Line #3 Main/FrameUp


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/haruhiframeup.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:Good luck proving he didn't mean to [[ThanksForTheMammary grab those]].]]
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10
11	->''"To see him obviously framed\
12	Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land\
13	Where justice is a game."''
14	-->-- '''Music/BobDylan''', "Hurricane"
15
16	Framing someone means providing fake evidence in order to falsely prove someone guilty of a crime. "Frame" here means making someone innocent look guilty by "putting the person in a picture frame of suspicion".
17
18	Of course, it results in a need for the Hero to ClearMyName. If the hero has to clear someone else who has been wrongfully accused of a crime, it's ClearTheirName.
19
20	FramingTheGuiltyParty is a subtrope where the party framed is actually guilty. It can be a {{subver\|tedTrope}}sion or even a DoubleSubversion of the classic Frame-Up depending on the convolutions of apparent and actual guilt. In a similar vein, in Noir-themed crime dramas the frame can be rehung many times: a white-knuckle version of pass-the-parcel. If the framed party is an animal, ThisBearWasFramed. If the framed party is dead, then it's a DeceasedFallGuyGambit. If the accuser turns out to be right by complete accident, it may overlap with AccidentalTruth and RightForTheWrongReasons.
21
22	As for '''why''' someone was framed, a common reason to frame someone is to ruin the reputation of a rival, someone whom they think is a bad influence, or someone with good publicity who has not been very good to them. However outright murdering them (even if it's meant to [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident look like an accident]]) would make them a martyr in the eyes of the public and might make things worse for the culprit. But most of the time, it's to direct blame away from the real culprits, so someone else is framed out of convenience, usually a person who would also have a motive to commit this crime.
23
24	See also: TakingTheHeat, where an innocent person attempts to put ''himself'' in the frame to save someone else, FalseFlagOperation, where it is an entire organization or nation that is being framed by another, FalseRapeAccusation, where an innocent person is accused of committing rape, ThenLetMeBeEvil, [[TheDogBitesBack when the framing eventually]] [[FaceHeelTurn drives the innocent person into evil]], especially what ''[[LaserGuidedKarma exactly]]'' they were framed for, and MistakenForMurderer, where the misleading evidence arises out of unplanned circumstances. Compare and contrast AbominationAccusationAttack, where the accusation just mentions a type of crime, not any specific instance. Is often a part of an InsidiousRumorMill. Certain forms of a MotivationalLie can be related in spirit. Often overlaps with {{Blackmail}}.
25	----
26	!!Examples:
27
28	[[index]]
29	* FrameUp/AnimeAndManga
30	* FrameUp/ComicBooks
31	* FrameUp/FanWorks
32	* FrameUp/{{Film}}
33	* FrameUp/{{Literature}}
34	* FrameUp/LiveActionTV
35	* FrameUp/VideoGames
36	* FrameUp/VisualNovels
37	* FrameUp/WesternAnimation
38	[[/index]]
39
40	[[foldercontrol]]
41
42	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
43	* In Season 3 episode 22 of ''Animation/HappyHeroes'', Big M. tries to make Smart S. look like he's causing trouble with the people of the city by [[DressingAsTheEnemy dressing up as him]] and doing just that. It works, and Smart S.'s loyal group of fans become distraught at him committing the crimes.
44	* This is a fairly common occurrence in ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf: The Little Detective'', with one of the goats being framed for a crime and Weslie having to prove them innocent.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
48	* ''ComicStrip/ModestyBlaise'': As the title indicates, "The Murder Frame" involves a particularly expert frame job that puts Willie in the frame for murder. He goes on the run and he and Modesty have to employ all of their resourcefulness--plus the aid of some friends in high (and low) places--to prove his innocence and bring the true culprits to justice.
49	* In a ''ComicStrip/LittleOrphanAnnie'', Vader frames Oon Ai, the officer Tagge had assigned to be his minder, with having ties to the pirates to both embarrass Tagge and to get rid of his watch dog.
50	* Happens a lot with ''ComicStrip/DickTracy''.
51	** Stooge Viller nicely framed Tracy for robbery and corruption, leading to him being fired from the force before proving his innocence.
52	** A 1950s story had Tracy coming under suspicion for a nice lifestyle before revealing he was being set up by the real crook.
53	** [[MasterOfDisguise Putty Puss]] began pulling off robberies disguised as Sam Catchem.
