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10[[quoteright:350:[[Creator/JohnMcGlynn https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shooting_the_messenger_5616.jpg]]]]
11
12->''"I do believe in killing the messenger. You know why? Because it sends a '''message'''.''"
13-->-- '''Damon Salvatore''', ''Series/TheVampireDiaries''
14
15Is there a worse job to have than being a messenger for a major villain? The hours are long, the pay is low, your boss [[ItsAllAboutMe thinks that the world revolves around them]], and likes to [[TheNeidermeyer abuse their men]] [[BadBoss for fun]], and remember that [[SignedUpForTheDental dental plan that led you to join in the first place]]? Yeah, [[TheCakeIsALie that got cancelled last year.]]
16
17And then there's the very worst part of being a BigBad's messenger: [[BearerOfBadNews bring them a message with bad news, any bad news]], (even just something small like that [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas their mother]] is running 10 minutes late for the party) and they'll flip out, fly into a rage, and kill you. Why? Because you're the closest thing to them when they get the bad news, and [[WeHaveReserves you're expendable]]. [[MookFaceTurn Maybe it's time to see if the heroes need some extra help]] or a new {{sidekick}}, or... something. Anything!
18
19The origin of the trope leads back to ancient Greece at least. One possible theory (besides the king being affected with {{Pride}}) is that the messenger was a defeated or losing general's son, and that [[YouHaveFailedMe his death was punishment for failure]]. It's also such a common cliché that the EvilOverlordList took time to specifically mention it.
20
21By the way, remember when we told the worst part was bringing your master some bad news? [[ILied We lied]]. ''The'' worst is bringing ''someone else'' a message from your master. Such as an ultimatum. The recipient is guaranteed to reply "ScrewYourUltimatum" in a non-ambiguous way, and by "non-ambiguous", we mean by [[DecapitationPresentation sending your head back]]. Also note that even the "good guys" might do this, especially {{Anti Hero}}es. Its depressing regularity in the ancient world led to the first rule of international law: Diplomatic Immunity. In the end, everyone (even UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan, who destroyed ''multiple empires'') thought it was just a little unfair to the messengers. In fact, Genghis Khan wiped out one of those empires ''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge because]]'' they killed some of his messengers.
22
23When villains do this, it is generally done as a subtrope of YouHaveFailedMe and BearerOfBadNews, and is a way to KickTheDog by [[OffingTheAnnoyance killing the person who annoys you despite their innocence]]. When heroes do this (to enemy diplomats, NEVER their own servants), it's because [[WhatMeasureIsAMook the messenger was a bad guy anyway]], so why not murder him? Some shows make the messenger [[AssholeVictim look and act particularly evil]], e.g. threaten the characters with death or worse, to avoid the negative aspects of this trope (see also: AssInAmbassador). He may even psychologically torment and provoke them by showing them [[MakeAnExampleOfThem what happened to those who said no]]. In particularly stupid moments, a villain might execute a messenger immediately [[DisproportionateRetribution for disturbing him]], ''[[TortureFirstAskQuestionsLater before]]'' [[DidntThinkThisThrough he gets a chance to deliver his news]].
24
25And because of what we said earlier about how even anti-heroes may get in on the act, if you're in a story featuring BlackAndGreyMorality, do whatever it takes to get out of delivering a message. If you do wind up having to deliver some bad news or an ultimatum in such a work, your life expectancy is probably slightly shorter than that of a guy standing on top of skyscraper in a thunderstorm who's also saying "[[TemptingFate What's the worst that could happen]]?" Guys, the messengers are coming in ''peace.''
26
27Doing this may also be violating a tradition of SacredHospitality, which only adds to the sense of outrage it provokes; this played a role in Genghis Khan's destruction of the Khwarizmi, mentioned earlier.
28
29"I'm just the messenger" is a stock phrase used to remind people that this trope isn't really fair, and is fairly likely to work.
30
31Not to be confused with PleaseShootTheMessenger, where the recipient is actively instructed by the message to kill the person who delivered it, or DontShootTheMessage, where the work's [[AnAesop message is muddled by a bad delivery]]. AggressiveNegotiations may well include this trope as part of said "negotiations". Overlap with OffingTheAnnoyance is likely. Compare OffingTheMouth, which would be something like "Shoot the DeadpanSnarker". Contrast MookDepletion, where the villain can only afford to have one messenger.
32
33Compare: ShootTheTelevision and SpareAMessenger.
34
35----
36!!Examples
37
38[[foldercontrol]]
39
40[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
41* ''Literature/CatPlanetCuties'' does this ''in the first episode'' when Aoi shoots a messenger... or, rather, shoots ''in the general direction of'' a messenger. She ''purposely missed'', just because she felt like scaring the crap out of the dude. Though this was less because she was upset with the message he brought and more with the fact that he'd dickishly brought it to her in broad daylight, violating contact protocol ''and'' interrupting the nice time she'd been having with Kio.
42* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'':
43** King Vegeta in a flashback ended up blasting his messenger to smithereens after he reported that they had to wait three days before attacking a planet because of the full moon coinciding around that time. It's implied that he was more irritated that he can't get the job done in good time to keep Frieza off his back than the actual failure.
44** A henchman of Frieza's arrives to announce that the Ginyu Force has arrived. As soon as he's finished, Frieza [[KickTheDog promptly vaporizes him]] with {{Eye Beam}}s. In this case, Frieza was killing the bearer of ''good news'' [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness because he didn't need him anymore]].
45** Babidi wants revenge on Piccolo, Trunks, and Goten and has Majin Buu start destroying cities until they show themselves. Since Babidi doesn't know who they are, he gives a general description to the citizens while demanding they give them up. A World Martial Arts Tournament staff member named Marvin recognizes the description and reveals the three heroes' names. Babidi calls him a fool and says [[SecretIdentityApathy he doesn't care what their names are]] before killing the guy on the spot.
46* In ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', Alucard blasts Schrödinger when he comes as a messenger to a Hellsing conference (of course, Schrödinger survives that, thanks to his "quantum physics" abilities).
47-->'''[[WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged Alucard]]''': [[LampshadeHanging Oops, did I just accidentally a war?]]
48* In ''Anime/LupinIIIDeadOrAlive'', General Headhunter's opinion seems to be that this trope is "cut the head off of the messenger". Not even for bringing him unexpected news: just bringing the news that he might already expect is dangerous if he's already in a bad mood.
49* In ''Anime/SaintSeiyaOmega'', [[EnfanteTerrible Pallas]] gets so angry when she's told that one of her generals has disobeyed her orders that she vaporizes the unfortunate {{Mook}} who is reporting the situation to her. The poor man tries to tell her that he's only informing her of what he saw, to no avail.
50[[/folder]]
51
52[[folder:Comic Books]]
53* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': In ''Asterix and the Goths'', Metric tells his interpreter that if their Gaulish captive, Getafix, will not show them magic, the interpreter will be killed as well. When Getafix refuses, the interpreter lies, [[BilingualBackfire not realizing that Getafix speaks Gothic]].
54* ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'': Very common in this setting. When one faction sends a messenger to another faction, they usually end up dead.
55** One of Ghorghor Bey's men is [[ForcedTransformation turned into a frog]] by the master of a sorcerer's stronghold after demanding their surrender.
56** Fratus Sinister and his corrupt cronies at the head of the order of the Knights of Justice shoot (with arrows) upwards of 20 imperial messengers one after the other. A variation in that they're shot ''before'' they even deliver the message, as Sinister want to keep plausible deniability as to why he didn't commit his forces to the absolutely ''massive'' battle taking place against the BigBad's [[spoiler:decoy]] forces (Fratus wants to take over the Empire, see). This bites him in the ass later on, as the savvy emperor isn't fooled, and Fratus gets a humiliating demotion from the Empire's aristocratic pecking order.
57** Wismerhill and his friends respond to a representative of the empire demanding that they hand over the Barony of Moork to its newly appointed lord by having the messenger roasted by a baby dragon and served up for dinner--[[BlackComedyCannibalism their own, not the dragon's]].
58* ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'': Regularly {{Averted}}, as no matter how bad the news given to Diabolik and Eva, the two {{Villain Protagonist}}s won't take it out on the messenger unless the messenger is actually and willfully responsible for it. Best shown when Diabolik had been blinded in an explosion and the doctor Eva had kidnapped to cure him said he couldn't be cured, as Eva simply let him go... Until she discovered the man held Diabolik responsible for his brother's suicide, at which point she interrogated until TruthSerum, found out he could have cured him with a corneal implant, and [[AFateWorseThanDeath made]] ''[[AFateWorseThanDeath him]]'' [[AFateWorseThanDeath the donor]].
59* ''WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck'' once took a job as a messenger and the first person he delivered a message to was so furious she started throwing stuff at him. It wasn't the matter of the news being good or bad. She just hated the sender and took it out on Donald.
60* ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': During a storyline in the comic continuation taking place in 10th century Scotland, Constantine has a messenger from the Grim's opposing army killed, in blatant defiance of the rules of war. Given that the messenger wasn't even delivering bad news, merely giving the time the Grim's forces would meet them for battle, it seems [[ForTheEvulz he did this for little reason more]] [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem than to throw his weight around as king]].
61* ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'': In the 11th issue, an Evronian idiom by the great WarriorPoet Zartas says "The ambassador of my enemy is my enemy,why spare him?" Which says a lot about the Evronian race as a whole.
62* In the Belgian series ''ComicBook/{{Papyrus}}'', the Pharaoh sent the titular character to announce a string of bad news to the King of Crete: his son died and the Cretan diplomatic envoy perished in a sea storm, along with a sacred bull given as an offering. Angered and outraged, the King punished Papyrus to [[GladiatorGames the arena]].
63* ''ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}'': In Issue 10 of the IDW series, Wimpy goes to tell Popeye that Olive Oyl and Toar may be having an affair, but before he can do so, Popeye, who was earlier blown off by Toar and Olive, says, "Lissen -- I ain't got no '''pals''' an' I ain't got no '''sweetie!''' An' th' next swab what brings me '''bad news''' is goner get a '''punch in the kisser!'''" Wimpy wisely chooses not to say anything.
64* ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'': Defied. Morpheus sends a messenger to [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] that he intends to travel ToHellAndBack to free Nada's soul. Knowing that Lucifer will Shoot the Messenger, he sends the Biblical Cain as his envoy, since Cain is marked by God and not even the forces of Hell can kill him. Lucifer still manages to hurt and terrify Cain, but notes that anyone else would have returned "with his liver in his mouth".
65** Death, personally, dislikes this trope, feeling that on the long run, it only means less mail.
66* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': A running theme for years was goons working for ComicBook/TheKingpin were in mortal fear of having to deliver bad news to their boss, as Wilson Fisk was infamous for killing anyone at the slightest provocation.
67** Averted in an issue of ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'' when one guy has to relate how the Punisher escaped a trap.
68-->'''Goon''': Mr. Fisk, please...I...I had nothing to do with this operation! I...[[DrawingStraws drew the short straw]].
69-->'''Kingpin''': That is why you're telling me this?
70-->'''Goon''': Yes, sir.
71-->'''Kingpin''': Your candor is refreshing.
72* ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'': In ''The Crab with the Golden Claws'', the villain Allan punches a sailor to the floor when he reports finding the radio operator bound and gagged — assaulted by Tintin and Captain Haddock so that they could send a distress call before fleeing the ship.
73* ''ComicBook/XMen'': In ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'' Annual #5, the Badoon King shoots a goon dead for coming to inform him their troops have been routed by the X-Men and a local uprising.
74* ''ComicBook/UltimateVision'': One of the scientists reminds Tartleton that the Northern Directorate will not approve of his merging with the Gah Lak Tus unit. He kills him. Another one points out that there's a problem with the power supply. He kills him as well.
75[[/folder]]
76
77[[folder:Comic Strips]]
78* Subverted in a regularly recycled ''ComicStrip/BeetleBailey'' gag: The officers receive a written order from the general, and it has one obvious spelling error that changes the meaning completely. Someone will point out what the general probably meant to say, but then someone else will always ask: [[WhoWillBellTheCat "But who dares to tell the general that he made a mistake?"]] While the general probably wouldn't shoot anyone for pointing out one little spelling error (''probably...''), the answer is always the same: Nobody dares to tell the general that he made a mistake. They prefer to follow out the order, exactly the way it's written, and look like idiots, rather than telling the general to make a correction.
79* In a ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' strip, Calvin lampshades this trope when he is sent to the principal's office for shouting "BORING!" to his teacher's lecture.
80* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}''
81** Parodied in an early strip. Prior to giving his presentation, one of Dilbert's superiors assures him that they "don't shoot the messenger". Dilbert then proceeds to tell them the bad news that their idea is doomed to failure with BrutalHonesty, adding that they will probably be mocked for their stupidity and fired. One of them actually ''pulls out a machine gun'' begging to be allowed to wing Dilbert, but is reminded that they [[ExactWords "don't shoot the messenger"]]. Instead, they {{Tar and Feather|s}} him.
82** Also referenced in a comic strip involving a "Scape Goat", literally. He is shot by the PHB, who clarifies he was aiming for the messenger. Dilbert suggests it was the Scape Goat's fault for standing there.
83* ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId'':
84** Lampshaded when the King, aware that his incompetent knight Sir Rodney is bringing news of his defeat, reminds him of the old Roman custom in which those bringing good news were rewarded with wine, women and song, whereas the bearer of bad tidings was put to death. A sweating Rodney replies with the 'joyous' news that one of the King's more awful provinces with its rebellious peasants, stinking swamps (etc, etc) [[BadNewsInAGoodWay has been given to the Huns to worry about]].
85** In [[https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2020/09/23 another strip]], the Wizard sends a bird to deliver a message. However, the recipent fires on the bird before he can deliver it.
86-->'''Delivery Bird:''' Your message got spammed.
87[[/folder]]
88
89[[folder:Fan Works]]
90* ''Fanfic/AnotherWay'': Marquis knows that Lung is likely to kill whoever comes and passes on the message that Marquis has returned to Brockton Bay to take back what was his. So, the chosen messenger is the one ABB member present who's over eighteen and had just threatened Marquis' daughter.
91* In ''[[Fanfic/TheLightningStrike The Broken Day]]'', when a Hydra agent comes to tell Hela that Harry has been retrieved from the temporal storm, when he tells Hela that the agent responsible delayed reporting this to her because was trying to cover his ass, Hela muses that they clearly expected her to invoke this by killing the agent for delivering the bad news. However, Hela defies this idea by instead promoting the agent to act as her liasion because she acknowledges his respect for her.
92* ''WebVideo/DragonBallAbridged'' has put a twist on two of the scenes mentioned for ''Dragon Ball Z'' above.
93** In the scene involving Freeza, the henchman comes in, reports on the arrival of the Ginyu Force, and Freeza seems content to let him be, but then the henchman also announces that due to [[BadBoss Freeza's tendency to kill them on a whim]], the rest of his men have decided to form a union. Freeza says that decision is "Adorable" in a mildly amused voice, then promptly kills the henchman without even [[ContemplativeBoss turning to face him]].
94*** In another episode, a messenger doesn't even get to say ''what'' the news is before Freeza blasts him. Freeza was just looking for a way to get out of the awkward conversation he was having with his minion Zarbon (where it looked like he was going to have to admit that [[MistakenForGay he thought Zarbon was gay]]).
95** King Vegeta, meanwhile, kills his messenger out of annoyance when he feels the messenger gave a smart-mouth, MathematiciansAnswer to a question King Vegeta asked.
96--->'''King Vegeta:''' Speak, Butarega.\
97'''Butarega:''' Bardock has gone absolutely mad, Sire!\
98'''Bardock:''' ''[offscreen]'' FREEZA!!\
99'''King Vegeta:''' What's all the commotion about?\
100'''Butarega:''' He's been telling everyone that Freeza plans to destroy Vegeta!\
101'''King Vegeta:''' Wait, my son, [[{{Egopolis}} the planet]], or me?\
102'''Butarega:''' ...yes.\
103''(Butarega is blasted by King Vegeta)''\
104'''King Vegeta:''' [[OffingTheMouth Freakin' smartass]].
105** A non-fatal variant is discussed when Krillin asks Chichi what she would do ''if'' she were told that her husband was dead and her young son had been kidnapped by her husband's worst enemy.
106--->'''Chichi:''' ''[[[TranquilFury Cheerfully]]]'' I'd [[GroinAttack castrate the messenger in his sleep]] with a rusty carving knife.\
107'''Krillin:''' Oh... then, it's a good thing I'm ''not'' telling you that, then. ''[Nervous laughter]''
108* In ''Fanfic/EnemyOfMyEnemy'', [[BigBad Brute High-Chieftain Torikus]] does this a lot, and he does it ''very brutally''. One scene describes an unfortunate messenger's skull fragments spread across the area around Torikus after a particularly bad development for the Brutes.
109* ''Fanfic/TheSunSoul'': [[spoiler:In chapter 22, during the Celadon Civil War, Mayor Vicar sends a messenger to Princess Erika's side, telling them to surrender. If Erika's side loses, there will be no mercy for them -- so they had better surrender now while they still can. Brock, on Erika's side, steps forward, yells 'IF!', and signals his army to attack. The messenger ends up with two big ugly arrows protruding through his chest, promptly falls off his Rapidash, and dies.]] Quite literally a case of Shoot the Messenger.
110* ''Fanfic/ItsADangerousBusinessGoingOutYourDoor'': The Pronghorn Network actively seek to subvert this trope, primarily by practicing good manners so as not to upset the people they're delivering news to.
111-->'''Niles Nigellus:''' Good manners are essential for a messenger. It gains us access to reluctant destinations and wins us favor with hesitant recipients. Not to mention it saves us from the wrath of bad news.
112* Queen Celestia seems to spend a large amount of her time in ''Fanfic/TwilightSparklesAwesomeAdventure'' shooting messengers.
113* Discussed and defied in the ''Fanfic/InfinityCrisis'' spin-off ''In Hand and Foot''; when Wilson Fisk receives bad news about his recent plans, once the messenger reveals that he just drew the short straw to tell him what has happened, Fisk asks him who did make the relevant decisions and lets the messenger leave.
114* In ''Fanfic/ShinraHighSOLDIER'', Tseng shoots a messenger who merely reported that [[BlackHoleSue Julia]], Sephiroth, and Reno should report to Hojo to get new mako injections. He's just injured, but Tseng forbids him from seeking medical attention until he returns to deliver a counter-message to Hojo.
115* In ''Fanfic/AProtectorsPride'', Zommari arrives to tell Cazador (Hollow Ichigo) that Orihime is being held prisoner in Hueco Mundo. Cazador thanks him and then attempts to kill him. However, Zommari is too fast for him and easily escapes.
116* Following another failed attempt to make [[DeterminedHomesteader Grace Glossy]] resign her lands in ''Fanfic/OldWest'', Tomson reports to his boss [[BigBad Dufayel]] of how the thugs the wealthy fox hired to do that failed. The [[ManOfWealthAndTaste usually suave]] Dufayel can't bottle up his anger at another failure and [[BoomHeadshot shoots Tomson through the rat's head]].
117* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3480341/2/The-Night-The-House-of-Cards-Was-Built The Night The House of Cards Was Built]]'', Shisui warns Itachi to stay way from home because how bad Fugaku messed up ([[LostHimInACardGame he wagered and lost his wife Mikoto and both Itachi and Sasuke]]). While Itachi takes it [[TranquilFury "calmly"]] at first, his rage boils over and he kills Shisui, whose only crime was trying got get his friend to calm down, when he also mentions that Fugaku also lost the Uchiha Secret.
118* Lucius Malfoy in ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'' reflects on the fact that Tom Riddle doesn't, as a rule, kill messengers, and clings grimly to that, when passing on the news of [[spoiler: "Rigel" forgiving Riddle for once again interfering at Hogwarts, and suggesting that he stop making long-term plans as he keeps messing them up]].
119* In ''Fanfic/TheAwakeningOfAMagus'', after Voldemort reads a servant's mind to see the amount of power channeled during the Hogwarts Ritua, he grows so angry he executes the guy after several minutes of torture.
120* PlayedForLaughs in ''[[https://m.fanfiction.net/s/3565470/1/Don-t-Kill-the-Messengers Don't Kill the Messengers]]'', where Superman goes KnightTemplarBigBrother on Green Lantern and Green Arrow after finding out Supergirl was staying in the 31st century with Brainiac's descendant Brainiac 5.
