History Main / ProxyBreakup

Compare ICantDoThisByMyself. Contrast DifferingPrioritiesBreakup. See also MinorFlawMajorBreakup, OffscreenBreakup, SecondActBreakup and TellHimImNotSpeakingToHim.

[[folder:Fanworks]]

* In the NSFW ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/28574583 One over another]]'' by Trixiedixie, Nightwing doesn't believe he can have a long-distance relationship with Starfire once he and Cyborg leave to join the Justice League, so he tells Beast Boy (who is left in charge) to do that. Beast Boy then [[DelegationRelay attempts to tell Raven]] to do it, but she refuses.

--> '''Anne''': They called me "The Break-Up Queen." Also, "Angel of Death!"

When PlayedForComedy, the attempt at Alice trying to break up Bob and Cindy's relationship for Bob results in Cindy misunderstanding the message and HijinksEnsue. When PlayedForDrama, the fallout of Bob using a proxy to end it with Cindy just escalates the emotional turbulence, leaving everyone worse off until Bob swallows his pride and does the deed himself. PlayedForHorror when Bob wants Alice to break it off with Cindy because Cindy [[{{Yandere}} is an abusive psycho]] and he's genuinely afraid of how she would react.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS20E6HomerAndLisaExchangeCrossWords Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words]]", Homer starts an actual business called "Sweet Conclusions" after becoming noted for his skill at secondhand breakups, making quite a bit of cash before Marge--concerned that he's making breakups too easy for couples who might eventually work things out--asks him the ArmorPiercingQuestion "What would have happened if there was someone who could break us up every time I had my doubts about you?"

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS20E6HomerAndLisaExchangeCrossWords Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words]]", Homer does this for a number of people in Springfield.

->'''Isabela''': You're such a hero, you know that right? Always trying to help those in need... I mean, you definitely-
->'''Hiccup''': Cut to the chase.
->'''Isabela''': I want you to break up with Mariano for me!

When a person wants to break-up a relationship they have with someone, but they decide to have a third-party relay the message for them. This is typically done because they want to avoid an awkward or emotionally-charged situation, but using a proxy usually just makes the situation a thousand times worse.

When PlayedForComedy, the attempt at Alice trying to break-up Bob and Cindy's relationship for Bob results in Cindy misunderstanding the message and HijinksEnsue. When PlayedForDrama, the fallout of Bob using a proxy to end it with Cindy just escalates the emotional turbulence, leaving everyone worse off until Bob swallows his pride and does the deed himself. PlayedForHorror and Bob wants Alice to break it off with Cindy because Cindy [[{{Yandere}} is an abusive psycho]] and he's genuinely afraid of how she would react.

* In the NSFW ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/28574583 One over another]]'' by Trixiedixie, Nightwing doesn't believe he can have a long distance relationship with Starfire once him and Cyborg leave to join the Justice League, so he tells Beast Boy (who is left in charge) to do that. Beast Boy then [[DelegationRelay attempts to tell Raven]] to do it, but she refuses.

* In ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' episode "[[Recap/TheGoodPlaceS3E05TheBalladOfDonkeyDoug The Ballad of Donkey Doug]]", Chidi's neurotic personality makes his attempts at breaking up with Simone via a simulation fall flat on their face and it gets to the point where he tries having Eleanor do it for him "like [they're] in middle school or something." That simulation ends with Eleanor accidentally getting seduced by Simone and tries to make-out with her before Chidi ends the experiment.

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', George is dating a woman who want to break up with him. However, he doesn't want that to happen since he want to take her to a company dinner to impress his bosses. After George attempts to avoid her in most of the episode, she gets Kramer to break up with him for her.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "[[Recap/GravityFallsS1E4TheHandThatRocksTheMabel The Hand That Rocks the Mabel]]", Mabel ends up in a relationship with Lil' Gideon. Mabel only wants him to be her "best-friend/little sister", but he ends up making it a full-blown relationship, with the social pressures that come from his good reputation leave her unable to break-up with him. Dipper offers to break it off for her as a [[TakeAThirdOption third option]]. Gideon -- who's established as being [[AxCrazy a total psycho]] -- thinks Dipper is trying to sabotage what he thinks is a perfect union and tries to kill him.