entire point of the "Instant Loss 2koma" format. Panel 1 - arrogant character declares they'll never lose. Panel 2 - [[BreakTheHaughty arrogant character has lost]]. Frequently but not always of [[Rule34 a lewd nature]].

* ''[[VideoGame/StarTrekResurgence]]'': In "What Lies Beneath," Tylas warns Rydek about "invisible" motion detection beams... that are clearly visible as blue lasers.

** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Yamaguchi Tsutomu Yamaguchi]] was best-known as the only person confirmed to have survived ''both'' atomic bombings.[[note]] (Officially Confirmed, that is. It is believed that up to 70 known people were affected by both bombings; however, Yamaguchi is the only person recognized as such by the Japanese government) [[/note]] After narrowly surviving the bombing of Hiroshima while suffering serious burns, Yamaguchi returned to his hometown of ''Nagasaki'' on the morning of August 9th despite still being injured. Reportedly, he was describing the incident to his supervisor, but the supervisor [[{{CassandraTruth}} dismissed Yamaguchi's story as absurd]] even saying that he must have only imagined that a single bomb could have destroyed Hiroshima... and moments later, the second atomic bomb was dropped and destroyed Nagasaki.

** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_Yamaguchi Tsutomu Yamaguchi]] was best-known as the only person confirmed to have survived ''both'' atomic bombings.[[Note]] (Officially Confirmed, that is. It is believed that up to 70 known people were affected by both bombings; however, Yamaguchi is the only person recognized as such by the Japanese government [[/note]] After narrowly surviving the bombing of Hiroshima while suffering serious burns, Yamaguchi returned to his hometown of ''Nagasaki'' on the morning of August 9th despite still being injured. Reportedly, he was describing the incident to his supervisor, but the supervisor [[{{CassandraTruth}} dismissed Yamaguchi's story as absurd]] even saying that he must have only imagined that a single bomb could have destroyed Hiroshima... and moments later, the second atomic bomb was dropped and destroyed Nagasaki.