121* As befitting a story based on ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', ''Fanfic/TheWeaverOption'' has this happen several times.
122** When the Governor of Matapan is told by a lieutenant that a fleet of more than three hundred ships, likely led by Lady Weaver (a.k.a. Taylor Hebert, the person he's rebelling against), has translated into the system, the former has the man executed for "peddling blatantly false information".
123** The Dark Eldar Dynasts' usual response to any bad news is to impale them at best. The only reason one of them eventually stops doing it is because he's running out of messengers.
124** Tzeentch does not kill messengers bringing him bad news. He makes the messengers ''wish'' they were dead, though.
125* ''Fanfic/LetTheGalaxyBurn'':
126** When the ancient Dornish ambassador told Rhaegar of his sector's declaration of war, Rhaegar ordered Arthur Dayne to kill the man.
127** Aegon is so well known for doing this personally that his inner circle keeps choosing random shmucks to deliver any bad news.
128[[/folder]]
129
130[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
131* {{Invoked}} and {{Subverted}} in ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', where three of Hopper's goons voiced their disagreement of returning back to Ant Island when they have the food for the winter and a concern of the raining season. They get Molt to tell Hopper by persuading him that he's "vice president" of the gang since he's Hopper's brother, and also Hopper would take his anger at him instead of them. Molt tells Hopper the plan but when he caved by his fury, Molt tells him that it was their idea, in which he MakeAnExampleOfThem.
132* ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'': It turns out Bruno's gift of prophecy made him unpopular in town, as he only seemed to predict bad things happening and people tend to blame him for the predictions coming true.
133* Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}''. Two Imperial scouts have been captured by Shan-Yu. He mockingly congratulates them on finding his army, then gives them a threat to take back to the Emperor. As they run away:
134-->'''Shan-Yu:''' How many men does it take to deliver a message?\
135'''Hun archer:''' (''draws bow'') [[SpareAMessenger One]].
136[[/folder]]
137
138[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
139* In ''Film/ThreeHundred'', King Leonidas and the Spartans execute a Persian messenger and his armed escort for insulting their kingdom while bringing Xerxes' demand for "earth and water" as a token of submission to the empire, telling him that he'll find plenty of both down in the well, where they then proceed to throw them down. Which is kicked off (literally) by [[MemeticMutation Leonidas yelling "This! Is! SPARTA!"]] The best part? The real Leonidas ''actually did this''. Leonidas did give him a fair warning, though, pointing out that he may be a messenger, but, in Sparta, each man is responsible for his own words.
140* Although, movie-wise, they're both WhatCouldHaveBeen scenarios, ''Film/BatmanReturns'' had two opportunities for the Penguin (Danny [=DeVito=]) to apply this trope -- first as a double subversion, then as an aversion -- in a pair of deleted scenes. [[AllThereInTheManual Both scenes did manage to make their way into the official DC Comics adaptation of the movie.]] First, when the Organ Grinder's monkey brings him a note as he's wondering why all the firstborn children he's had his gang kidnap haven't shown up:
141-->'''Penguin:''' So -- where're the kids? Don't tell me they stopped at [=McDonald's=]!
142-->'''Thin Clown:''' ''[pointing to the monkey]'' Boss -- I think he's got a note!
143-->''[Penguin takes the note and reads it.]''
144-->'''Penguin:''' "'Dear Penguin: The children regret they're unable to attend. Have a disappointing day.' -- Batman"
145-->''[Penguin angrily reaches for his umbrella.]''
146-->'''Penguin:''' ''[to the monkey]'' You're the messenger. It doesn't make sense to shoot the messenger.
147-->''[He [[KickTheDog shoots the Thin Clown]] instead.]''
148** And, when the Poodle Lady is counting down the seconds to the missile launch that will destroy Gotham City:
149-->'''Poodle Lady:''' Um, funny thing. Your penguins -- they're not responding to the launch command. 'Fact, they're kind of turned around now, like someone jammed our signal.
150-->'''Penguin:''' What?! But who could've... ''[suddenly [[TranquilFury quietly]] angry]'' No. ''Don't'' say it.
151-->'''Poodle Lady:''' My lips are sealed.
152* ''Film/BattleBeyondTheStars''. A ProudWarriorRace responds to Sador's demands by returning his emissary as a jar of powder. A furious Sador destroys their entire planet to encourage the others.
153* Lampshaded in ''Film/{{Beerfest}}''. Only instead of shooting the messenger, they sidestep the technicality by suffocating him with beer hoses.
154* In ''Film/BloodSimple'', Julian Marty tells Loren Visser about the ancient Roman practice of killing the BearerOfBadNews when the PI delivers photos of Marty's wife and her lover ''in flagrante delicto''. Not only does Visser laugh off the posturing, he casually (later on) [[InvertedTrope inverts the trope]].
155* A non-lethal version occurs in ''Film/ABridgeTooFar''. An intelligence officer discovers that German tanks have been deployed in the Arnhem area. When he brings this to the attention of his superiors, he's politely told that he's been working too hard and put on sick leave.
156* ''Film/{{Clue}}'' the movie is all about this. [[Creator/TimCurry Wadsworth]] points out directly that "everyone who's died gave vital information about one of [the guests]." Ironically, the last informant who is killed is a delivering a singing telegram shot at the front door.
157* In ''Film/DayOfTheEvilGun'', Addis sends his Indian scout to negotiate with the Apaches to exchange the stolen payroll for the two wagons of ammo. The Apaches respond by sending back the scout's body.
158* This sets off the plot of ''Film/TheDuellists''. An officer is sent to inform another officer that he's been placed under house arrest for dueling. He feels he's been insulted and challenges that officer to a duel, leading to an ongoing feud that lasts for decades.
159* The Jade Warlord does it to a messenger in the movie ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom''.
160* ''Film/{{Gladiator}}''. [[TheRemnant The Germanic tribes]] respond to a demand that they submit to the Roman empire by sending the headless Roman envoy back to the legionnaires tied to his horse, while their chief appears on a hill, shouting at the Romans and [[DecapitationPresentation tossing the head of the messenger to the ground.]]
161-->'''Maximus:''' [[GallowsHumor They say no.]]
162* A heroic example, from ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'':
163-->'''Draco Malfoy:''' Excuse me, Professor, perhaps I heard you wrong. I thought you said "the ''four'' of us."\
164'''Professor [=McGonagall=]:''' No, you heard me ''correctly'', Mr. Malfoy; you see, honourable as your intentions were, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard you too were out of bed after hours.]] You will join your classmates in detention.\
165''[the protagonists stare at each other in disbelief that Malfoy also got in trouble]''
166** In this case, not only was there no actual shooting, but also the messenger was more of [[TheStoolPigeon an informant]] who got punished for breaking the same rules he snitched about.
167* ''Film/HawkTheSlayer''. Hawk fatally injures Drogo, but spares a couple of his soldiers to carry him back to his father Voltan. The [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes grieving father]] kills them both the moment his son dies. In fairness, he does insist they be armed first.
168-->'''Voltan:''' My son lies dead, and [[YouHaveFailedMe yet you live]]. Give them weapons! It is fitting that my son dies with dogs at his feet!
169* Justified in the 1997 adaptation of ''Film/{{Ivanhoe}}'' when the recipient realizes that it's [[PlausibleDeniability politically expedient]] to pretend he never received the message in the first place. The messenger tries to avert his fate by [[HaveYouToldAnyoneElse asserting that his master awaits his safe return]]. He dies anyway.
170* Aragorn beheading the Mouth of Sauron in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'' after he mocked them about Frodo's fate. In the book, he recoils from Aragorn's DeathGlare and says, "''[[DirtyCoward I am a herald and ambassador and may not be assailed!]]''" Gandalf points out that 1) nobody has actually threatened him, and 2) regardless of DiplomaticImmunity, it's still a good idea to act with more tact than the Mouth of Sauron has been.
171* ''Film/TheLostMedallionTheAdventuresOfBillyStone'': Cobra asks his advisor why the magic medallion won't work for him. Sensing trouble, the advisor tells him two lies: first, that the moon must be full, and then that the medallion must be worn a specific way. Cobra tells the advisor that if he tells the truth, no harm will come to him. The advisor, clearly hesitant, says that the medallion only works on those who have a kind heart. Cobra's response is to grab his neck and kill the advisor with his poisoned fingernails, say, "Why would you say a thing like that?" and then demand a new advisor to replace him.
172* ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'': Rotti Largo has the doctor who told him he was terminally ill executed.
173* In keeping with ''Film/RoadToPerdition'''s BlackAndGrayMorality, Michael Sullivan does this to a messenger sent to bribe him out of revenge. For reference, the messenger was completely unarmed and nonthreatening. Of course, given that Michael himself had been set up for a PleaseShootTheMessenger situation by the guys the messenger is representing less than 10 minutes earlier in the film, and that the messenger in question was sent to represent the interests of the PsychopathicManchild responsible for the deaths of his wife and son... his reaction is somewhat understandable.
174* Parodied in ''Film/RobinHoodMenInTights'', in which the gaoler mentions that "good news is always rewarded and bad news is severely punished." Guess which kind he ends up delivering...
175* In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Jabba the Hutt gets extremely angry at C-3P0, slapping him and spewing muck at him, [[MisplacedRetribution in response to Boushh's]] [[spoiler:[[SamusIsAGirl actually Leia in disguise]]]] [[MisplacedRetribution unreasonable payment demands]] for Chewbacca's capture. In fact, according to one of Jabba's minions, he is very prone to this, having disintegrated the last protocol droid they had after being enraged by a translation it made.
176* ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'': When Miller's team makes first contact with airborne troops in a French village, they need to contact the company captain who's on the other side of the village. A runner is sent, but he doesn't make it a hundred feet before he's shot. Reiben asks in shock why even though he's down, the enemy keeps shooting him.
177--->'''Miller:''' As long as he draws breath, he still carries the message. We'd do the same thing.
178--->'''Reiben:''' NO, WE WOULDN'T!!! [[note]] For the record, if the runner was a legal combatant - as this one was - yes, they absolutely would. [[/note]]
179* ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaiderTheCradleOfLife''. Jonathan Reiss gets Chen Lo to steal the orb map showing the location of the [[DoomsdayDevice doomsday plague]] he's after. Lo's minion shows up with a crate, but when Riess opens it there's no orb; just a mobile phone. Riess has the minion killed on the spot and uses the phone to call Lo, who wants to negotiate a higher price.
