Line #71 Main/FriendshipDenial


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9	[[quoteright:350:[[Anime/GirlsUndPanzer https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/denial_oi_friendship.png]]]]
10	->''"These guys are just my servants!"''
11	-->-- '''Mao''', ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice''
12
13	So you have two characters who seem to work well together and they seem to have a decent relationship going on. They are loyal to one another and seem to respect each other very well. You can tell that they're friends, right?
14
15	Well, in the case of one particular character, not exactly.
16
17	This is the trope where a character flat-out denies their friendship with one (or more) characters for some reason. Perhaps the character is TheLancer who has trouble getting along with TheHero and [[TeethClenchedTeamwork doesn't like working with]] them that much. They may be a [[IWorkAlone natural-born loner]] who isn't concerned about intimate friendship. They may be a prideful {{Jerkass}} who thinks that having friends makes them uncool and [[VirtueIsWeakness weak]]. When the chips are down, they still do help out their "friend" because it's the [[GoodSamaritan right thing to do]].
18
19	Sometimes, in other variants, the character may not be in denial after all. Reasons being that the character doesn't fully know the hero since in order to be a friend, you must be intimate to know who they are; most examples of this would have a NiceGuy call the other "buddy", "pal", or "friend", but the offended character responds with "I'm not your buddy/pal/friend." A character in the workforce is appointed to work with a group of people, but friendship isn't a part of his job description since BeingPersonalIsntProfessional. Even to the extremes, the character in question is actually the hero's [[ArchEnemy arch-nemesis]] either by honesty or [[FalseFriend revelation]]. Obvious, isn't it?
20
21	On a brighter note, there are high chances for the character to consider that the other character is truly their friend, and from that point on, the bond will become stronger and better than it was before. If they are ''not'' technically friends, [[FireForgedFriends they will soon become closer as the series progresses]].
22
23	This is often common in crime scenes where a character denies friendship with the second party as a ruse to escape responsibility for their crimes, especially in a trial. There is also the reverse situation, where a character doesn't want their enemies to find out about the friendship [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies to protect the friend from becoming a target]].
24
25	This could be the character trait of one or two characters in duo of VitriolicBestBuds. A group of characters can do this to one particular person in their group, which is TheFriendNobodyLikes. Can be the kind of relationship the RagtagBunchOfMisfits would have. Often related to HiddenHeartOfGold. Can be utilized as the tool to permanently end a friendship, which is WeUsedToBeFriends, or at least temporarily in a FeudEpisode.
26
27	Compare ShesNotMyGirlfriend and JustFriends for the more romantic versions, LoserFriendPuzzlesOutsiders for times when other people might allege (incorrectly) that two people couldn't possibly be friends, and ArrangedFriendship when they're only "friends" for reasons beyond genuine companionship. See also WeDoNotKnowEachOther, its subtrope AcquaintanceDenial, and MutuallyUnequalRelationship (where one character thinks they're friends, the other definitely doesn't).
28
29	----
30	!!Examples:
31
32	[[foldercontrol]]
33
34	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
35	* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Uryu Ishida will make it very clear that he and Ichigo are not best friends, despite being a frequent ally to him and the other Soul Reapers.
36	* Subverted in ''Anime/CodeGeass'': when Suzaku first shows up at Ashford Academy, he tells Lelouch that it's better for them to do this since being associated with an Eleven might raise too many questions; Suzaku is one of the few people who knows Lelouch is an exiled Britannian prince, which is how they met in the first place seven years earlier. Lelouch goes along with it for a while, but after Suzaku saves him from falling out of the school's clocktower, he openly declares in front of the student body that they're friends and asks StudentCouncilPresident Milly to give Suzaku a position on the council. This wasn't just motivated by the life-saving, but because Lelouch knew Suzaku was being bullied and harassed for being Japanese and wanted to put an end to it.
37	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
38	** This happens in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' when Piccolo became infuriated at being defeated by the androids, but the others try to calm him down:
39	--->'''Krillin''': Wh-what's that look on your face? Do you have a plan?! C'mon, tell us! We're your friends!\
40	'''Piccolo''': Friends?! Don't press your luck. When do you think I became your friend? I'm a demon! Don't you ever forget that!! [[BlatantLies I'm merely using you — to take over the world!!]]
41	** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': During the Future Trunks Saga, [[spoiler:Future Zamasu states that he and Goku Black are not friends, just kindred spirits working together on the same dream. Goku points out that that's [[DistinctionWithoutADifference basically the same thing]].]] It's later revealed that [[spoiler:Goku Black is in fact an alternate version of Zamasu who used the Dragon Balls to [[GrandTheftMe steal Goku's body]]; they don't see each other as friends because they're literally the same person.]]
42	* ''Manga/FoodWars'': Satoshi Isshiki and Nene Kinokuni grew up together and seemed rather close as children. However, Nene [[TheResenter became resentful]] that [[InstantExpert he was able to take so easily]] to the arts and crafts that [[HardWorkHardlyWorks she took so many years of hard work and practice to master]]. At the start of the story, while Satoshi is still friendly to her (then again [[NiceGuy he's friendly to pretty much everyone]]), she's bitter because he has a lower seat in the [[AbsurdlyPowerfulStudentCouncil Council of Ten Masters]] than her only because he doesn't take things as seriously, so she not only refuses to see him as a friend but even denies they ''ever'' were friends.