54	** Subverted in one story where Putty Puss looks like Tracy to kiss another woman. When Tracy denies it's him to wife Tess, she instantly accepts it, citing the numerous times Tracy has been framed (not to mention she knows first hand what it looks like when Tracy is kissing someone) and works to find out who's responsible.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Fairy Tales]]
58	* Used in some Creator/TheBrothersGrimm stories:
59	** In "The Water of Life", a young prince is framed by his two older brothers as a potential patricide.
60	** In "Literature/TheSixSwans", the protagonist is near [[BurnTheWitch burned at the stake]] for supposedly killing and eating her babies. Her RichBitch of a mother-in-law did it [[ShippingTorpedo to discredit her]] for her muddled origins.
61	* In Creator/FranzXaverVonSchonwerth "Literature/TheThreeFlowers", Katie's babies are murdered by her mother-in-law, who then smears Katie's mouth with their blood to frame her as a baby-eater and filicide.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
65	* ''WesternAnimation/BusterAndChaunceysSilentNight'': The two thieves posing as the Duke of Roche and Lady Gretchen kidnap Christine and decide to have her take the blame for their theft of the church's treasures.
66	* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls1'', Sunset Shimmer, Snips, and Snails doctor some photos to make it look like Twilight Sparkle trashed the Fall Formal decorations. Flash Sentry manages to find the original photos and clear her name.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Music]]
70	* The Music/BobDylan song "Hurricane" about the imprisonment of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter.
71	-->''Here comes the story of the Hurricane,\
72	The man the authorities came to blame\
73	For somethin' that he never done.''
74	* In Music/{{mothy}}'s Music/{{vocaloid}} song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QykKSkt_KZ0 The Escape of Salmhofer, the Witch]], Meta Salmhofer is framed for the murder of Eve Moonlit's children.
75	* "No Body, No Crime" by Music/TaylorSwift has a rare heroic example; after Este confronts her husband about his cheating and [[TilMurderDoUsPart gets murdered for her trouble]], the narrator kills Este's husband and disposes of his body, exploiting the fact that his mistress had just taken out a valuable life-insurance policy on him to frame the mistress for the husband's murder by making it seem like a case of InsuranceFraud while also simultaneously avenging Este's murder and getting rid of the husband who'd murdered her.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Podcasts]]
79	* ''Podcast/DeathByDying'' has two examples in the first episode. [[spoiler: [[GenderBlenderName Bernard]] kills her husband and frames the Wild Man for the killing, then her lover Marion pretends to have been tortured by him in order to ruin his reputation so no one has an issue with Marion and Bernard marrying]].
80	* Podcast/DiceFunk: In Season 1, the party is framed for [[spoiler:kidnapping the lord's son, despite spending the entire adventure trying to save him.]]
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Radio]]
84	* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Taking the Rap for Mr. Boynton", Miss Brooks tries to get Mr. Boynton into trouble with Principal Conklin. This ZanyScheme is so [[MakesSenseInContext can take the blame for him and make him less]] ObliviousToLove. This involves trying to make it look like Mr. Boynton ate Mr. Conklin's lunch and drawing a cartoon of Mr. Conklin as a mouse and making it look like Mr. Boynton's work.
85	[[/folder]]
86
87	[[folder:Religion]]
88	* ''Literature/TheBookOfMormon'': Amalickiah's servants stab the king of the Lamanites dead in front of all the king's servants -- but they then scare the king's servants into running. And then they raise a hue and cry, claiming that the king's servants stabbed him, and using their flight as evidence.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Roleplay]]
92	* In ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'', an anonymous letter is sent to the principal that blames a particular group of students for the damage done to the school. This in itself is revealed to be a set-up, with a government agent forcing the principal to blame them all for the specific purpose of drawing out Finn and getting him expelled, even though everyone is aware that he didn't cause the damage to the school.
93	* ''Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForums'':
94	** ''Whereabouts of Drink and Coin'': The Wharf Street Warriors are the victims of this, being framed for supposedly killing Cassius, the leader of the Drake Park Chiefs. The ensuing target on their backs motivates the Warriors to run to safety at their headquarters, having to fight their way through the entire city.
95	* ''Roleplay/YouHaveBecomeYourAvatar'': Josh comes up with the idea of framing {{Identical Stranger}}s in order to get the money and get the cops off their back. Storm suggests that they use cosplayers for the frame-up.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
99	* ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' specifically encourages this. Depending on play style, this can fall anywhere from "Traitor!" ''ZAP ZAP ZAP'' to planting and doctoring evidence in advance.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Theatre]]
103	* In ''Theatre/CanCan'', the owner of a scandalous but popular dance hall deals with a crusading judge who is trying to get her closed down by arranging for him to be photographed apparently engaging in the kind of wild living he publicly opposes, causing him to be suspended pending a judicial inquiry.