180-->'''Riess:''' I take it you didn't like your messenger.
181-->'''Lo:''' [[BadBoss I didn't.]]
182* In ''Film/TheWarlords'' film starring Creator/JetLi as Pang Qingyun and Andy Lau as Zhao Erhu, a new army called Shan led by the two main characters are sent on a mission with inferior numbers to attack and claim the territory of a much larger army with much more weapons and firepower. [[CaptainObvious The odds are against them]], and the opposing army sends a messenger to tell General Zhao that [[NeverTellMeTheOdds the odds are against them]] and they can't win. The General pulls out his sword and slices the messenger's neck without a word, then he and his men charge in for the attack.
183[[/folder]]
184
185[[folder:Literature]]
186* This is an old trope that appears in medieval literature. For example, in the ''Beatrix'' version of the old French chanson de geste ''La Naissance du chevalier au cygne'' (12th century), the evil crone Matabrune, infuriated by the bad news brought to her by a spy, merely a young boy, kills him with her knife in front of her disapproving court.
187* Apparently Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian is deemed likely to do this trope. In ''Literature/TheDevilInIron'', the plot involves a BeautifulSlaveGirl acting as a HoneyTrap to lure Conan into a trap.
188-->"Then, shortly after the parley, before he has time to forget all about her, we will send a messenger to him, under a flag of truce, accusing him of stealing the girl and demanding her return. He may kill the messenger, but at least he will think that she has escaped."
189* Happens so many times in ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' that it's eventually {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d when Liu Bei writes a letter to Guan Yu to inform him of where he was, "but there was no one to take it." Then there's this exchange years and many chapters later...
190--> "When two countries are at war, their emissaries are not slain," said Lu Su. "Messengers are slain to show one's dignity and independence," replied Zhou Yu. The unhappy bearer of the letter was decapitated, and his head sent back to Cao Cao by the hands of his escort.
191* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[BigBad Visser Three]], [[BadBoss all the goddamn time]]. This actually works to the heroes' advantage; as no-one wants to tell the Visser something that might set him off, his underlings frequently omit useful info out of self-preservation.
192-->'''Chapman:''' Visser Three, wrong? Maybe. But I'm not the fool who's going to try and tell him that.\
193'''Chapman:''' ''(in another book)'' Tell Visser Three? ''Tell'' Visser Three? No one tells Visser Three. People who tell the Visser something he doesn’t want to hear end up cut off from Kandrona rays, slowly starving, dying inside their hosts...
194* In [=Patrick O'Brian's=] ''Literature/AubreyMaturin'' series, this is inverted in that messengers bearing good news will be "much caressed" by the PowersThatBe back in England. (Given how the series works, that makes this TruthInTelevision.) Stephen Maturin then uses his powers of persuasion to see to it that Aubrey, though screwed out of his victory by a spotlight-stealing admiral, still gets chosen as the messenger and thus gets a plum command.
195* In Manzoni's ''Literature/TheBetrothed'', the Podestã&; and Count Attilio have an argument about chivalry, Attilio thinks it's legal and moral to beat a messenger who carries bad news, especially if the message is the challenge to a [[SwordFight duel]].
196* Chevette Washington, a bicycle messenger in Creator/WilliamGibson's ''Literature/BridgeTrilogy'', mentions this trope frequently. She's never shot, but she clarifies that the basic idea -- blaming a messenger for her message -- is true.
197* Wess Roberts, [=PhD=]. wrote a non-fiction business advice book, "Business Secrets of Attila the Hun", which included this nugget; "A wise chieftain does not kill the messenger who delivers bad news. He kills the messenger who ''fails'' to deliver bad news."
198* ''The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees'' by E. Lily Yu. When the wasps move into the bees territory, the latter send an ambassador with an ultimatum -- the bee is executed [[FingerInTheMail and its stinger sent back to the hive]]. The bees send another ambassador who attempts negotiation. The wasps rip out her stinger and allow the bee to stagger back to the hive and die. Then an elderly bee arrives with her stinger encased in a ball of wax. After hearing the terms of surrender, she begs the wasps to wait a few days [[FateWorseThanDeath for her to die]] before imposing them. [[CruelMercy They refuse.]]
199* In Creator/SandyMitchell's ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' novel ''The Greater Good'', Cain is stopped on the battlefield by a tau soldier to carry a message. He's glad that he'll survive since they are unlike to shoot their messenger -- now he just has to worry about whether the general to receive it will. (Not for bad news, this time; for treason.)
200* This is taken to the next level in the backstory of ''Literature/TheCurseOfChalion''; a crazy enemy general tells the messengers that one of them will have to kill the other. [[TheHero Cazaril]] refuses to take part, denying the villain his fun, but the other messenger, [[DirtyCoward Dondo]], tries to go through with it. The general stops it, and releases them both, knowing that Dondo's frantic attempts to hide the truth of his cowardice will do more to Cazaril than he could.
201* Subverted in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/GhostStory'' by a Fomorian servitor named Listen. He expressly demonstrates awareness of this trope and gave zero fucks about either outcome. If he lives, he can continue serving his inhuman master. If he is killed, [[WeHaveReserves his master has plenty more to replace him]]. The mad necromancer to whom he was delivering the message let him live precisely because he genuinely didn't care whether he lived or died.
202* While in Abyssinia ''Literature/{{Flashman}}'' is not happy to hear that TheCaligula into whose territory he's about to go undercover has executed a messenger by hacking off his limbs and then twisting the arteries shut so it takes him a long time to bleed to death.
203* ''Literature/TheGanymedeTakeover''. [[TheQuisling Gus Swenesgard]] sends one of his minions to contact the Black Muslim resistance to offer a WeCanRuleTogether deal. They dump his naked corpse back in Gus's territory with the words WE DON'T NEED YOU, WHITE MAN [[CarvedMark carved on his back]] [[CouldntFindAPen with lasers]].
204* According to ''Literature/GestaDanorum'', King Gorm of Denmark vowed he would kill anyone who brought him the message that his favourite son Knut was dead. When Knut is killed, nobody dares to tell Gorm. Queen Thyra has the royal hall hung with black cloth and when Gorm asks about the reason for this, she replies that his favourite falcon has died. Gorm immediately understands the true sense of her words, without anyone having to tell him.
205* ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'': {{Discussed}} and {{averted}}. Han feels nervous about being messengers to Jiliac from Zavval, when the former might take out his displeasure about the message on them. Jalus reassures him the Hutts all agreed not to do this, however, [[PragmaticVillainy because it caused them loss of profit]] from a breakdown in communication, and he's right, as Jiliac doesn't harm either one, just sends them back with a blistering retort.
206* ''Franchise/HarryPotter''
207** ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows''. Voldemort reacts to the news that Harry has stolen a Horcrux from a supposedly impregnable vault by having a VillainousBreakdown and casting the Avada Kedavra not only on the messenger, but everyone in the room (though this was also to [[HeKnowsTooMuch keep knowledge of the Horcrux secret]]).
208** But in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'', before Voldemort started to lose his cool, he responded to the news that his plan to steal a prophecy from the Ministry of Magic could not have worked by thanking the messenger and promising to keep him in confidence. The man who [[YouHaveFailedMe furnished him with flawed information, however]], gets the Torture Curse...
209* ''Literature/TheHeartstrikers'': Julius is woken up early to deal with a UN delegation, and he grumbles about why they didn't wake up his mother, who ([[spoiler:until he deposed her a few days previously]]) has ruled the clan for a thousand years and typically handled diplomatic meetings personally. Frederick says that the last time the UN sent a diplomat, Bethesda ate him.
210-->'''Julius:''' SHE ''ATE'' HIM!?\
211'''Frederick:''' He woke her up before noon too...
212* Towards the end of ''Eldest'', the second book in ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'', a messenger arrives from The Empire's troops and orders the members of the Varden to surrender or "suffer the doom of your herald," then presents the severed head of the Varden's messenger. Eragon asks Nasuada if he should kill him, but Nasuada replies that she will not violate the sanctity of envoys, even if the Empire has. Shortly after, Eragon's dragon Saphira lets loose a mighty roar and the Empire's messenger is knocked off his steed, then roasted in a burst of flame that erupts forth from the Burning Plains.
213* In one of Creator/StephenKing's more down-to-earth short stories, a rival gang leader sends a messenger to insult another's gang leader by taunting his sister (who's obese) so they can draw him out. The messenger is obviously scared to the point of tears while saying 'yo mama' jokes right in the man's face, but luckily is not killed. The gang leader still got himself killed rushing recklessly into the open to kill the sender (which prompts his sister to go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge). Subverting the trope further, said obese sister later gets revenge on the message sender himself by killing him slowly with a [[EyeScream metal wire through the eye.]]
214* ''Literature/MoongobbleAndMe'': In book 1, Moongobble gets some bad news from Flitbert the bat, who promptly squeaks at him ''not'' to blame him (with the implication that he fears Moongobble would do this) -- he just brings the news, he doesn't make it. Fortunately, Moongobble isn't the sort to do that kind of thing.
215* ''Literature/OldMortality'': Claverhouse sends his nephew Richard Grahame to ask the Covenanters to surrender. Burley shoots him in the middle of his message. This backfires on Burley when it motivates the royalists to avenge Grahame.
216* In ''Literature/TheOtherworldSeries'', Queen Lethesanar rips out the hearts of some messengers who report a prisoner's escape.
217* Played with in ''The Outrider'' series by Richard Harding. An old enemy sends an assassin to kill the hero Bonner, but actually to reveal that IHaveYourWife. Bonner only realises this after he examines the man's vehicle and finds there's [[OneWayTrip not enough petrol for the return journey]]. They're in a ScavengerWorld and the BigBad knew that Bonner would get the best of his assassin, so why waste petrol?
218* ''Literature/PaperTowns'': Upon finding out her friend Margo's boyfriend is cheating on her, Karin breaks the news to her. Margo ''freaks out'' and takes her anger out on Karin, calling her a liar and insulting her appearance. To her credit, when she's had time to clear her head and realizes Karin was telling the truth, she feels absolutely terrible about the way she acted. She actually name-drops the trope when she tells Q about this, and ends up leaving Karin a bouquet of flowers in apology.
219* ''Literature/ParanoidMage'' brings us Archmage Fane who is well-known in his house for doing terrible things to people who bring him unwelcome news. He's only ''marginally'' better with close relatives. So when he sees one or both of a certain pair of nephews, he knows it's bad news.
220* ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': In the original book, the standard method of solving any problem by the Opera administrators, {{Pointy Haired Boss}}es Richard and Moncharmin, is to fire those employees involved in it (including those that informed of the problem). Only those with [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections enough influence can escape]].
221* Close to the end of ''Literature/ThePiloFamilyCircus,'' the accountant makes the mistake of delivering a letter to Kurt Pilo during his VillainousBreakdown. Ironically, the note was actually good news, containing the names of all the members of the [[LaResistance Freedom Movement]], but Kurt wasn't in the mood to read it until after he'd ripped the accountant's head off.
222* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' novel ''Knight of the Black Rose'', Strahd and a rival DarkLord send servants that they are displeased with to carry messages to each other, knowing that the messengers will be tortured horribly and eventually executed by the other dark lord.
223* ''Literature/RavnicaCycle'': When Teysa Karlov first arrives in Utvara, she summons all the major guild representatives to meet with her as their new baroness. Zomaj Hauc, the local Izzet magelord, is too busy and sends an envoy to meet with her in his stead. Teysa takes offense to this, as [[TheSyndicate the Orzhov]] consider it a sign of weakness to meet with lackeys, so she decides to send a message by [[BoomHeadshot blowing the envoy's brains out out]] at the end of their meeting.
224* Creator/SMStirling
225** ''Literature/{{In The Courts of the Crimson Kings}}''. An OrganicTechnology [[InstantMessengerPigeon messenger bird]] buries its head under its wing in fear after noticing the Emperor's displeasure, having retained genetic memories of what can happen to the bearer of bad tidings.
226** Averted in the ''Literature/IslandInTheSeaOfTime'' series when William Walker is approached by a nervous messenger who's clearly bringing news of disaster. Walker calmly explains to the messenger that he's not going to harm him, but when something bad happens he's ''got to know'' right away, [[PragmaticVillainy or else it's like being blind]].
227* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''.
228** Harming envoys is regarded as taboo, so when one of Queen Daenerys' dragons singes the robe of an impertinent emissary, this is used as propaganda against her, saying she had the man burnt alive.
229** Tyrion sends an envoy with an armed escort to negotiate peace terms including the release of his brother Jaime. Hidden among the escort are several men with the skills to break Jaime out of his cell. When the escape fails, Lord Edmure has all those who participated hung from the walls of his castle, and the rest thrown into the dungeons.
230** The King Beyond the Wall sends a messenger inviting Craster to join his army (which of course would mean submitting to his authority). Craster sends back the man without his tongue, which he nails to his wall.
231** The lynchpin of Aegon's Conquest of Westeros according to ''Literature/TheWorldOfIceAndFire''. Initially, Aegon aimed to cement an alliance with King Argilac Durrandon of the Stormlands by offering an ArrangedMarriage between his daughter and Aegon's bastard half-brother Orys after Argilac asked for Aegon himself to marry her. Aegon believed this to be a reasonable counteroffer, since Aegon himself was already married, Orys was his BestFriend and a great general, and half-Targaryen besides. Argilac took it as an insult. The outraged Argilac removed the hands of Aegon's messenger and said "these are the only hands your bastard would have of me". Aegon decided that the time of dialogue was over, declared that Westeros is his and demanded all the petty kings to submit to him or face destruction.
232* In ''Literature/TheSwordOfTruth'', Prince Harold is killed for delivering the message that his sister the queen intended for her country remain neutral. By the good guys, of course. And his half-sister thanked her allies for doing it, because they can't show mercy to their "enemies".
233* Mentioned, but explicitly Subverted, in ''Literature/TheTamuli''. Berit and Khalad discuss the idea while they are [[spoiler:in disguise, drawing attention from Sparhawk]]. Khalad offends a messenger, and mentions the idea of shaking him down to A) prove a point about manners, and B) see if he has the next message they are supposed to receive. When Berit objects, mentioning that their enemies might [[spoiler:kill Queen Ehlana]], Khalad posits that they could easily kill each messenger without reprecussion, and are probably confusing the enemy by not doing so.
234* ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' novels:
235** Towards the end of ''Literature/RiseOfTheHorde'', one of Thrall's human spies arrives to Orgrimmar to bring news of the arrival of the draenei. While pondering the (terrible) news, Thrall notices that the man is shaking in fear and realises he is afraid of getting killed. He orders his guards to get him food and water while musing about how unwise killing messengers is, for it only causes people to hide the bad news until too late. Granted, Thrall isn't a villain, but most orcs [[FantasticRacism are seen as such]] by humans.
236** Magatha, on the other hand, plays this straight in ''Literature/TheShatteringPreludeToCataclysm'', killing the orc who brought her a message from Garrosh saying that he won't support her because he found out that [[spoiler:she poisoned his weapon during his duel with Cairne]]. She even seizes the letter rather than let him read the letter aloud after the first indication of Garrosh's refusal.
237* Averted in the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' novel "[[Literature/DeathStar Death Star]]" when a lieutenant was so afraid that Darth Vader would kill him that while delivering a message he was barely able to hold it together until Vader used the Force to mind-trick that lieutenant into not being afraid of Vader while delivering the message. Legends novels often stated that giving Vader bad news (or even ''any'' news if he's in a bad mood and doesn't wish to be disturbed) is potentially deadly, which is why staff officers tended to draw lots to see who would deliver a message to him, with the honor going to the loser.
238* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'':
239** After getting news from a minion that her ex-lover had slept with someone else, Lanfear tears the messenger's skin off and goes on a magical rampage.
240** [[InvertedTrope Inverted when]] a messenger from Sammael hears Rand say no to an offer of truce. The messenger then starts [[BodyHorror oozing blood from every pore]] and dies. One person wonders how the bad guy will know what Rand's answer was, another says, "Very likely ''how'' he died will let him know."
241* ''[[{{Literature/Windhaven}} Windhaven's]]'' folklore gives us the Mad Landsman, who murdered the messenger who told him of his son's death. Unfortunately (for him), the messengers in this universe are the primary means of communication, and when they boycott his kingdom, it withers away. Don't screw with the union.
242* In a ''Literature/WingCommander'' novel, Prince Thrakhath forced a messenger to commit ritual suicide. Semi-justifiable because the reason was not because of the bad news, but the way the messenger delivered it, running through the ship and looking distressed, which would cause rumors and morale problems. Once FridgeLogic kicks in though, you wonder why a messenger is needed on a space ship rather sending than the message electronically, and realize the scene exists [[KickTheDog solely to show that]] Thrakhath is the type to Shoot the Messenger.
243* Inverted in ''Literature/XWingSeries: Solo Command''. [[TheDragon General Melvar]] has to bring [[BigBad Zsinj]] some [[BearerOfBadNews very bad news]]: not only has a deathtrap failed to kill Wraith Squadron (or even any of its members), but they have managed to take one of his key personnel alive. Zsinj has an epic VillainousBreakdown where he destroys practically everything in his office ''but'' the person who brought him the bad news.
244-->'''[[DeadpanSnarker General Melvar]]:''' Will you be wanting your office restored, or do you wish to redecorate?
245[[/folder]]
246
247[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
248* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': After taking over Wolfram & Hart, Angel sends a lawyer to inform a powerful necromancer that they won't be supplying him with fresh corpses anymore. Said lawyer is returned in [[GoryDiscretionShot three buckets]]. A JustifiedTrope as he was trying to either scare Angel off or anger him into a direct confrontation.
249* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'': In Season 1 Episode 9, Lindsay Bluth Fünke makes this a DiscussedTrope when she advises her brother Michael Bluth not to be the bearer of bad news to his love interest. Her exact words: "It's called 'Shoot the Messenger'."
250* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. In "Volcano", Servalan has secretly landed on a neutral planet, and orders two men sent to her with a message from a local traitor killed [[LeaveNoWitnesses so they won't tell anyone of their presence]]. In fairness the stakes were pretty high, as there was a DoomsdayDevice on the planet which the locals had threatened to detonate if the Federation attempted a landing.
251* ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett''
252** Averted in the first episode, when newly-established crime boss Boba Fett demands tribute and pledges of loyalty from the local bigwigs. The mayor of Mos Espa refuses to turn up and sends his majordomo to shake ''him'' down for a bribe. Fennec points out that Jabba the Hutt would have had the majordomo FedToTheBeast for his insolence, but Boba settles for threatening him, as he doesn't think killing a lackey would accomplish anything.
253** In the final episode, the majordomo offers to negotiate a surrender to the Pyke soldiers surrounding them. Boba pretends to agree and hands him a datapad with his terms of surrender. As he starts to read it to the Pyke Syndicate MookLieutenant, the majordomo [[ExplainExplainOhCrap realizes to his growing dread]] (and the Pykes' rising anger), that Fett's "terms of surrender" basically amount to "Sod off or I'll kill you". The Pykes are turning their blasters towards him when Boba and Din fly up on jetpacks and start shooting, [[WeNeedADistraction having planned the whole thing as a distraction]]. Surprisingly, the [[PluckyComicRelief majordomo survives this battle as well]].
254* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
255** Lampshaded when Riley goes to stake Spike for tipping off Buffy that he'd been seeing vampire prostitutes. Of course Spike was hardly an innocent bystander delivering a message, but deliberately set out to end their relationship because he had designs on Buffy himself. Fortunately for him [[DoggedNiceGuy Riley uses a plastic stake]].
256** A vampire goes to a bar and informs all the monsters there that Buffy is M.I.A., so the town of Sunnydale is largely unprotected. The leader of a demon biker gang thanks him, then casually rips his head off his shoulders with his bare hands, simply because he asks to ride with them and [[FantasticRacism demons just don't like vampires]].
257** Despite having spent [[DistractingDisambiguation most of the episode talking instead of fighting]] Buffy kills Holden Webster after he drops the bombshell about Spike siring him, even though Spike has a soul and an [[RestrainingBolt inhibitor chip]] that should prevent him from harming humans. Due to a scene cut we don't see if it was because Holden attacked or in a violent response to what he said, but Buffy's position as Holden's dust swirls around her is the same, implying that it happened immediately afterwards.
258* In Season 4 of ''[[Series/TheApprentice The Celebrity Apprentice]]'', Marlee Matlin's sign language interpreter got his head bitten off a few times while interpreting for Marlee during arguments with her fellow contestants.
259* One episode of ''Series/ColdCase'' had a MadBomber killing the people he blamed for his misfortune, but at least two of his victims (a store manager and a physician's assistant) weren't actually responsible for the things the bomber was upset about; both cases involved a policy that was clearly put into place by someone much higher up, and the victims were just the ones whose job it was to tell the bomber about it.
260* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'':
261** "In the Blood": With Matt Murdock causing problems for the Russian gang, Anatoly and Vladimir Ranskahov decide to accept Wilson Fisk's offer of support to their criminal venture. After seeing that Matt has made short work of the guys who had kidnapped Claire, Anatoly personally goes to Fisk to tell him that he accepts the deal.... and ends up interrupting Fisk's date with Vanessa. Fisk is so pissed off by this intrusion of his privacy that he proceeds to beat Anatoly unconscious, then decapitate him with a car door. Then Fisk sets in motion the machinations to eliminate the rest of the Russians, including Vladimir.
262** "Reunion": Fisk beats one of his own dirty FBI bodyguards to death for telling him that Ray Nadeem has gone rogue and helped Karen Page escape from Dex.
263* ''Series/HorribleHistories'':
264** In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZJ0k0BJGY this sketch]], courtiers are forced to carefully tiptoe around Henry VIII when it comes to matters like his latest marital issues. Two courtiers have found out about Catherine Howard's infidelities. Knowing that they can be put to death if Henry is in a bad mood, they have [[CourtJester Will Somers]] break the news in the form of a comedy routine. When he comes back out, he says it should be effective in three, two, one... cue Henry calling for the courtiers to fetch his executioner.
265** The trailer for the ''Pausanias'' movie has the messenger Pausanias sends to King Xerxes wonder why none of the other messengers Pausanias has sent to Xerxes have ever returned. He discovers the message is full of treasonous offers, and ends with an instruction to kill the messenger after reading the message.
266* In ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'', Daemon Targaryen is waging war against pirates in the Stepstones when he learns hat his brother, King Viserys, is sending reinforcements. Since Daemon wants to deal with the pirates himself, he's so angry to hear this that he starts beating up the messenger who informed him of this.
267* ''Series/IClaudius''. After Emperor Claudius' wife commits adultery and treason, Claudius' advisers worry this will happen to them, so they choose a courtesan who's a favorite of the emperor to deliver the initial bad news, before nervously entering the room to confirm what she's saying.
268* ''Series/KrodMandoonAndTheFlamingSwordOfFire'': Dongalor does this when one delivers him bad news. Then he's informed there was good news too, and says the man should have said it first.
269* ''Series/LukeCage2016'': PlayedForLaughs when Koko suggests that Cottonmouth use "benign neglect" on Luke Cage, who has just taken over 80% of his money. After Koko gives this big speech about practicing it, Cottonmouth just pulls out a gun and shoots him in the head.
270* ''Series/TheMandalorian''. An off-screen version is played for BlackComedy in "Redemption" when Moff Gideon kills one of his men for interrupting him. [[VillainBall Because of this]] no-one is willing to approach Gideon to tell him that his stormtroopers have already captured The Child, and so he can wipe out the heroes at his leisure.
271* ''Series/OnceUponATimeInWonderland'': The Red Queen outright says it when Tweedledum reveals to her that [[spoiler:Tweedledee has betrayed them to work for Jafar.]]
272-->'''Red Queen''': Now leave before I decide to kill the messenger.
273* ''Series/{{Revolution}}'': In the episode "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E15Home Home]]", Monroe had a messenger sent to tell Miles to come to the town of Jasper alone, or he'll kill everyone there, starting with Miles's high-school fiance Emma Bennett. The messenger's ultimate fate is not stated, but considering that the main characters had to torture the contents of the message out of the guy, his survival is quite unlikely.
274* ''Series/TheRiseOfPhoenixes'': Chang Zhong Xin literally shoots Ning Yi's messenger.
275* ''Series/{{Rome}}''. In the first season, Marc Antony makes a point of punching a SmugSnake messenger into a pool after he (eventually) decides to refuse his offer to betray Caesar. In Season 2, Marc Antony bullies Cisero into making him governor of Gaul. On the day the motion is to be passed Cicero fails to turn up at the Senate, instead sending a speech to be read into the rolls, a [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech denunciation of Antony that's so insulting]] the other senators immediately flee the room. The trembling speaker is told to finish reading the speech by an outraged Antony, who then ''beats him to death with the scroll''.
276* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'': {{Parodied}} [[http://youtu.be/nbZOrKJx068?t=45s in one of J.D.'s]] {{imagine spot}}s.
277-->'''J.D.:''' Sure, [[KillerRobot disintegrate]] the messenger.
278* ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'':
279** In "Spartacus: Vengeance", this is how [[spoiler: Ashur]] is killed. The BigBad sends him to give offer a deal to the good guys. If they had accepted, they would have needed to let the messenger return, but they refuse the offer and only send back the messenger's head. The BigBad isn't surprised, but he was [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness getting tired of having the guy around anyway.]]
280** In "Spartacus: War of the Damned", when the rebels capture the city of Sinuessa en Valle, a guard manages to escape, find the Roman army, and inform them of what happened. Even though it is pointed out he did the smart thing because if he had stayed, he would have surely been killed and the army would not have learned of the takeover, Julius Caesar angrily calls him a coward and kills him on the spot.
281* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Referenced in the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS5E23Relativity Relativity]]". Commander Chakotay approaches Captain Janeway with a ship's status report and Janeway comments "Before you say anything, let me remind you what happens to bearers of bad news." "Don't kill the messenger," replies Chakotay, holding up his hands in mock fear. Janeway relents and Chakotay proceeds to report on the sorry state of ''Voyager'' and its systems.
282* ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'': Damon Salvatore explicitly states that he believes in shooting the messenger for the express purpose of sending a message to the person sending the bad news, ''if that person is his enemy''.
283[[/folder]]
284
285[[folder:Music]]
286* In his song "Message Boy", Music/CharliePeacock contends that as a messenger it is his job to deliver both good news and bad news. A line from the song is "all I ask is remember, I am only the message boy."
287* The Music/{{GWAR}} song "Biledriver" has the line "kill the messenger who begs us to consider terms".
288[[/folder]]
289
290[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
291* Apollo [[JustSoStory turning the raven black]] because it brought him bad news in Greek mythology. Except on those websites which say it was Athena.
292[[/folder]]
293
294
295[[folder:Podcasts]]
296* ''Podcast/RelativeDisasters'': Qin Er Shi had a habit of doing this.
297[[/folder]]
298
299[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
300* ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'': During the First Succession Wars, the upper echelons of [[TheEmpire the Draconis Combine]] found themselves in the position of [[BearerOfBadNews having to report the assassination of Coordinator Minoru Kurita]] to his AxCrazy eldest son Jinjiro. The task of informing him went down the ranks, until a suitably brave sergeant called Richard Tobiason [[GotVolunteered was volunteered to inform the new Coordinator]]. Jinjiro is said to have listened to the news in utter silence, then called his NumberTwo, General Sorai, to his office. Jinjiro left his quarters alone a few minutes later, ordering his staff to promote Tobiason to the rank of colonel and for someone to clean up the mess in his office. [[SubvertedTrope In it, the staff found Tobiason, still alive]], and the beheaded and disemboweled corpse of Sorai -- Jinjiro had ordered the latter to commit ''{{seppuku}}'' for not having the guts to tell him in person, and had personally acted as Sorai's ''kaishakunin''.
301* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Red dragons frequently employ other creatures as spies and messengers in order to keep abreast of world events, but take reports with extremely poor grace and do not hesitate to kill or eat servants who bring them bad news.
302* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Skaven leaders usually kill the messengers -- the always kill the messengers of bad news, but sometimes also off ones bearing good news to keep their rivals from hearing it as well.
303* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': This is typically played straight by Chaos, but actually {{Averted|Trope}} by the Dark Eldar: Scourges (individuals who have been modified to have wings) are highly valued by the various kabals for being couriers as well as flying troops, so the kabals tend to come down hard on anyone who makes a habit of messing with them.
304[[/folder]]
305
306[[folder:Theater]]
307* Sophocles' ''Theatre/{{Antigone}}'' has a messenger who spends a long time trying to avoid giving Creon bad news out of fear that this trope will be played straight, even pointing out that Polyneices was only technically buried. In the end Creon merely threatens to torture him to death. By the standards of ancient Greek tragedy, the scene is very funny.
308* In ''Theatre/AntonyAndCleopatra'', a messenger tells Cleopatra that Antony has remarried, so she threatens to more or less play football with his eyeballs, among other nasty things.
309** This trope even gets lampshaded by a messenger in an earlier scene.
310-->'''First Messenger:''' The nature of bad news infects the teller.
311* ''Henry the Tenth (Part Seven)'', a coarse-acting play by Michael Green, spoofs this trope by having a herald who gets beaten up [[RunningGag every time he delivers his message]].
312* In Act V, Scene v of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'', a messenger comes to Macbeth with news of Birnam Wood:
313-->'''Messenger''': As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked toward Birnam,\
314and anon methought the wood began to move.\
315'''Macbeth''': Liar and slave!\
316'''Messenger''': Let me endure your wrath if't be not so.\
317Within this three mile you may see it coming;\
318I say, a moving grove.\
319'''Macbeth''': If thou speak'st false,\
320Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,\
321Till famine cling thee. If thy speech be sooth,\
322I care not if thou dost for me as much.
323* This trope is also spoofed in the Creator/RowanAtkinson comedy routine, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaQNuBHd6CY Pink Tights and Plenty of Props]]'' (from 2:10). Particularly funny is the messenger delivering bad news which he ''[[WrongGenreSavvy thinks]]'' [[WrongGenreSavvy is good news]].
324* Creator/{{Shakespeare}}'s ''Theatre/RichardIII'' in the last act, who strikes the messenger before he even finishes his sentence about his enemy the Duke of Buckingham, crying "Till you bring better news!" It turns out that the news is that Buckingham has ''surrendered''. The scene shows that Richard is [[VillainousBreakdown beginning to crack up]] under his confident facade. Although when the messenger finishes delivering his message Richard [[PetTheDog apologizes to the man and gives him some money to make it up to him.]] And it's worth pointing out that the messenger was actually the ''third'' messenger in a row to come to Richard with news and the [[RuleOfThrees first two had been all bad]].
325* In her first scene in ''Theatre/TheWiz'', Evilene sings [[VillainSong a whole song]] about how she will do this to anyone who brings her bad news. After she finishes, [[TemptingFate the first thing her henchman do is bring her bad news]].
326[[/folder]]
327
328[[folder:Toys]]
329* Toys/{{Bionicle}}
330** Roodaka, a major villain of one arc, receives some bad news, and grabs the messenger by the throat.
331-->'''Roodaka''': Take heart. You know that old saying "Don't kill the messenger"? ''*murders messenger*'' Too bad. I ''always'' kill the messenger.
332** Makuta Icarax threatened to do this to Vican ''several times'' when the Shadow Matoran was ordered by the other Makuta to send a message for him to come to Karda Nui. Vican was well aware that this would probably happen, considering all the [[AxCrazy stories]] he heard about Icarax. Luckily for him, Icarax just settles for roughing him up before telling him to go back to Karda Nui and tell the others he's coming.
333-->'''Icarax''': You stand before me without announcing your presence. I could have killed you for that. I still might. ''*starts to strangle Vican with a shadow tendril when he takes too long to get over his fright and speak*'' You have exactly five seconds to tell me what it is you find so important to say. After that...
334[[/folder]]
335
336[[folder:Video Games]]
337* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate'' takes this trope literally. After Jacob kills [[IceQueen Pearl Attaway]], BigBad Crawford Sterrick (who had a thing for her) is seen [[ManlyTears mourning her]] by performing a sad song on the piano. When a servant enters the room to give him an update, he barely gets one word out before Sterrick blows his head off.
338--> '''Sterrick''': "I TOLD YOU NOT TO INTERRUPT ME!!!"
339* In Creator/TelltaleGames' ''VideoGame/BackToTheFutureTheGame'', George [=McFly=] implies delivering bad news to [[spoiler:Citizen Brown]] is a very bad idea. However, given that even in an [[spoiler: Orwellian timeline]] he's still incorruptibly good, it's highly unlikely he'd take any steps past yelling without good reason.
340* In the game ''VideoGame/{{Castles}} 2'', you can do this to any messenger of any count (and the Pope). Killing them got you into bad blood with the opposite party, but threatening to kill them and then letting them go lets you off [[GoodBadBugs scott free]].
341* In ''VideoGame/{{Colonization}}'', other Europeans present in the New World will honour your scouts and allow them to perform diplomatic actions, even if they are at war with you (except for [[TheEmpire the Royal Expeditionary Force]], naturally). Meanwhile, if you are at war with any native group, they will kill any scout sent to their settlements.
342* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qjGwn3auY6U#t=198s A hilarious variation]] in ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar''.
343-->'''Bale:''' Dispose of this idiot.\
344'''Cultist:''' Why? How have I failed?\
345'''Sindri:''' You were stupid enough to personally deliver ill news to Lord Bale. And we cannot abide stupidity.
346* In the opening cinematic of ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' ''II: Lord of Destruction'', Baal and his army approach the gates of Sesscheron. A lone herald is sent out to address him. The herald eventually musters up his courage and defiantly refuses Baal entry to the city and declares that he will never reach Mount Arreat and the Worldstone. Baal's response is to [[FauxAffablyEvil calmly tell him he will take his proposal "into consideration"]]. He then summons tendrils of demonic energy that go inside the herald and make him pop like a grape. Baal then mockingly says "it seems your terms...are not acceptable." And [[EvilLaugh laughs and laughs]] as his army storms the city.
347* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'': During the quest "Offered and Lost", Seneschal Bran explains he hasn't told the Arishok his delegate's gone missing because "I'd be signing the messenger's death warrant." Sure enough, if you decide to inform him yourself...
348-->'''Hawke:''' I'll probably regret this, but you should know your delegate is missing.\
349'''Arishok:''' Anyone else, and those words would have been their last.
350* ''VideoGame/EmperorRiseOfTheMiddleKingdom'': As lord of an ancient Chinese city, you have the option of executing emissaries from another city, though this [[ForTheEvulz serves no purpose]] other than to ruin your reputation abroad and make it much more expensive for you to send emisarries ''to'' that city, since they rightfully fear for their lives.
351* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'':
352** Despite the fact that you are a {{Courier}}, and you do get shot, in your case it's really more of a simple robbery than this trope.
353** Caesar has made it clear in no uncertain and very violent terms that couriers and traders in his realm are to be ''left the hell alone.''[[note]] the reason for this is that Courier makes an excellent cover story for an undercover [[CloakAndDagger Frumentarius]][[/note]] As the player character are themselves a Courier, depending on how you play, this can [[HoistByHisOwnPetard bite him squarely in the ass.]]
354** When Vault 11 first closed its doors, the Overseer informed the citizens that there had to be a human sacrifice once a year, or else the computer system would kill everyone in the vault. The angry citizens promptly forced the Overseer himself to be the first sacrifice as revenge for giving them the bad news, which began a tradition of sacrificing the Overseer ''every'' year. Whoever was elected to replace the previous Overseer got to be in charge for a year before sacrificing themselves.
355* Averted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''. When [[spoiler:Kain]] delivers the message to Cecil that Golbez will trade the Earth Crystal for Rosa's life, the messenger is allowed to leave unharmed, and before that, the white flag raised by the enemy airship is respected.
356* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', the three-country Laguz Alliance sends a messenger to the Begnion senators demanding answers to a crime they are accused of [[spoiler:namely, the Serenes Massacre]]. This trope, then big war.
357* The ''Hitman'' games do this from time to time.
358** In certain missions, it's actually possible to knock out/kill messengers for their clothes.
359** In ''VideoGame/HitmanBloodMoney'' 47 kills an innocent postal worker as he is a potential witness.
360** In ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' an unnamed antagonist shoots an unidentified businessman after he is given "the key".
361* Defied in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''. Saul Karath informs Darth Malak that the bounty hunter Calo Nord have been killed trying to stop the PlayerCharacter and is kneeling in a manner like he's expecting to be executed. Malak (who we need to remind you previously had an ''entire planet carpet bombed'' in order to ''stop one person'') tells him that the price for failure is death, but that was Calo's problem and not Saul's.
362* With the Extended DLC for ''Videogame/MassEffect3'', if you shoot [[spoiler:the Catalyst]], it answers back in a booming voice "SO BE IT" and decides that you have rejected its choices, thus causing an "ending" that is functionally a NonStandardGameOver.
363* ''Videogame/NeverwinterNights'': The opening cutscene for the "Hordes of the Underdark" expansion shows [[BigBad the Valsharess]] learning of a [[TheChosenOne hero who is prophesised to defeat her]] and ordering her {{Court Mage}}s to perform an augury to learn their identity. When she realises the hero is a [[FantasticRacism surface dweller]], she's so outraged that she kills the head wizard in charge of the ceremony.
364* ''VideoGame/PrayerOfTheFaithless'': The Empire of Vergio tried to put Serra Cadmus to death for telling the prophecy of the Vanguard of Ruin, since such terrible news would cause panic.
365* ''VideoGame/RaidWorldWarII'' has cutscenes that play when you strike a successful blow against the Nazi war machine. All involve Adolf Hitler [[AdolfHitlarious throwing a tamper tantrum]] including one where he yells at the guy bringing him the report to get out and then throwing a hand grenade at him, before realizing he's not at a safe distance and diving for cover. It's oddly satisfying.
366* In the first ''VideoGame/ShogunTotalWar'', if the rival faction you're sending an emissary to really hates your guts, your emissary may come back to you missing everything from the neck down.
367* ''VideoGame/TachyonTheFringe'' has a memorable moment with [[LargeHam Baron]] [[EvilIsHammy Hajod]], who sent out a proposal for alliance to Baroness Onrald (and it's heavily implied that the alliance would have involved a political marriage). Jake Logan is tasked to deliver Onrald's response back to Hajod. Her recording to Hajod starts with blatant sarcasm that he fails to notice--it's only when the other shoe drops and she rejects him with a blistering TheReasonYouSuckSpeech that Hajod finally realizes he's been insulted the whole time, calling for his slave fighters to [[DisproportionateRetribution kill Jake in retaliation for bringing him a recording full of insults]]. Fortunately Jake is an AcePilot and manages to escape (and later send a strongly worded message to Onrald herself for putting him in such a sitution without forewarning--Onrald merely brushes off the criticism and ups Jake's hazard pay).
368* A ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' comic reveals that the RED team is rather guilty of this.
369-->'''The Administrator:''' First off gentlemen, let me thank you for shooting yet ''[[NoodleIncident another]]'' messenger. And when you kill the messengers, they can't return their miniature televisions, which it may surprise you to learn ''don't'' grow naturally on their chests. I have to ''buy'' them.
370[[/folder]]
371
372[[folder:Visual Novels]]
373* Prosecutors from the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series have a habit of punishing the salaries of police officers who bring them bad or unwanted news -- sometimes even just for bothering them at all when they're busy. Series ButtMonkey Detective Gumshoe has the loss of his ever dwindling salary and resulting PerpetualPoverty as a RunningGag.
374[[/folder]]
375
376[[folder:Webcomics]]
377* ''[[Webcomic/EightBitTheater 8-Bit Theater]]'':
378** King Steve jokingly ordered a guard to kill a messenger. [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2002/06/05/episode-157-back-in-corneria/ He took it seriously]], and every time the storyline goes back to Corneria, the messenger is [[RunningGag still being chased]]. [[BrickJoke Even in the very last comic (set three years later).]]
379** [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/03/08/episode-817-pravokan-pazaak/ On another occasion Steve]], having [[ItMakesAsMuchSenseInContext lost the kingdom to his imaginary right-hand man]], says "the old king" was known for killing messengers who gave him bad news. Or good news. Or no news at all. "Some say he was quite mad, you know."
380* [[http://www.bmoviecomic.com/?cid=266 This strip]] of ''Webcomic/TheBMovieComic''. TheRant specifically cites it as a way to remind viewers that the BigBad is dangerous despite him losing any confrontation with the heroes.
381* Although you don't get to see it. You know as well as they do that [[http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive//20041213c11p024.JPG these two messengers]] in ''Webcomic/DrowTales'' are DeaderThanDead.
382* ''Webcomic/GenocideMan'': At one point, the head of the Genocide Project, Kevin (who is also [[SuperSoldier a Genocide Man himself]]), killed a scientist with his bare hands for bringing him bad news before tea, with Lola only finding out when she asks why exactly they're taking vital strategic information to her instead. [[spoiler:This is the last straw for her, and she decided Kevin had [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived his usefulness]], taking him out immediately afterwards using a gun the scientists designed for that specific purpose]].
383* ''Webcomic/KarateBears'': [[http://www.karatebears.com/2011/09/bad-news.html One of the bears kills the messenger by presumably ripping his heart out]]
384* ''Webcomic/KidRadd'', Crystal will zap ''anyone'' who gives her ''any'' news, good or bad, "because it's fun." Note that she does not ''kill'' them. She'd run out of messengers that way, and well, when that happens, how ''else'' will she entertain herself?
385* One ''{{Webcomic/Nodwick}}'' comic has the protagonists delivering a message on behalf of the human king Zarunig to the elven king whom he is at war with. The message turns out to be a HopeSpot where Zarnuig offers to make the elven forest a nature preserve where no humans will hunt or cut trees... [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu then specifying that as the protected species of this preserves, all elves will need to wear ear tags so their mating behaviors can be more easily studied.]]
386-->'''Nodwick:''' I think I know why Zarunig told us [[SchmuckBait not to read this letter until we saw the Elven king.]]
387-->'''Artrax:''' Speaking of whom, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck he's turning into an alarming shade of purple.]]
388-->'''Yeagar:''' [[TooDumbToLive Does the letter say when I should]] [[PieInTheFace throw this cream pie Zarunig send?]]
389* {{Defied}} and {{Lampshaded}} in [[https://www.oglaf.com/killthemessenger/ this]] ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'' comic, helpfully titled "Kill the Messenger", where bad news is carried by a skeleton courier, who [[YouCantKillWhatsAlreadyDead already being dead cannot be killed.]]
390* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', [[{{Seers}} the Oracle]] gets killed now and then by clients [[BearerOfBadNews who don't like the predictions he gives them]], though he fortunately can arrange his resurrection well in advance. [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0571.html According to him]], the next time he dies would be when a big druid tears him apart [[MisplacedRetribution after confirming to him that his wife was cheating on him]] (with his [[UpliftedAnimal intelligent-boosted]] [[NonHumanSidekick animal companion]] yet).
391* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary''. When Ennesby [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2005-11-26 asks not to be killed]] for the news he's about to relate, Captain Tagon and Kevyn Andreyasn [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2005-11-27 immediately draw their guns]] (admittedly Ennesby isn't very popular with them at that stage). In the end they settle for shooting off the motivator Ennesby uses to float around.
392-->When the messenger appears and says 'Don't shoot the messenger,' it's a good idea to be ''ready'' to shoot the messenger, just in case.
393* ''Webcomic/TurnSignalsOnALandRaider'' gives us [[http://tsoalr.com/?p=322 this Chaos daemon prince]].
394[[/folder]]
395
396[[folder:Web Original]]
397* ''Literature/TheSalvationWar''
398** When Satan sends his Heralds to Earth to deliver the scrolls proclaiming their damnation, mankind generally responds to their arrival with violence. This has less to do with actually shooting the messenger and more "Holy shit there's a fifteen-foot tall demon coming this way ''KILL IT''!" Except in Singapore, where the police shot the messenger dozens of times and beat it to death with the butts of their guns for [[DisproportionateRetribution littering]] when it threw the message scroll on the pavement.
399*** One US president advisor points out that killing the demonic Heralds, who were effectively diplomats, was a war crime. However, President Bush countered that the US has never signed any treaties with Hell, so it isn't a war crime.
400** Interesting variation in ''[[http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic.php?t=118769&highlight= Armageddon???]]''. A demon bringing bad news typically isn't shot: he's ''eaten'' by the demon he brought the news to. Not surprisingly, the priority of these messengers is try and avoid getting offed. Whether or not the one they report to is hungry seems to be part of the equation, however.
401*** The only exceptions are Satan's own Greater Heralds, who were protected from all harm. The fact that ''[[MugglesDoItBetter the humans killed his Heralds]]'' is a sticking point.
402*** The prevalence of this is such that Abigor choosing to not only ''not'' threaten to do this, but encouraging the messenger to keep working in spite of his injuries, is regarded as a significant piece of CharacterDevelopment.
403** Also inverted with Yahweh, wherein his general Michael-lan deliberately attempts to phrase the bad news he gives in such a way so as to cause Yahweh to throw the most spectacular temper tantrums possible, complete with multi-colored flashes of lightning that rip the marble facing from the walls (though they never actually seem to kill anybody, Michael included). It's made clear that Michael quite enjoys these displays and is the only one who isn't afraid of them.
404[[/folder]]
405
406[[folder:Western Animation]]
407
408* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Love and Rocket", the Planet Express crew deliver a barrel of candy hearts to Omicron Persei 8 with the message that "Earth loves you thiiiis much!" the chalky-candies taste bad to Omicronians, and the cutesy messages upset them. The crew has to flee the planet chased by battleships.
409-->'''Lrrr:''' This concept of "wuv" confuses and infuriates us!
410* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002'': In a flashback, [[PredecessorVillain Hordak]] is informed by his general Callix that their forces have been depleted by battle with [[SnakePeople the Snakemen]], and they must recoup their strength before laying siege to Castle Greyskull. Hordak agrees wholeheartedly and applauds Callix for his sound military advice... [[BadBoss then he casually kills him for delivering bad news]].
411* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Chaos At The Earth's Core", EvilOverlord Deimos disintegrates a minion who reports that the heroes have arrived.
412* ''WesternAnimation/{{Popeye}}'' once got a furlough from Navy duties and spent it with his nephews. Their antics were so unbearable that, when he got news about a new furlough, he reacted by shooting the messenger. Literally.
413* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'', Fearless Leader had an agent executed for telling him that the only available spy for his plan was [[SurroundedByIdiots Boris]]. Even worse, this happened right after Fearless Leader told him [[ILied he wouldn't get upset over being told the news]].
414* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Margical History Tour", Homer plays a UsefulNotes/HenryVIII who demands so many decapitations the castle runs out of pikes to put the heads on. After one of his servants (Moe) informs him of this, despite knowing what the king usually does to the bearer of bad news, we cut to an empty pike storage room. The king admits he was right, and the servant's ''[[LosingYourHead detached, but still living head]]'' is consoled by such.
415* In ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Vikings", when [=SpongeBob=] sent a letter to a Viking leader, he had the Viking delivering the message sent to the dungeon [[DisproportionateRetribution for interrupting his story]].
416[[/folder]]
417
418[[folder:Real Life]]
419* In an inversion, by Napoleonic times, the bearer of news of a victory was automatically promoted when they reported in with the news. Generals would put some thought into whom they wanted to make the trip back to Parliament, or to the Emperor.
420* As noted above, the Mongol Empire destroyed the Khwarazmian Empire over exactly that. A Khwarazmian governor abducted a caravan belonging to the Mongol Empire (claiming them to be spies, though a less charitable interpretation is he just wanted to seize the goods they were carrying). This irked the Mongols, but they had the sense to send some emissaries to request reparations and/or the caravan's release. The Shah executed the emissaries. UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan's response was to ''erase Khwarazmia from the face of the earth'', beginning the Mongol invasions of the Middle East (or of anywhere that wasn't their immediate Central Asian backyard).
421** The Mongols were actually one of the major forces that prompted this to really become as discredited as it became and diplomatic immunity as respected as it did in the Medieval world, since their response was always, '''ALWAYS''' disproportionate. They also respected the diplomatic immunity of foreign messengers carrying messages to them.
422** However, this became an InvokedTrope when Qutuz, the sultan of the Egyptian Mamluks, deliberately killed Mongol emissaries so as to provoke them into an immediate attack--in mid-summer when there wasn't enough water and pasture for their horses. The well-armed Mamluks massacred the weakened Mongol force, putting an end to any serious invasion. (Interestingly, according to some accounts--which may or may not be true--Qutuz claimed descent from the ruling house of the old Khwarazmian Empire, adding some extra irony to the whole affair.)
423* UsefulNotes/VladTheImpaler (better known as {{Dracula}}) once received some Ottoman emmisaries, who due to their religion, refused to remove their turbans. He made certain they could never take them off; nailing them to their heads.
424** Soon after, he killed Ottoman admiral [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamza_Bey Hamza Bey]] before [[DressingAsTheEnemy using his fluency in Turkish to walk his army right into the fortress of Giurgiu and capture it]]. After hearing of this, Sultan [[UsefulNotes/TheFallOfConstantinople Mehmed]] TheConqueror was so enraged he allegedly punched his Grand Vizier who told him.
425* At the opening stage of the Battle of Budapest in December, 1944, Soviet messengers who were delivering the demand from General Malinovsky that the trapped German and Hungarian garrison surrender were shot either on the way or on the return trip. Nobody knows the specifics of the circumstances or if it was intentional or accidental. Regardless, the subsequent battle became particularly brutal and the German defenders of the city were nearly annihilated, along with a large number of trapped civilians.
426* Those in the island city of Tyre (no longer an island) threw the messengers of a general who really did not wish to spend resources conquering them (he wanted them to ally with him). This general, one [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Alexander III of Macedon]], didn't take kindly to this. Specifically, he laid siege, built a causeway out to the city (turning the island into a peninsula), and razed it to the ground.
427* This is depressingly common for workers in customer service positions (waiters, cashiers, call centers, etc.) Customers who feel that they did not get the service or goods they want often take it out on the poor customer service rep, even when it's management's fault ([[NeverMyFault or even the client itself as well]]) and the rep is just trying to abide by store policies on pain of a write-up or termination.
428* