Line #131 Main/DontLookAtMe


1	%%%
2	%%
3	%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
4	%%
5	%%%
6	%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17081994060.15811400
7	%% Please don't change or remove without starting a new thread.
8	%%
9
10	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TurningRed https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1000008031.jpg]]]]
11	[[caption-width-right:350:Mei's currently having a bit of a [[{{Pun}} bad hair day]].]]
12
13	->''"Bill, don't look at me -- I'm 'ideous."''
14	-->-- '''Fleur Delacour''' (after magically disguising herself as Harry), ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''
15
16	ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, this is when someone doesn't like to be looked at, with the title being the StockPhrase you're most likely to hear them bellow to underline the point. Compared to HatesBeingTouched, this one tends to be a more temporary state of being, often triggered by a HeroicBSOD or a transformation into a BodyHorror. Also, a very likely post-trauma reaction if they've been DefiledForever. Such situations are often remedied with TheHero giving the afflicted LoveInterest a CooldownHug and telling her that [[UnderstandingBoyfriend he still loves her]], or that [[FreakinessShame her wings are beautiful]].
17
18	In a more mundane setting, this can be merely indicative of body image issues, warranted or [[BeautifulAllAlong otherwise]]. This version is almost AlwaysFemale.
19
20	Another version is a character being caught doing something they're ashamed of, for example if they've been [[CaughtWithYourPantsDown Caught with Their Pants Down]].
21
22	Not to be confused with the remarkably similar, defensive stock phrase said when everyone in the room labels a character as the most likely culprit of some misdeed of which he's not (entirely) guilty by leveling him an accusing stare -- "Don't look at '''me!'''" rather than "Don't '''look''' at me!" -- which is... [[NotMeThisTime another trope entirely]]. Nor is it to be confused with the also similar stock phrase where the characters are trying to figure out an explanation for a confusing or mysterious situation, and one who is believed to have special insight, or simply intelligent enough to figure such things out is looked to, only to respond this way. It should also not be confused with a situation where the characters are trying to [[GotVolunteered single out a patsy]] to undertake [[WhoWillBellTheCat an unpleasant but necessary task]], leading the victim to offer this response. Or the response someone gives when another turns to them after, say, hearing an earful from someone else still, as if the second expects the former to side with them. Or the version someone says to express anger at another, which would be something like "Don't you even look at me!" (with "you" being optional).
23
24	Something to keep in mind when adding examples: it only counts as an example of this trope if it is used to imply that a character is ashamed of their appearance, and only if they actually react towards their "audience". It's not an example if the victim expects not to be seen in the first place (for example, if it's yelled at an AccidentalPervert stumbling upon someone taking a bath), or if someone else is responsible for their appearance and they speak or react in some way only to that person instead of either to everyone around them or running off or something (such as if their humiliation instead results ''directly'' in anger towards just them). Nor is, say, someone's pants falling down or skirt flipping upward an example unto itself if they simply correct that while still expressing embarrassment. Someone timidly standing with their hands/arms over their essentials while naked in public is an example, though, even if they don't actually face or speak to anyone in particular.
25
26	Compare DontLookBack, DontLookDown, HatesBeingTouched, LookBehindYou, MyEyesAreUpHere, NakedFreakOut and NoPeekingRequest. Contrast CantMoveWhileBeingWatched.
27
28	----
29	!!Examples:
30
31	[[foldercontrol]]
32
33	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
34	* ''Manga/The100GirlfriendsWhoReallyReallyReallyReallyReallyLoveYou'': Meme Kakure is a really shy person who can't handle people looking at her face, especially her eyes, [[EyesOutOfSight which are usually covered by her bangs and are never revealed to the viewers]].
35	* This is a pretty important moment for Jiro's mental state in ''Anime/AndroidKikaiderTheAnimation'' when he runs off screaming this.
36	* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': A [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] example occurs during the climax of the Eclipse. During her horrific [[spoiler: rape by the now demonic Griffith]], the last sane thing that Casca says to her lover Guts is ''"Don't look..."'' This is despite the fact that he is being ForcedToWatch by the demonic Apostles who [[DogPileOfDoom dog-piled him]] after he [[spoiler:severed part of his own left arm and tried to stab Griffith's eye out]] in his last attempt to save her. After she passes out from her defeat, exhaustion, and humiliation, Casca awakens only to have become [[EmptyShell insane and mute]] and has not spoken coherently since the events of the Eclipse. [[spoiler:Thankfully, she regains her sanity later on.]]
37	* ''Manga/BlackButler'': In the anime, Sebastian tells Ciel to close his eyes when he transforms into his demon form in order to kill Ash - a surprising (and [[TheUnreveal yet disappointing]]) non-romantic version of this trope.
38	* ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. In "Roberta's Blood Trail", Roberta makes out with a FARC commander, then shoots him and beats his head literally to a pulp. When [[MoralityChain Garcia]] (who has heard all of this) comes around the corner and begs for her to stop, she has a complete mental breakdown and says these exact words.
39	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': A non-verbal example occurs during Ichigo's final battle with Grimmjow. As Ichigo has saved Inoue from Grimmjow's Gran Rey Cero by putting on his Hollow Mask, Inoue's is scared of Ichigo's new look (particularly the eyes) because it reminds her of Acidwire, her Hollow-turned brother. Ichigo immediately notices her reaction, he then faces away from her and tells her not to worry. For most of the battle, Ichigo avoids having Inoue look at his scary mask, and he's deeply affected that she's scared of him because of the fact that he mastered his Hollow powers to protect his friends. It's only when she later shouts at him that she doesn't want to see him hurt, Ichigo's mentality returns to its top condition.
40	* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'': When Kyo's true form is revealed in front of Tohru, he yells this before he runs off.
41	* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': Envy keeps yelling this when he first reveals his true form.
42	* In ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'', Miaka yells this at Tamahome, covering herself after nearly being raped. In a later four-paneled parody at the end of the volume, Tamahome does the same.
43	* ''Manga/KaijuGirlCaramelise'': The first time Kuroe Akaishi turns into [[{{Kaiju}} Harugon]], she takes a stroll down the Harumi River, all the while [[ThatWasNotADream assuming she's having a cathartic dream]]. At one point she is about to use her BreathWeapon on the [[UsefulNotes/KaijuDefenseForce JSDF]] helicopters shooting at her when she sees her love interest Arata Minami staring in fear at her from the riverbank. She wonders why he's looking at her like that when she catches her reflection on the side of a skyscraper and realizes how ugly and scary-looking she is. She frantically submerges herself in the river while mentally begging him to stop looking at her.
44	* Ryoshi from ''Literature/OkamiSan'' has a severe aversion to being stared at, and will yell these words whenever he becomes the center of attention. He gets better as the series progresses.
45	* ''Anime/Persona5TheAnimation'': While the game conveyed the same point differently, Futaba complains when Ann gives her a bikini to try on that it barely covers anything.
46	* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'':
47	** Happens in the [[MartialArtsAndCrafts Martial Arts Dining]] arc. Before Ranma goes into the bathroom to train for a match, he tells Akane to not look inside. She doesn't until she hears screams of pain. She runs in to find Ranma [[GenderBender turned into a boy]] and in a feminine, iron corset too small for his male body. He yells at her to stop looking.
48	** When Ranma loses the Dragon Whisker that stops his hair from growing rapidly, Akane runs after him. She finds him alone in a dark room and moves to get in closer, but Ranma shouts at her, "Don't look at me, Akane!"
49	* Neji does this at the end of ''Manga/RockLeesSpringtimeOfYouth'''s first chapter because Lee's ZanyScheme of faking ninjutsu involved dressing him as a turtle. Then Naruto and Konohamaru come upon him.
50	* In ''Anime/SailorMoon'' (1992), Queen Nehelenia absolutely hates the sad eyes of pity Sailor Moon is giving to her, to the point that Nehelenia stops strangling her and backs off because it triggers her trauma of being sealed away. When Nehelenia returns later and has taken everyone Usagi cares for away from her, she's much more delighted by Usagi's angry eyes, only for her to back off again when Usagi looks at her with her sad eyes again.
51	* In ''Manga/TheVoynichHotel'', while the RevenantZombie Tenebrarum never outright says this, the fear of its necessity causes her to start avoiding the boy who has been spending time around her, as her PowerIncontinence has been healing his crippled legs at the cost of damaging her body, which was already decayed but still mostly intact, to a point where she looks like she stepped out of ''Series/TheWalkingDead''.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Comic Books]]
55	* ''ComicBook/DoctorDoom'' in regards to his unmasked, hideously scarred face.
56	* In ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}'', when Sistah Spooky is briefly depowered and returned to her mid-puberty appearance, she screams this as she traded her soul to become forever beautiful.
57	* When ComicBook/{{Invincible}} returns to Earth after an extended absence, his girlfriend Atom Eve has this reaction, due to having gotten out of shape from not using her powers enough while he was gone. Not horribly so, but she's clearly ashamed over her now slightly pudgy physique.
58	* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'':
59	** In one issue, the mad scientist duo of T.O. Morrow and Professor Ivo creates a false superheroine, Tomorrow Woman, to carry a psionic bomb close enough to mindwipe the League. However, the gynoid slowly grows as a person, and at a point when the League is about to be destroyed by a monster, she dives in and detonates the charge, killing it and frying her systems. When a shaken Superman tries to help her, the dying robot invokes the trope.
60	** In another storyline a disfigured actress shouted this at reporters, and the JackassGenie that was the villain of the storyline responded by blinding the entire city.
61	* In ''ComicBook/{{Morbius}}'' #1 Michael says this while trying to hide his face when he is confronted by his ex-fiancée Martine.
62	* ''ComicBook/SecretSix'': Horrifyingly done by Junior, [[spoiler:due to the heavily implied sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father]] and a policy to kill anyone who does.
63	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Dr. Connors screamed this at his wife when he first transformed into the Lizard, and ran away into the swamp. By the next day he had gotten over it enough to return and try to create an antidote, but upon realizing that he couldn't he wrote a note telling his family to leave and never come back. This is all shown through flashbacks; by the time of the actual comic he doesn't even remember them and has no shame in his appearance.
64	* In ''ComicBook/XMen: ComicBook/Inferno1988'', Illyana said this line to her brother, Colossus, after being turned into a demon. Colossus looked anyway, opting instead to [[KnightTemplarBigBrother beat the demon responsible into a pulp]].
65	* ''X-Men'' villain Black Tom Cassidy once tried to give himself a power upgrade, grafting wood to his skin so he wouldn't need wooden objects to channel his power. Instead the wood reacted to his physiology and turned him into a hideous tree-creature. When the Juggernaut brought the X-Men to him he was completely out of his mind, screaming "NON'T NOOK AT NE!" over and over.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Fan Works]]
69	* In the ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'' story "Empath's Honeymoon", when Smurfette falls into a pool of chocolate mud on Utopia Island, Smurfette first says to Empath, "Look at me, I'm all {{covered in mud}}," but when she notices that [[MaleGaze he's just staring at her with a wide smile on his face]], she then says, "Okay, Empath, stop looking at me."
70	* ''Fanfic/{{Starbound}}'':
71	** This is exactly how Kagami and Miyuki feel about their hair having been irreversibly [[BeehiveHairdo updone]] against their will.
72	** Mondo has his moment as well, having been talked by Rokuna into appearing in a speedo in front of their friends and practically the entire canon cast. (Don't worry; nothing like [[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya Haruhi]].)
73	* In ''Fanfic/TheWitchOfTheEverfree'', Sunset keeps herself covered in her cloak whenever she can, because she doesn't like letting ponies see her [[CoveredWithScars scars]].
74	[[/folder]]
75
76	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
77	* ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'': The Beast is angered by Belle's father's intrusion into the castle, saying that he's "come to stare at the Beast". In the prologue, he wraps his arms around his head as he tries to hide his ugliness and keeps to the shadows of his darkened castle so no one has to see him.
78	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', after Mei transforms to a red panda at school, she runs home and hides under a blanket in her bedroom. She wants to calm down enough to transform back to human, but she knows she can't calm down if anyone's looking at her. So when her mother comes into her room, she says this.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
82	* The Bleeder, one of the maniacs who escape from the asylum in ''Film/AloneInTheDark1982'', doesn't like to be looked at by strangers, and is always shown hiding his face. [[spoiler:This sets up the reveal that he has managed to get in the psychiatrist main character's house, as even he doesn't know what he looks like]].
83	* Said frequently in ''Film/BlueVelvet''. One of the film's most iconic lines is [[Creator/DennisHopper Frank Booth's]] "Don't you fucking look at me!". Thanks to an extremely disturbing case of UsefulNotes/StockholmSyndrome, Dorothy has ended up enjoying abuse, and so uses the same line when the power positions are reversed with another character.
84	* ''Film/BramStokersDracula'' has Mina walk in on Dracula ravishing a spell-ensnared Lucy. Since he's not exactly looking his best in any number of ways, he tells her "Do not see me!". It works due to his hypnotism powers, and Mina seems to have no memory of what she saw.
85	* ''Film/CriesAndWhispers'': After a dinner with her husband that goes remarkably coldly, Karin retreats to her room with the maid Anna and demands that she not look at her. Anna fails to obey, so Karin slaps her, though she apologizes.
86	* ''Film/{{Hellraiser}}'': Frank tells this to Julia before stealing flesh from his victims.
87	* ''Film/ALeagueOfTheirOwn''. Doris rapidly warns the girls "Don't look at her" when Dottie comes storming out of sister Kit's room, not wanting her to realize that they've been eavesdropping on their argument.
88	* In one of the many film versions of ''Film/OliverTwist'', Bill Sykes (played by Creator/TomHardy) seems to hate people staring at him, but is rather inconsistent in it; several times he threatens people who do look at him, but other times he seems fine with it and will hold a conversation with them and have no problem making eye contact. This is possibly a nod to the book, where Sykes' [[spoiler: last words refer to "the eyes" of dead Nancy]].
89	* ''Film/{{Nope}}'':
90	** [[spoiler:Jean Jacket ''hates'' being looked at, attacking and killing anything that looks up at it, and letting those live who keep their heads down. OJ eventually realizes this is because it's a territorial, predatory animal; just like many animals, it thinks people looking at it are challenging it.]]
91	** [[spoiler:It's also implied that being stared at by the entire studio audience is a big part of what set off Gordy.]]
92	** Jupe's onscreen sister from ''Gordy's Home'' was horribly mauled by the chimp, and while she survived the attack, she wears a veil to go out in public.
93	* Cole Sear in ''Film/TheSixthSense'' keeps telling people, "Don't look at me like that!"
94	* In one of the film versions of ''Literature/WutheringHeights'', Heathcliff (played by Creator/TomHardy) says this to his wife Isabella while they're having sex. He later mentions that because she shares eyes with her brother Edgar Linton, whom Heathcliff has hated for most of his life, he "can't look on them without wishing [her] harm". Much is made in both the book and film of how different Catherine Earnshaw's dark eyes are from the Lintons' blue ones.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Literature]]
98	* ''Literature/AdrianMole'': In ''Wilderness Years'', Adrian's landlord Christian comes home with a black eye, after a yob accused Christian of "looking" at him. Adrian notes that this is a frightening example of the degradation of society, as yobs used to ''enjoy'' people looking at them.
99	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
100	** Angua von Uberwald, a werewolf, has no problem with people seeing her as a human or as a wolf but hates anyone seeing the actual change. It's hinted to be a BrownNote for canines and humans alike since Gaspode was reduced to a whimpering mess the last time he ''didn't'' shut his eyes in time.
101	** All werewolves seem to have this; Angua's AxCrazy brother Wolfgang will gladly walk around naked in his human form (claiming it's more natural), but he and all his fellow werewolves will avert their eyes from each other during the actual transformation.
102	* In ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''Literature/TheTamuli'' series by Creator/DavidEddings, the goddess Aphrael is normally in the form of a six-year-old child. She has several different forms, including her "real" form as an adult woman, which she never uses except when changing forms. She doesn't like anyone to see her changing forms.
103	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
104	** Hermione in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'' when she's accidentally turned into a cat thanks to the Polyjuice Potion.
105	** Fleur Delacour in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' when she's turned into a duplicate of Harry Potter, also thanks to Polyjuice potion. She calls herself "hideous" [[ImStandingRightHere within earshot of Harry.]]
106	* In ''[[Literature/TheIlluminaeFiles Iluminae]]'', the phrase "Stop looking at me" is the mark of being infected by the Phobos virus. [[spoiler:Kady learns that Byron Zhang is infected when he says that to her.]]
107	* In ''Literature/KingdomsAndConquerors'', T'zinkin refuses to look at Ryan, and begs him not to look at her, because she 'isn't worthy' when he explains for the thousandth time that he ''isn't'' a god, she replies that she isn't worthy- because she wasn't able to save the others.
108	* In the ''Literature/SchooledInMagic'' series, Emily has been scarred by her leering stepfather's constant gaze. Therefore she is uncomfortable with her appearance and tries to hide her looks lest she been stared at.
109	* From the ''Literature/SongOfSongs'' from Literature/TheBible:
110	-->''Do not gaze at me, because I am dark,\
111	because [[TanLines the sun has looked upon me]].''
112	* ''Literature/SpiceAndWolf'': When Holo transforms fully into her wolf form, she says this specifically to Lawrence. Notably, she didn't mind Lawrence seeing her stripping naked, but she didn't want to frighten him with the transformation.
113	* This trope is the very power source of the ''Anime/UltimateGirls'', which kicks in (at least for two of them) once their spandex suit proceeds to disappear each battle.
114	* In ''Literature/TornadoBrain'', Frankie goes outside and screams in frustration. A family walking by stares at her. Frankie yells, "Don't look at me!" The family quickly scurries past.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
118	* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Angel says this when he sees his true demon form in [[AnotherDimension Pylea]]. It's implied that this is why vampires don't show in reflections, that the demon they truly are despises their own visage and avoids it when they can. Angel takes on that form in Pylea because its physics enhance his powers, making his GameFace a complete transformation but also apparently removing the ability to hide their reflection.
119	* TwoFaced injured veteran Richard Harrow of ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' doesn't much like being looked at with his mask on, but is mortified to be seen with it off. Gets an IronicEcho in the season three finale when he doesn't want his girlfriend to look at the good side of his face because it's splattered with blood.
120	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
121	** There is something of a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in "Fear Itself". When Buffy enters the Goat Room, she comes across a lot of terrified party-goers. One of them is trying to hide his face: Oz, who had been turning into a werewolf moments before and doesn't yet realize he's changed back.
122	** Earlier on she says this very line when everyone's nightmares are coming true and she finds she's been turned into a vampire.
123	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
124	** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E4DaleksInManhattan "Daleks in Manhattan"]]: [[spoiler:Laszlo says this and tries to hide his face when his girlfriend finds him. Given that the poor guy has been turned into a humanoid pig, it's understandable that he's not happy.]]
125	** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E10Blink "Blink"]]: Sally Sparrow says this while embarrassed about a slip of the tongue she made while flirting with Billy Shipton.
126	* ''Series/DrPimplePopper'': If possible, most patients try to hide their unflattering skin condition under a hat, their hair, or a long piece of clothing. The ones that can't sometimes become reclusive inside their homes in fear of being seen or mocked.
127	* ''Series/EverythingNow'': Mia is recovering from anorexia which stemmed from a very poor body image. Even after, she's very reluctant to be seen naked or in revealing clothes by anybody else as a result at first.
128	* After ''Series/GuidingLight'''s Lucy Cooper is [[DateRape date raped]] by Brent Lawrence, she finally confides in her crush Alan-Michael Spaulding. Even as she tearfully vents to him, she keeps turning away from him, saying that she can't bear to have him look at her after what happened to her. Alan-Michael assures her that it makes no difference to him and that he loves her no matter what.
129	* Inverted in the MiniSeries ''I Know My First Name Is Steven'' (BasedOnATrueStory) when the titular [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Stayner Steven Stayner]] blasts his father for not being able to look him in the eye after learning that he was sexually abused throughout the seven years he was held captive.
130	* Spoofed in ''Series/JustShootMe'', when Finch cries about ''Theatre/KingLear'' twice, and says this both times.
131	* ''Series/My600LbLife'': A lot of the patients despise being seen in public which proves most painful for them when they're grocery shopping.
132	* In the ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' episode "My Bad Too", Dr. Kelso says this to J.D. and Elliot when they find him eating a chocolate cake he had thrown away before out of the trash.
133	* Shouted word for word by Kramer on an episode of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' after a bout of chain-smoking ruins his appearance.
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Music]]
137	* Music/{{Madonna}} snarls "What are you looking at?" at the beginning of the song "Vogue" in the single version and ''Music/TheImmaculateCollection'' version.
138	* "Look Away" by Music/{{Chicago}}.
139	-->''When you see me walking by\
140	And the tears are in my eyes\
141	Look away, baby, look away\
142	Don't look at me\
143	I don't want you to see me this way''
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
147	* There is a [[FearsomeCrittersOfAmericanFolklore creature from Pennsylvania folklore]] called a Squonk, which is said to be so ugly that it dissolves into a puddle of tears whenever anyone sees it, which is why it has never been captured alive.
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:Podcasts]]
151	* ''Podcast/PretendingToBePeople'' features The Residue, an [[EldritchAbomination eldritch]] BlobMonster which apparently only attacks people who look at it.
152	* ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'': [[EldritchAbomination The Shape]] [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast (formerly) in Grove Park that No One Speaks Of Or Acknowledges]]. It turns out that the reason no one speaks of or acknowledges it is that [[spoiler:it ''gets mad if you do''.]] Cecil finds this out [[SchmuckBait the hard way]].
153	[[/folder]]
154
155	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
156	* Whilst utilizing his "Dashing" gimmick, Wrestling/CodyRhodes had his nose (legitimately) broken by Rey Mysterio's [[FinishingMove 619]]. [[VillainousBSOD Psychologically broken]] by the perceived "imperfections" in his face, and forced to wear a protective face mask, Rhodes' narcissist gimmick shifted to that of a deranged, self-loathing, paranoid AxCrazy. He took to wearing a hooded jacket on his way to the ring, shielding his face with his hands, and giving interviews/promos in diminished lighting. As his mania grew, Rhodes took to covering the faces of his felled opponents (and audience members) with paper bags, he was so disgusted with the ugliness he saw around him and in himself.
157	* When Wrestling/{{Kane}}'s mask was forcibly removed in 2003, he underwent an HeroicBSOD that led to a full-on FaceHeelTurn. He took to walking to the ring with a black towel draped over his head, and brutally attacked anyone he thought was mocking his appearance.
158	* Often the reaction of ''[[{{Heel}} rudo]]'' Luchadors when they lose a Mask Vs Mask match and react violently about having to unmask. ''[[{{Face}} Technicos]]'' tend to handle the shame with a bit more dignity.
159	[[/folder]]
160
161	[[folder:Roleplay]]
162	* In ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'', Jenna is granted a superpower that transforms her from an average girl into a [[TheWormThatWalks walking mass of insects]]. Rather understandably, she hides herself in a hoodie and freaks out if anyone looks too closely at her.
163	[[/folder]]
164
165	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
166	* ''TabletopGame/PrometheanTheCreated'': Expect a Promethean to yell this if they suffer GlamourFailure -- Disquiet takes a ''vicious'' spike if a sufferer sees a Promethean's Disfigurements.
167	* PlayedForLaughs in ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse''. Ambuscade's backstory mentions how he was an actor before an injury left him permanently scarred. The back of his team version card reveals him unmasked, desperately trying to hide his... tiny cheek scratch.
168	* The Freak archetype from ''WOD Slasher'' is also quite given to using this line, given that such killers are ugly as sin and often aren't too happy about it.
169	[[/folder]]
170
171	[[folder:Theatre]]
172	* In ''Follies'', Sally sings this when she meets Ben.
173	* ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': The eponymous Phantom reacts violently the first time Christine tries to take his mask off and look at him. He even has a [[DespairSpeech despair song]] once she does. Justified in that he was born with a hideous deformity.
174	-->''This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing.\
175	A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing.''
176	[[/folder]]
177
178	[[folder:Video Games]]
179	* ''VideoGame/{{Antichamber}}'': Certain parts of the environment change or activate depending on whether or not you're actively observing them.
180	* ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'': [[spoiler: Sammy Lawrence]] has this reaction when [[PlayerCharacter Henry]] destroys his [[spoiler: [[MalevolentMaskedMen mask]]]], revealing his [[WasOnceAMan inky]] [[TheBlank facelessness]] in Chapter 5.
181	* In ''VideoGame/BlazBlueChronoPhantasma'', when Noel faces off against Ragna [[spoiler:in the form of [[{{Stripperific}} Mu-12]]]] she yells at him not to stare at her. He insists that he's not.
182	* If you want to avoid detection from the Lantern Specters in ''VideoGame/{{Detention}}'', Ray needs to turn her back on them and hold her breath at the same time when they lower their heads to check on Ray. Fail in doing so will lead to Ray getting strangled to death.
183	* Played for drama in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' by the Nightkin. Their nature as stealth experts who spent ''all'' their time shrouded by Stealth Boys makes them despise being stared at, and the trope phrase is their reaction to the player character even glancing in their general direction. The side effects of prolonged Stealth Boy use also all but guarantee they'll develop debilitating mental disorders such as schizophrenia (on top of being [[BodyHorror Super Mutants]]). In one case, you can even annoy one of them just by staring at him.
184	* Happens when you take a picture to scandalize and show the PC's mom of a rival Mafia member in a diaper with prostitutes in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories''.
185	* ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'':
186	** The BigBad, [[SinisterMinister Lord Hyness]], has a complex about his face and is always seen with a [[InTheHood white hooded robe]] that gives him a ShadowedFaceGlowingEyes look. [[spoiler:After emptying his health bar, Kirby and friends knock the hood off, and Hyness promptly goes ''[[UnstoppableRage ballistic]]''. This starts the second phase of his boss fight, which is [[ThatOneBoss far harder than the first]].]]
187	** [[BlackKnight Meta Knight]], whose main response to having his mask broken is to make his escape by curling up in his cape and disappearing upon defeat, most likely because he doesn't like people seeing his true, more cutesy-looking face.
188	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' contains a very quiet guy just sitting there in the desert. [[spoiler:He is a retired thief who wants his old reputation to just go away already.]] Next to him is a sign:
189	-->''I'm just an average guy. Do not try to talk to me. DO NOT remove this sign.''
190	* ''VideoGame/LobotomyCorporation'': Schadenfreude must not be observed while an employee works on it. If your camera focuses on it for too long, it will break out. The key way of dealing with this Abnormality when it breaches is to just not look at it, because it can only attack when the player is looking at it.
191	* In ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', looking directly at one of the Endermen (as in, moving the crosshairs in the center of the screen over them) causes them to freeze and turn to face you. The moment you look away, they attack, moving very fast and teleporting if necessary to close the distance. They also make a creepy growl/scream sound.
192	* In ''VideoGame/{{Nier}}'', Emil screams this after he discovers that fusing with his monstrous sister stabilized his powers [[spoiler:and transformed him into a skeletal being similar to her. Without any hesitation, Nier hugs the sobbing Emil and does his best to comfort him.]]
193	* ''VideoGame/OneNightAtFlumptys'': Grunkfuss ''hates'' having his picture taken in the third game. If you snap a photo of the hallway when he's in it, he will immediately kill you.
194	* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
195	** In ''VideoGame/Persona4'', this is what Chie says to Yu and Yosuke when they see her confronting her Shadow self.
196	** ''VideoGame/Persona5'':
197	*** Ann has her turn when she notices her outfit as a first-time Phantom Thief.
198	*** Applies when Futaba and her friends are out on the beach. Embarrassed about how little she's wearing in front of everyone even though the other girls are barely more thoroughly dressed, she presents herself with some towels wrapped around her head to hide said embarrassment. She ''has'' had [[{{Hikikomori}} very little in the way of a social life from beforehand]], so the idea of wearing a lot less than is acceptable normally is only naturally alien to her.
199	* At the end of ''VideoGame/PhantasmagoriaAPuzzleOfFlesh'' [[spoiler:the grossly mutated real Curtis Craig says this to his player-controlled clone before summoning his spectral puppet for the final BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind]]
200	* In ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheUnwoundFuture'', this is one of the things the Professor's ward Flora says if she gets a puzzle wrong.
201	* In ''VideoGame/{{Star Wars The Old Republic}}'', Lieutenant Felix Iresso from the Jedi Consular's crew is very vocal about not wanting to be stared at.
202	* In the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series, Boos (ghost enemies) do not like to be looked at, and turn invisible and hide their face when you look at them, only attacking when you turn away.
203	* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', Collette uses this phrase when [[spoiler: her clothes are torn, revealing that her Cruxis crystal is taking over her body]].
204	* In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', the [[SmallNameBigEgo Scout]] will say this if his head is made bigger or smaller by Merasmus, either because he's hideous or because he's slightly less handsome.
205	* In ''VideoGame/{{Wick}}'', this is Tom Weaver's motivation for wearing his mask. He will attack you if you look at him for too long. Stare too long at Lilian, and she'll kill you outright.
206	[[/folder]]
207
208	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
209	* In ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'', the reason that the Screaming Author begs people not to look inside the mansion is that [[spoiler:her body has been mutilated to a ghastly degree by Yakumo, and she's horrified at how she appears now.]]
210	[[/folder]]
211
212	[[folder:Web Comics]]
213	* In Megan Kearney's ''Beauty and the Beast'', the Beast cries out these words when Beauty catches him bloodily eating a deer carcass.
214	* At the end of [[http://brawlinthefamily.keenspot.com/comic/322-cocoonacademy10/ the Cocoon Academy arc]] in ''Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily'', [[spoiler:when Pinky realizes that his exposure to Dark Matter turned him blue, he tells everyone in the room "Ugh, geez...don't look at me, you guys." Even as an adult as Metaknight, he is extremely paranoid about being seen without his mask.]]
215	* ''Webcomic/DaughterOfTheLilies'': Thistle has some serious body image issues on account of being [[spoiler:a cave elf living in an area where cave elves aren't well regarded]]. Normally she's content to simply cover up all her visible skin, but when a vision leaves her perceiving herself to be wearing clothing that doesn't cover her face and hands, [[https://www.daughterofthelilies.com/dotl/928 she tells her companions to stop looking at her.]]
216	* ''Webcomic/UnOrdinary'': [[spoiler: John]] says this to Sera after she comes back from suspension, due to [[spoiler: the fact that he just nearly killed two people and seriously injured a third a mere few hours ago.]]
217	[[/folder]]
218
219	[[folder:Web Original]]
220	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-096 SCP-096]], the "Shy Guy", is a humanoid creature that [[BerserkButton goes into a murderous rage]] if anyone sees its face, becoming TheJuggernaut as it charges in a straight line towards the offending individual without any possible way to kill it, or even slow it down. This even applies to photographs and videos (but not drawings) that show its face, including one instance of a photograph where its face made up a grand total of ''4 pixels'' and had been in somebody's house for ''years'' without incident because [[ParanoiaFuel nobody had looked at those exact 4 pixels before]].
221	[[/folder]]
222
223	[[folder:Web Videos]]
224	* ''Series/CharlesInCharge'': When the WebVideo/{{Wiiviewer}} is caught watching Charles.
225	* A hilariously bizarre example from the infamous prank war between ''Website/CollegeHumor'''s Streeter and Amir. In the prank that started it all, Streeter splices audio of himself having sex into a music track Amir is listening too. Audio that mostly consists of his girlfriend moaning while Streeter repeatedly demands that she not look at him, thoroughly weirding out Amir.
226	* ''WebVideo/StreetFighterTheLaterYears'': Zangief says this in the first episode.
227	[[/folder]]
228
229	[[folder:Western Animation]]
230	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' "The Potato", Steve Small hosts a therapy session to help Darwin kick his potato cravings, citing his own success at converting to vegetarianism. It seems to work until Darwin notices a string of sausages and a pile of steaks that Small has hidden in his desk. Small confesses that he still craves meat. When Darwin runs back home to go cold-turkey on his own, Gumball tries to tell Small that Darwin is skipping out on school, only to catch Small tearing into a raw steak like an animal. Small screams "Don't look at me!" while he still has bits of meat on his face.
231	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''
232	** Two-Face tries to hide his disfigurement when his girlfriend comes to see him and gets mad when she removes the cloth covering half his face.
233	** There's also the former starlet who covers her face with a mask at all times, at the risk of her BerserkButton. [[spoiler: When she's unmasked at the end, Batgirl whispers that "She's beautiful," but Batman coolly replies that to the woman herself, all she can see are the flaws.]]
234	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Chowder}}'':
235	** Gorgonzola says this once so that no one will look at his ''shame''!
236	** Gazpacho says this when he bans himself from his own stand.
237	* Spoofed on ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' by Chickenfoot, a man stuck in a chicken outfit who's convinced that he's a hideous abomination. During the retelling of his backstory to Dib, he screams "Don't look at me!" at random intervals.
238	-->'''Chickenfoot:''' I used to be human, like you. And I worked at a Chicky-Licky, just like you!\
239	'''Dib:''' But I don't work at a Chicky Licky--\
240	'''Chickenfoot:''' DON'T LOOK AT ME!!!
241	* The animated ''WesternAnimation/PunkyBrewster'' episode "Pretty Ugly" has Glomer turning Margaux's face into a glomley face (a glomley is a leprechaun helper in Glomer's world) just before attending an important upscale party. Punky has to impersonate Margaux until her face returns to normal, but Margaux finds out. Eventually, Margaux's face returns to normal, which she doesn't know yet (she's on the verge of wringing Punky's neck), and when Avery Bigelow--the kid who invited Margaux--enters, Margaux tearfully entreats "Don't look at me! I'm ugly!" Punky holds a shiny pan to Margaux so she can see she is back to normal.
242	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
243	** [[spoiler:Marge's father]] screamed this at Marge when she found out about his career as [[spoiler: a stewardess (sic)]], thus [[AllPsychologyIsFreudian causing her lifelong fear of planes]] (amongst other incidents).
244	** The Count Chocula {{expy}} begs Homer not to look at him when he betrays his principles and returns to promoting sugar loaded cereal.
245	** When Homer lands the role as the star of ''Everyman'', a superhero movie based on a character created by Comic Book Guy, he's given a fitness trainer who helps him get in shape for the role. However, when said trainer leaves once his job is done, Homer quickly degenerates back to his normal eating habits.
246	--->'''Homer:''' ''[Stuffing himself with cheese cubes from the buffet table]'' Don't look at me! ''DON'T LOOK AT ME!'' [[SubvertedTrope Except you, you watch!]]
247	* Parodied on ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'' when a TV show convinces Knuckles that his past behavior may have severely harmed the life of someone he used to know.
248	-->'''Knuckles:''' Don't look at me! I'm a monster! A MONSTER! ''[Runs out of the room.]''\
249	'''Sonic:''' Ugh, hope this turns out better than when he thought he was a ballerina.\
250	''[Cue flashback.]''\
251	'''Knuckles:''' Don't look at me! I'm a ballerina! A BALLERINA! ''[Gracefully dances out of the room.]''
252	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
253	** In the episode "Jail Break", Steven finds Ruby locked up, but she initially tries to shoo him away [[spoiler:because Garnet (who is [[FusionDance a fusion of Ruby and another gem]]) wanted to save their meeting for Steven's next birthday]].
254	--->'''Steven:''' Uhh... Do you need any help?\
255	'''Ruby:''' NO! I mean... [[NoIndoorVoice DON'T LOOK AT ME]]! Just! Go away...
256	** In the episode "Restaurant Wars", Mr. Fryman's french fry stand and Kofi's pizza restaurants start trying to outdo the other at their usual food. This leads to Peedee walking around in a pizza costume, running away while telling Steven not to look at him.
257	* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama Island (2023)'': Scary Girl's first words to Chris are "You should stop looking at me". Faced with her perpetual wide grin and shrunken irises, Chris quickly covers his eyes and redirects the camera's attention to Bowie.
258	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'': In "Where Is My Mind?" (aka the WhatDoTheyFearEpisode), Mary Wang can be heard shouting this at one point as she runs by while [[HandOrObjectUnderwear covering herself with her arms]], her Pixie-induced fear vision apparently being of [[NotWearingPantsDream being naked at school]].
259	* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'': Grand Galactic Inquisitor doesn't want anyone to interact with him in any way. His catchphrase is "[[LargeHam Ignore me!]]" He continuously bellows out to "Continue your human occupations!" and "IGNORE ME!!!" with NoIndoorVoice and [[MilkingTheGiantCow grand dramatic gestures]] even if the cast is not paying attention at all.
260	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DontLookAtMe