43	* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'': Karen regularly interacts with Ishigami in ''We Want to Talk About Kaguya'' and looks on happily when he's being comforted by the Cheer Team during the sports festival, but she states that they have a strict business relationship when Erika asks if they're friends (he's acts as the editor for her [=KaguyaXShirogane=] doujinshi). This denial is probably for continuity purposes since Maki is established in the main series to be the first girl to consider him a friend. Due to OutOfContextEavesdropping, Ishigami understands she doesn't want to be associated with him, but in context, Karen mainly said she's not close enough to Ishigami to ask for another favor since she's already the one "indebted" to him.
44	* In ''Manga/KoiToUso'', Nejima becomes concerned when his best friend Nisaka is becoming distant and confronts him after he leaves upon hearing a hurtful conversation in the classroom. Nisaka promptly tries to push Nejima away and says that they were never true friends [[spoiler:[[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove because Nisaka cares for him in a different way]] than Nejima does him]].
45	-->'''Nisaka:''' You can't [[spoiler:kiss]] a friend.
46	* ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'': After hearing the story of how Tohru and Elma became acquainted and their heated rivalry, Kobayashi comments their relationship is now akin to VitriolicBestBuds. Tohru and Elma promptly freak out and try to deny it, only to launch into an argument that proves Kobayashi's point.
47	* ''Anime/MyHeroAcademia'': Bakugo and Todoroki eventually started working together more and more over the course of the series and by the time they have a public interview, Todoroki openly stated that he and Bakugo were friends, only for Bakugo to angrily deny it and say the only reason they even associate together is because it's mandatory for them to take courses together.
48	* ''Anime/{{Noir}}'': Mirielle needed Kirika to stay alive to help her find the answers to Soldats, but this doesn't change the fact that both are HeterosexualLifePartners with a dose of HoYay.
49	* ''Manga/OnePiece'': When Luffy forms an alliance with Trafalgar Law in the Punk Hazard arc that's ''supposed'' to be an EnemyMine, it's pretty clear right from the get-go that Luffy thinks of them as pals, and by the time of the following Dressrosa arc, he uses the same Japanese word for "friend/comrade" ("nakama") when referring to Law that he uses for his crewmates, making it clear that he sees him as a very close friend. Law, however, always denies that they're friends, insisting that they're just allies and nothing more. While his initial protestations feel sincere (since he was fairly pissed with Luffy at the time), it's implied by the end of the Dressrosa arc and beyond that he ''does'' see Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats as friends and is just in denial about it.
50	* Lina Inverse and Naga the White Serpent in ''{{Anime/Slayers}}'' [=OVAs=] and movies are VitriolicBestBuds who will vehemently deny that they are best buds or any kind of buds. Both claim that the other is their sidekick. Or rival, depending on the mood.
51	* In the first season of ''Anime/SonicX'', [[TheRival Knuckles]] would occasionally deny being friends with Sonic, but this is due to his disapproval of the hedgehog's reckless nature and [[DeadpanSnarker snarky attitude]]. It also doesn't help that Knuckles is quite [[GreeneyedMonster jealous]] of Sonic's freedom and popularity while he is a loner tasked with guarding the Master Emerald.
52	* Yugami from ''Manga/YugamiKunNiWaTomodachiGaInai'' is a [[LeaveMeAlone deliberate loner]] who happily [[{{DefiedTrope}} defies]] ThePowerOfFriendship and is [[LonersAreFreaks ignored by his classmates]] because they find him a pain to deal with. Despite his BrutalHonesty, NewTransferStudent [[IJustWantToHaveFriends Chi]][[{{Narrator}} hiro]] talks to him often. Classmates start wondering if the two are friends because ''no one'' has been able to talk to Yugami for more than five minutes -- except Chihiro. Any suggestion of a friendship between them is shot down by ''both'' parties, however.
53	* ''Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS'': Many times in the series, Yusaku insists Ai is his captive when asked by other characters if they are partners. While this is true in the first season where he only sees Ai as a hostage, it doesn't hold in later seasons when they become closer and even have some genuine {{Friendship Moment}}s.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Comic Books]]
57	* ''ComicBook/ChuckDixonsAvalon'': Happens after Fazer mistakenly thinks he and Angela are having a "moment".
58	-->'''Fazer:''' But we're friends, right?\
59	'''Angela:''' We're not friends. We're not anything! All we are is [[TeethClenchedTeamwork stuck with each other]]!
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Fan Works]]
63	* In ''Fanfic/BloomFullyOnTheTallWall'', Homura isn't used to friends and her depression doesn't help. As a result, she initially denies being Togo and the other girls' friend.
64	* ''Fanfic/BringMeToLife'':
65	** On two separate occasions, Pearl and Nash refer to Angel and Spike as friends. Both respond that they're ''not'' friends and never ''will'' be.
66	** In chapter 27, Wesley also makes it clear that he still holds a grudge against the rest of Angel Investigations for abandoning him due to the situation with Holtz and Connor back during ''Series/{{Angel}}'' Season 3. He states that he's only there to help stop the First and prevent Armageddon, he's ''not'' their friend or comrade in arms, and he's ''not'' Angel's flunky anymore; once this is over, he plans to go his own way.
67	* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' of Creator/AAPessimal, there are two girls of around thirteen. Each is the alpha in her own group. [[{{Tykebomb}} Famke Smith-Rhodes-Stibbons]] is a student Assassin regarded as an outstanding pupil with a sketchy attitude to School rules. [[MilitaryBrat Alexandra Mumorovka]] is a [[MilitaryAcademy Air Watch cadet]] who is regarded as the outstanding best of her intake. The two become Best Enemies from the time of first meeting, delight in devising new insults for each other, are casually rude and off-hand, and cover each other's backs in a street fight. And hotly and indignantly deny they are friends in any way at all.
68	* ''Fanfic/HatingTheHandLifeHasDealtUs'': Despite getting along quite well privately, Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan both deny that they're friends. Being asked for clarification doesn't help much:
69	-->'''Nie Huaisang:''' If you’re not friends, what are you?\
70	'''Jin Zixuan:''' [[ThatCameOutWrong A relationship with benefits]]. Uh, ranting benefits?\
71	'''Jiang Cheng:''' Acquaintances. Who sometimes talk shit to each other.\
72	'''Nie Huaisang:''' Sounds like friends to me.
73	* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Izuku is mistaken for Lexi's friend because of how much she knows about him and her insistence on hanging around him whenever possible. Pony is relieved when he flatly denies it, as Lexi used to bully her back in America when they met at parties.
74	* ''Fanfic/OyasumiMidoriya'': Katsuki repeatedly denies that he has any kind of positive feelings towards Izuku whatsoever. Momo eventually decks him over this.
75	* PlayedForLaughs in ''Fanfic/SkyholdAcademyYearbook'', where [[Franchise/DragonAge Varric and Dorian]] have something of a FriendlyWar. When they amicably discuss a topic in one installment, Josephine and Leliana coo a bit over how they like each other more than they want to admit. They both deny it (Varric even calls it "fake news"), but neither is serious about the denial and everyone knows it.
76	* In ''Fanfic/ToTryForTheSun'', Luna asserts that Star Swirl is their friend, only for Celestia to deny it.
77	* ''Fanfic/TwoLetters'': Marinette and Alya [[WeUsedToBeFriends used to be friends]], but Marinette broke it off after Alya betrayed her trust one too many times. Despite Marinette actively avoiding her and changing her number, Alya convinces herself that her "strange behavior" ''must'' [[TheoryTunnelvision have something to do with the new Ladybug]]. When the two finally end up talking, Marinette repeatedly stresses to Alya that they're not friends, eventually spelling out in exhaustive detail ''why'': because [[spoiler:despite knowing the importance of keeping their identities secret, Alya told Nino that she was Rena Furtive]].
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
81	* ''WesternAnimation/IceAge1'': Happens at least twice in though it isn't a ''real'' denial since Manny knows neither Sid nor Diego at this time.
82	-->'''Manny''': ''(to Sid)'' There is no "we". There never ''was'' a "we"! In fact, without me, there wouldn't even be a ''you''!
83	** When Manny and Sid meet Diego for the first time
84	--->'''Diego''': Name's Diego, friend.\
85	'''Manny''': Manfred. And I'm not your friend.
86	* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc1'': During their PlotMandatedFriendshipFailure, Mike does this when he and Sulley are banished to the human world and, after almost coming to blows with each other, take shelter in the Abominable Snowman's cave.
87	-->'''Abominable:''' I mean, how lucky can you get? Banished with your best friend.
88	-->'''Mike:''' He is ''not'' my friend.
89	-->'''Abominable:''' Oh. I-I just assumed you were buddies, you know, when I saw you out there in the snow hugging and all, and...
90	-->'''Mike:''' Look at that big jerk. Ruined my life, and for what? ''A stupid kid!''
91	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePebbleAndThePenguin'': The duet "Looks Like I've Got Me A Friend" has Hubie trying to get Rocko to admit that they've become friends and Rocko denying it until he finally admits it in the end:
92	-->'''Hubie''': Hey buddy, looks like we're two birds of a feather.\
93	'''Rocko''': Don't call me buddy!\
94	'''Hubie''': And, gee, it looks like I got me a friend!
95	* ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'': When Humpty Dumpty asks Puss if he wants to be friends with him again (they stopped being friends as teens after going too far with their [[StickyFingers thieving]] tendencies and Puss blaming Humpty), Puss replies that he and Humpty are not friends.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
99	* Jack of ''Film/FortyEightHrs'' has this quote that comes in mind as he forms a grudging partnership with Reggie, a convict, to hunt down Ganz:
100	-->'''Jack''': Now, get this! We ain't partners. We ain't brothers. And we ain't friends. I'm puttin' you down and keepin' you down until Ganz is locked up or dead. And if Ganz gets away, you're gonna be sorry YOU ever MET me!
101	* Ray Jackson of ''Film/BloodSport'' has this memorable phrase:
102	-->"I ain't your pal, dickface."
103	* From ''Film/JerryMaguire'':
104	-->'''Bob Sugar''': It's not 'show friends'. It's 'show business'.
105	* ''Film/OceansEleven'' has the two Malloy twins having this exchange:
106	-->'''Turk Malloy''': Watch it, bud.\
107	'''Virgil Malloy''': Who you calling bud, pal?\
108	'''Turk Malloy''': Who you calling pal, friend?\
109	'''Virgil Malloy''': Who you calling friend, jackass?\
110	'''Turk Malloy''': Don't call me a jackass.\
111	'''Virgil Malloy''': I just did call you a jackass.
112	* In ''Film/PineappleExpress'', Dale and Saul fall into this trope after Dale gets himself arrested for smoking a joint and selling weed to middle school kids, also escaping from the police. The two got into an argument, in which Dale tells Saul that they were never friends and never will be. The two did reconcile at the end of the movie, however.
113	* Vincent and Butch have a short conversation about this in ''Film/PulpFiction'':
114	-->'''Butch''': You lookin' at something, friend?\
115	'''Vincent''': You ain't my friend, Palooka.\
116	'''Butch''': What's that?\
117	'''Vincent''': I think you heard me just fine, Punchy.
118	* In ''Film/RoleModels'', Wheeler begins a rather rocky bond with [[MouthyKid Ronnie Shields]]:
119	-->'''Wheeler''': You ready, pal?\
120	'''Ronnie''': I ain't your pal, vanilla.
121	[[/folder]]
122
123	[[folder:Literature]]
124	* In ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'', Chi tells Christopher that he doesn't consider him as a friend, but he considers him as somebody he wants to kill despite never actually having gone through with it due to circumstances.
125	* In ''Literature/TheKiteRunner'', Hassan considers Amir a friend, but Amir considers him anything but. This is only because Hassan is Amir's servant, as he points out to [[DepravedBisexual Assef]]. He's also a bit jealous of how his father treats Hassan.
126	* ''Literature/RoysBedoys'': Loys claims to have no friends and that Roys's friends aren't his own, but they seem very close to him. He hangs out with them a lot, and he even invites them to his birthday party.
127	* ''Literature/TheyCageTheAnimalsAtNight'': At the orphanage, there's a "kid rule" that everyone abides by but no one talks about: Don't make friends. It's used so that they don't get hurt when their friends leave the orphanage. Jennings learns this the hard way when his buddy Mark won't agree to be his friend.
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
131	* In the ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' episode "[[Recap/TheBigBangTheoryS3E16TheExcelsiorAcquisition The Excelsior Acquisition]]", we have Sheldon and Penny introducing themselves to Creator/StanLee.
132	-->'''Penny''': Hi. I'm Penny. This is my friend Sheldon.\
133	'''Sheldon''': We're not friends at the moment. Depends on how this goes.
134	** There's also the episode where Sheldon runs away and leaves a goodbye video addressed to [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg "three friends and one acquaintance."]] The end of the episode reveals that the "acquaintance" is [[spoiler: Howard]].
135	** Happens in the SpinOff ''Series/YoungSheldon''. In the episode " A Stunted Childhood and a Can of Fancy Mixed Nuts", Sheldon's academic rival, Paige Swanson, comes over to spend the night with Missy. Georgie says that he thought Paige was Sheldon's friend. Sheldon replies that he views Paige as more of a colleague. Georgie, hilariously, asks what the heck is a colleague.
136	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E8LoversWalk Lover's Walk]]", Buffy and Angel try to act like they're JustFriends, but [[JerkassHasAPoint Spike]] calls them on it, telling them they'll ''never'' be just friends. Buffy is forced to acknowledge that Spike's right, and tells Angel as such near the end:
137	-->'''Buffy''': We're not friends. We never were. I can fool Giles, and I can fool my friends, but I can't fool myself... or Spike, for some reason.
138	* ''Series/TheCosbyShow'': A parental example has Cliff trying to tell Rudy that he's her friend, but Rudy responds that he's her dad.
139	* ''Series/GoodOmens2019'': Aziraphale repeatedly denies being friends with Crowley, partly because he's an angel who's not supposed to be friendly with a demon and partly because he's afraid of what Hell might do to Crowley if they found out that he was getting too chummy with an angel.
140	* ''Series/TheGoodPlace'': In "[[Recap/TheGoodPlaceS4E07HelpIsOtherPeople Help is Other People]]", when Brent says "you're my only real friend", Chidi is finally irritated enough to bluntly tell Brent that they are not friends and he doesn't even like Brent.
141	* ''Series/HogansHeroes'': Klink has an epic one in the episode "The Big Picture", mixed with DiggingYourselfDeeper, when a friend of his is accused of complicity in the July 20, 1944 plot to assassinate UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, and a Gestapo agent confronts Klink with a picture of Klink and the conspirator:
142	-->'''Col. Klink:''' General Mulendorf.\
143	'''Captain Bohrmann:''' That's his arm around your shoulders.\
144	'''Col. Klink:''' Yes. We were friends.\
145	'''Captain Bohrmann:''' Close friends. [[WhamLine And very possibly associated in the plot to assassinate the Fuhrer]].\
146	'''Col. Klink:''' I knew the man. We went to school together for ten years; saw each other every day. But what's that?\
147	'''Captain Bohrmann:''' [[FromBadToWorse You were also best man at his wedding]].\
148	'''Col. Klink:''' Oh, well... [[BlatantLies I had nothing else to do that afternoon]].
149	* The episode "It's A Book" from ''Series/JonAndKatePlusEight'' has the young Leah Gosselin saying this:
150	-->"Don't call me buddy. Call me Leah."
151	* At the end of the second episode of ''Series/{{Luther}}'', [[GoodIsNotNice the titular character]] and [[AffablyEvil Alice Morgan]] have this conversation:
152	-->'''Alice Morgan''': ''(3-hand salute)'' Brownies honor.\
153	'''John Luther''': One coffee doesn't make us friends.
154	* From the episode "[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S09E10TheFinalSacrifice The Final Sacrifice]]" in ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'':
155	-->'''Satoris''': Why don't you ask your friend when he arrives?\
156	'''Crow T. Robot''': Ha. The joke's on you. I don't have any friends.
157	* ''Series/{{Merlin\|2008}}'': Frequently between the titular character and Arthur.
158	* Shortly after the escape from Fox River in ''Series/PrisonBreak'', Michael makes Tweener travel solo away from the other members of the escape team since he was known to be a snitch. When Tweener pleads with him and calls him a bro, Michael has something to say about it.
159	-->'''Michael Scofield''': You and me? We're not bros.
160	* ''Series/TheSandman2022'', "[[Recap/TheSandman2022S01E06TheSoundOfHerWings The Sound of Her Wings]]": Once every hundred years Dream meets with Hob Gadling, an immortal human. When Hob suggests that Dream is doing this because he just wants a friend, Dream is outraged and walks out on him, promising never to return just to prove him wrong. After Dream is imprisoned (causing Dream to miss their next appointment) he learns a bit of humility and makes a point of looking up Hob to apologise.
161	-->'''Hob:''' You're late.\
162	'''Dream:''' I owe you an apology. I always heard it's impolite to keep one's ''friends'' waiting.
163	* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'':
164	** In ''The Hounds of Baskerville'', the interaction between [[OddFriendship Sherlock Holmes and John Watson]] skirts around this. Sherlock outright states to John that he has no friends, though he later amends that by saying "I don't have ''friends'', I just have one."
165	** From ''The Blind Banker'', when Sherlock introduces John to an acquaintance of his from university, Sebastian Wilkes:
166	---> '''Sherlock:''' This is my friend, Dr John Watson.\
167	'''John:''' Colleague.
168	* ''Series/That70sShow'' examples:
169	** In "Jackie's Cheese Squeeze" in where Eric tells Jackie not to tell anyone they're friends after their talk about setting things straight with Eric whom Jackie had kissed.
170	** In "Bring It Home", when Jackie needs a place to stay:
171	--->'''Eric''': Donna, you have to let her stay with you. Come on, she's your best friend.\
172	'''Donna''': She's not my best friend.\
173	'''Eric''': Well, then who's your best friend?\
174	''(beat)''\
175	'''Donna''': Oh crap. How the hell did that happen?
176	* A RunningGag in ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' is [[TheHero Ban]] calling [[TheLancer Houji]] "aibou" (which in Japanese can mean "partner" or "buddy"), and Houji replying that he doesn't call him that way. It's so significant that an episode has Ban pulling a SpotTheImposter on an Alienizer [[GrandTheftMe who took over Houji's body]] precisely because he knew Houji would never call him that way. [[spoiler:In the series finale, it's Houji who calls Ban "aibou", and Ban happily retorts the usual "Don't call me that!"]].
177	* From the ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'' episode "An Old Flame With A New Wick":
178	-->'''Alan''': Nice guy. Poker buddy?\
179	'''Charlie''': Yeah, I used to-- And don't call me 'buddy'.
180	* Jade West does this often on ''Series/{{Victorious}}'', she's always denying her friendship with Tori. At one point, she denies any attachment to almost the entire gang.
181	* The pilot episode of ''Series/TheWestWing'':
182	-->'''Laurie''': Tell your friend P.O.T.U.S. he's got a funny name, and he should learn how to ride a bicycle.\
183	'''Sam Seaborn''': I would, but he's not my friend; he's my boss.
184	* Season 1 Episode 8 of ''Series/{{Wrecked}}'' sees Owen finally reach his breaking point with Danny, culminating in this:
185	-->'''Owen:''' I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND! WE ARE JUST ''STUCK HERE'' TOGETHER!
186	[[/folder]]
187
188	[[folder:Music]]
189	* Rapper Music/FiftyCent has a quote similar to the one from ''Film/FortyEightHrs'' in both of his songs "Life's On The Line" and "Get In My Car".
190	-->"We ain't buddies, we ain't partners, and we damn sure ain't friends."
191	* Lead singer of Music/AliceInChains Layne Staley states in his final interview before his tragic death that he never bothered to call the rest of his AIC members to help him with his drug addiction because they are not his friends.
192	* This verse of "Automatic Stop" by The Strokes deals with two people who have ended their romantic relationship and realize that they aren't friends to begin with after knowing each other for a short period of time:
193	-->Wait, I'm not gonna give it a break.\
194	I'm not you friend,\
195	I never was.
196	* The opening statements of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" by Music/TheyMightBeGiants implies that they are not a friend in a traditional sense, but their job as the protector of its owner is the closest thing to one:
197	-->"I'm your only friend; I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am."
198	[[/folder]]
199
200	[[folder:Podcasts]]
201	* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'': During "The Stolen Century," Merle meets and talks with [[spoiler:John, the MouthOfSauron for [[EldritchAbomination The Hunger]]]] several times, and the two develop a rapport and start to genuinely enjoy each other's company. However, when Merle straight-up asks [[ArmorPiercingQuestion if they're friends]], he gets a "no" in response. [[spoiler:John's reasoning is that he's become so inhuman and disconnected from any other person that he's incapable of love or friendship. However, it's apparent by the end of the campaign that this is a load of crock; when they meet again after ten years, John's openly glad to see Merle and even ''calls'' him "old friend," and in the end, he requests that [[StayWithMeUntilIDie Merle stay with him until he dies]]. He does.]]
202	[[/folder]]
203
204	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
205	* Before teaming up with [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] in a match, Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin states in an interview that both arch-rivals are partners for the main event and do have respect for one another, but as for the friends part, "Hell No!". The Rock was thinking the same way, too.
206	[[/folder]]
207
208	[[folder:Religion and Mythology]]
209	* OlderThanFeudalism: This trope was prophesied in the Literature/TheFourGospels. UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} tells Peter that he will deny Him [[RuleOfThree three times]] before the rooster crows, but Peter assures Him that he will never do that to Him. However, as Jesus was arrested that night, somebody in the crowd asks Peter whether he was with Jesus. Trying to avoid getting himself into further trouble, Peter responds with "No! I do not know Him!". As the rooster crows on his third denial, with Jesus looking at him, Peter [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizes that he was wrong]].
210	[[/folder]]
211
212	[[folder:Theatre]]
213	* The plot of ''Theatre/DearEvanHansen'' revolves around an inversion of this trope. After Connor's suicide, the Murphys believe that he and Evan were friends, and Evan [[CannotSpitItOut is unable to tell them that they're wrong.]] (Blame the anxiety.) The rest of the show is caused by this event.
214	* At the beginning of ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'', Glinda has to deny her friendship with the recently deceased Elphaba for political reasons.
215	[[/folder]]
216
217	[[folder:Video Games]]
218	* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'':
219	** Laharl will fervently deny being friends with any of his party, instead declaring that they are just his vassals. Anyone with half a brain can see that he, Etna, and Flonne are practically family to each other.
220	** Mao seems to have this kind of attitude in ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice''. He would throw a temper tantrum whenever someone offered kindness or friendship. He also denies having an arraigned FriendlyRivalry with Raspberyl.
221	* Lightly teased in the ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' DLC ''The Descent.'' Renn and Valta's actual relationship is unclear - they're either {{Best Friend}}s, LikeBrotherAndSister, or BelligerentSexualTension - but it's very obvious that they care about each other deeply. In conversation with Renn, the Inquisitor may comment on their friendship, leading Renn to snark, "What makes you think we're friends?"
222	* Gladion of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' goes out of his way on at least two separate occasions to state that he's not friends with your character, even after growing to consider you a WorthyOpponent. Although his exact words are "I know we aren't friends," which makes it sound less like denial on his part and more like acknowledging what he believes to be ''your'' stance on the matter.
223	* As Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog's [[FriendlyRivalry Friendly Rival]] and [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]], Knuckles tends to deny being friends with him. One of the verses in his very ImageSong has him saying this line regarding working with Sonic:
224	-->[[HiddenHeartOfGold I have no such things as weak spots]]. [[TheLancer Don't approve of him,]] [[TeethClenchedTeamwork but gotta trust him]]. This alliance has a purpose, this partnership is only temporary... Yeah.
225	* ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'': Yuri Watanabe, Spider-Man's FriendOnTheForce, states more than once that she doesn't actually ''like'' Spider-Man and they're ''not'' friends. As far as she's concerned, Spidey helping her catch criminals that she can't handle is simply "payment" for her not arresting him and throwing him in jail for vigilantism, nothing more and nothing less.
226	-->'''Spider-Man:''' ''(Concerning evidence that almost helped to catch Mr. Negative)'' Hey, we're still best-buds, right?\
227	'''Yuri:''' We're ''not'' "best-buds."\
228	'''Spider-Man:''' ''(Clearly hurt)'' Well, ''that'' got dark real-quick!
229	* Falco has something to say to the lava birds in ''VideoGame/StarFox64'':
230	-->'''Falco''': I ain't your buddy! Go away!
231	* [[SociopathicHero Jade Curtiss]] of ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' seems to have this sort of opinion about the other protagonists despite actually learning about ThePowerOfFriendship:
232	-->'''Jade''': I don't know about "friends", but we do have an awkward bond of sorts.
233	* Ookurikara of the ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' franchise lives and breathes this; his catchphrase is literally "I'm not here to make friends" and he turns down all socialisation at any given opportunity. Despite this, he's well-liked amongst the sword warriors, especially by his fellow Dategumi, because although he has a prickly exterior almost everyone he meets is able to quickly figure out that [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold he's a good guy underneath]]. It's revealed in ''Theatre/MusicalToukenRanbu'' that his loner act is due to being afraid of the pain that comes with losing loved ones.
234	[[/folder]]
235
236	[[folder: Webcomics]]
237	* In ''Webcomic/DumbingOfAge'', Dorothy sees Becky as her friend because she and Joyce are friends, Becky and Joyce are friends, Becky's a good person, and she believes in the transitive property of friendship if there's no reason not to. As far as Becky is concerned, she's Dorothy's ''nemesis'', who will never rest until she's reclaimed the title of Joyce's best friend from this usurper. This gradually goes from something she actually believes to something closer to a shared joke between them.
238	[[/folder]]
239
240	[[folder:Web Video]]
241	* ''WebVideo/NightmareTime'' In the episode "Abstinence Camp", Grace believes that she is Steph's friend, telling the adults in their life about Stephanie's "sex addiction" in order to get her help. From Steph's perspective, Grace is a nerdy prude who tattles and gets her in trouble.
242	-->'''Grace:''' I was just trying to help. I'm your friend.\
243	'''Steph:''' No, you're not. You're an annoying, self-righteous, nerdy prude. And the only good thing about this is that I won't have to spend any more time with you.
244	* After getting a haircut and growing a mustache to mark the beginning of ''WebVideo/{{Unraveled}}'' season 2, Brian briefly claims to have been just kidding because he knows changing his appearance would disappoint his friends, before declaring that actually ''that'' was a joke and the viewer is not his friend and has no say over what he does with his body.
245	[[/folder]]
246
247	[[folder:Western Animation]]
248	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': An arrogant businessman sitting next to the Warners on a plane declares that "I'd rather be eaten by cannibals than be your 'special friend'!" [[TemptingFate He soon comes to regret his words]]. Doubles as a BrickJoke when he escapes the plane to land on a desert island.
249	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': Arthur and Molly (one of the Tough Customers bullies) spend time and get along together when Molly's mom makes her let Arthur & DW use their backyard pool. They agree to act like they hate each other when there are other people around.
250	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' has Huey being interviewed about him [[EnemyMine teaming with]] [[BoomerangBigot Uncle Ruckus]] after they decide to leave town and go to Canada due to the election of UsefulNotes/BarackObama:
251	-->'''Huey''': First of all, we're not a team. Second of all, we're not a team. [[IWasJustPassingThrough I've got gas money, he's got the license]]. We're just gonna drive to Canada and to go on separate ways.
252	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In one episode Peter and Meg are forced to spend time together and realize that they actually like each other; but they agree that Peter will still act like a jerk to her when they're not alone.
253	* In the episode "Unjustly Neglected Drama" of ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim'', an actor is interrogated by a detective about whether or not is he friends with Tim. He denies it. In fact, the denial was a line that was used from a play:
254	-->'''Chipper''': He's not my frieeeend. [[LargeHam He's not anything to meeeee]].
255	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
256	** Fluttershy does this to Discord in the episode "Keep Calm and Flutter On" after he starts causing havoc in Ponyville. This actually pivots his HeelFaceTurn as he realizes he actually wants her friendship (being the first he's ever had due to his callous pranks), after which she is perfectly happy to take him in.
257	** In the episode "A Friend In Deed", Pinkie Pie's attempts to befriend Cranky Doodle Donkey lead to a few of these.
258	--->'''Cranky''': Look, kid——\
259	'''Pinkie''': Oh Cranky, you can call me Pinkie. All of my ''friends'' do.\
260	'''Cranky''': Look, ''kid''...
261	:::Eventually, Cranky yells at her that he will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be her friend. That's four "ever"s. That's...forever.
262	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'', TheHeroine Luz Noceda gets off on the wrong foot with Amity Blight, a girl at the local witch school, and wants to make up with and befriend her. When Amity's twin older siblings, Edric and Emira--who love to playfully tease her--embarrass her in front of Luz and tell her she should stop being a jerk to her "her friend", Amity angrily replies, "She is not my friend!", clearly saddening Luz...though, thankfully, by the end of the episode, the two somewhat mend fences, and Amity promises to rethink her behavior and try to be nicer to her. [[spoiler:Ironically enough, she ends up ''falling in love'' with Luz by the end of the first season, and they begin dating in Season 2.]]
263	* Rippen of ''WesternAnimation/PennZeroPartTimeHero'' is somewhat fond of his henchman Larry (who is both [[UndyingLoyalty absurdly loyal]] and [[CuddleBug very affectionate]]) but refuses to admit this to anyone, even himself.
264	* ''WesternAnimation/TheProudFamily'': [=LaCienega=] often claims she and Penny aren't friends. Penny fully acknowledges this and hates hanging around [=LaCienega=] at the start of the series because of how [=LaCienega=] is both rude and mistreats Penny. But the problem was that they have a mutual friend in Dijonay Jones who insists that they both hang around each other; another problem is that Penny and [=LaCienega=] parents are best friends, so they often have to hang around each other. Eventually, Penny and [=LaCienega=] relationship cools down, and they become more civil to each other even if they don't admit their friends, and there are even signs that they have a soft spot for each other more than they realize.
265	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': In the "All Growed Up" special that would later be spun off into ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp'', Angelica spends most of the episode denying that she's related to Tommy, insisting that they just happen to have the same last name. She finally admits it near the end, however.
266	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
267	** In an episode set on the first day of school, class nerd Martin greets class bully Nelson as an old friend, since they had spent their summer together at space camp; but Nelson tries to downplay their relationship.
268	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E24LemonOfTroy Lemon of Troy]]," the kids of Springfield go to Shelbyville to find their missing lemon tree, and Nelson and Martin are paired up. When Martin gets in trouble, he calls upon Nelson for help:
269	--->'''Martin''': No one manhandles the bosom chum of Nelson Muntz. Spring forth, burly protector, and save me!\
270	''(long pause; the kids look around)''\
271	'''Nelson''': Aw, jeez. I never hang out with him, normally.
272	** Subverted in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS21E4TreehouseOfHorrorXX Treehouse of Horror XX]]", when Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster, and the Wolfman arrive at the Simpsons' house.
273	--->'''Marge''': Friends of Homer's?\
274	'''Homer''': They're not my friends.\
275	'''Count Dracula''': We brought a bottle of booze. Booooze!\
276	'''Homer''': Come in, come in.
277	** A more [[StealthInsult subtle]] example occurs in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E10LisasFirstWord Lisa's First Word]]" in the scene where Homer first meets Ned Flanders, which also explains why Homer is on a LastNameBasis with him.
278	--->'''Ned:''' The handle says Flanders, but my friends call me Ned!\
279	'''Homer:''' ''(annoyed)'' Hello, Flanders.
280	* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
281	** From the episode "Canada On Strike":
282	--->'''Stephen Abootman''': Look, guy. We have to stay strong. If you don't stand with your fellow Canadians, then you are a rat!\
283	'''Terrance''': Don't call me a rat, buddy.\
284	'''Stephen Abootman''': I'm not your buddy, friend.\
285	'''Phillip''': He's not your friend, guy.\
286	'''Stephen Abootman''': I'm not your guy, buddy.\
287	'''Terrance''': He's not your buddy, friend.\
288	'''Stephen Abootman''': I'm not your friend, guy.
289	** In "The Death Of Eric Cartman" the other boys deny [[{{Jerkass}} Eric]] as their friend and state that they will start ignoring him from this point on.
290	--->'''Token''': Ignoring him? How come?\
291	'''Kyle''': Because he's a [[FatBastard fat]], [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain racist]], [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence intolerant]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]].\
292	''(beat)''\
293	'''Token''': Oh. Yeah.
294	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'': On occasions, [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Spongebob]] just can't take a hint of the fact that Squidward is everything but his friend.
295	* ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'': Lord Hater is the king of this trope--justifiably at first, as he's ''not'' Wander's friend, but [[CharacterizationMarchesOn far less plausibly as Season 2 progresses]] and he begins doing things like ask for Wander's help to get him a date with his crush. He similarly denies his friendship with Peepers in Season 1 ("Got it, pal? Psych! We're not pals! Hater out!"), despite the fact that they both consider each other friends. {{Lampshaded}} by Wander in the MusicalEpisode.
296	-->'''Wander:''' ''I know you try to deny it...''\
297	'''Hater:''' I ''do'' deny it 'cause we're ''not!''\
298	'''Wander:''' ''Chase me 'round the galaxy and try to hide it''
299	** Likewise, [[FireForgedFriends Peepers with Sylvia]].
300	[[/folder]]
301
302	[[folder:Real Life]]
303	* It is used to hide some aspects of an individual that aren't mainstream of the social group like hiding that the individual likes X series or that hobby that isn't that well-viewed in society. Reasons vary.
304	* Real Madrid football player Xabi Alonso admitted that he has no friendship with fellow Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, but on the football field, there is, as he quotes, "appreciation" and "professional respect" for each other.
305	* In 2015, the UFC fired longtime cutman "Stitch" Duran over his public criticism of the UFC's newly signed sponsorship deal with Reebok. After Duran criticized White for not dealing with him personally, as he apparently believed he deserved, White famously responded in an interview, "Stitch Duran needs to realize what the meaning of the word friend is. Stitch Duran and I were never friends. We were work associates." The phrase "X was never my friend" has been immortalized as a meme in MMA circles.
306	[[/folder]]

Context Main / FriendshipDenial