104	[[/folder]]
105
106	[[folder:Web Animation]]
107	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'';
108	** In "Fall", Yang is framed for breaking Mercury's leg after she wins their tournament fight. Emerald uses her illusion semblance to make Yang believe that Mercury is attacking her, and she defends herself accordingly. However, all the stadium and television audience sees is her brutally attack an unsuspecting, passive combatant after the fight was already over and without provocation.
109	** In "A Night Off", at Robyn Hill's campaign party, Tyrian is hidden in the crowd. When Watts kills the lights, Tyrian massacres several people while Watts manipulates the security footage to make it look like Penny did it. Penny sees Tyrian and tries to stop him, but he slips away and when the lights come on, Tyrian is gone and Penny is standing on the stage with her blades drawn. Although Ruby sees Tyrian before the lights go out, and is able to tell Ren and Nora who really did it, everyone else present thinks Penny was the attacker. While it takes little time to prove that the footage was faked and Tyrian is the real culprit, by then Mantle has descended into riots, [[AllAccordingToPlan just as Watts planned]].
110	** In "With Friends Like These", Tyrian frames Qrow for Clover's murder by stealing Qrow's weapon and killing Clover with it. Tyrian even yells that Qrow killed him before escaping. The authorities quickly descend and arrest Qrow.
111	* Season 2 of ''WebAnimation/MetaRunner'' concludes with [[spoiler: Dr. Sheridan framing Masa for the death of Lucks by hacking into his Meta Runner arm and forcing him to shoot Lucks point-blank in the head.]]
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Webcomics]]
115	* ''Webcomic/{{Archipelago}}'': Captain Syn frames Anthony [[spoiler:for murdering his wife and has him thrown into the sea, where Anthony experiences OceanMadness and DeathOfPersonality, then washes up ashore the Ruin Island, where the protagonist takes him under her wing and names the shipwreck Blitz. When, a couple of weeks later, Syn and his crew land on the very same island, he does this again by attempting to murder his first mate Lucas, then setting up Blitz to be literally caught red-handed, crouched over him, blooded knife in hand.]]
116	* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Ellen, shortly after being created, [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-08-02 tries to get Elliot in trouble by pretending to be him]] but CantGetInTroubleForNuthin.
117	* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': [[spoiler:Beausoleil]] murders [[spoiler:the Master of Paris]], doing the deed with a sword decorated by the Heterodyne symbol in order to frame Agatha.
118	* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'': The Great Cleanup starts with Student Council members Shinji and Ritsu hiding girls' recorder mouthpieces in the desk and bags of local delinquent leader Tenga, getting him labeled as a pervert and driven out of school.
119	* ''Webcomic/NewSchoolKids'': Strip 92 reveals that Frank's arrest in the previous strip was a result of Trevor giving the police a fake tip-off so that they would lock Frank up and Trevor could play his ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' save files.
120	* ''Webcomic/ShadowsOfEnchantment'' practically ''starts'' with Serris being framed for conspiracy to assassinate TheCaptain of the Aldrian Royal Guard. [[spoiler:The real goal was to get [[PhantomThief Tyrus]] to come rescue her so that Aldria could find him to make a deal with him.]]
121	* This is the core of ''Webcomic/ZiggyPigAndSillySeal2022''. Ziggy's master plan is to ruin the reputation of Creator/MarvelComics' other animal heroes and elevate himself as a wholesome alternative. His targets include (but is not limited to) ComicBook/SpiderHam, the ComicBook/PetAvengers, ComicBook/HowardTheDuck, ComicBook/HitMonkey, [[Characters/TheInhumans Lockjaw]], and [[Characters/MarvelComicsCaptainMarvelSupportingCharacters Chewie the Flerkin]].
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Web Video]]
125	* ''WebVideo/TheMostStupidDeathsInSuperMario64'': Clone 2, in the 10,000 view celebration, is framed for messing up Hyrule Castle. Though, he may be partially guilty for it, seeing as Mario and the three clones had a battle on it. In the 20,000 view celebration, [[spoiler: [[BrickJoke Link finds and attacks Clone 2 for this]].]]
126	* ''WebVideo/SevenSecondRiddles'': A common plot in the riddles involves characters faking a crime. The riddle part is determining the evidence that proves the crime never happened- and that whoever was being framed for the crime is innocent.
127	* In ''WebVideo/SMPLive'', Carson tries to frame Billy for having [[GRatedDrug potions]] by throwing them at him.
128	[[/folder]]

Context Main / FrameUp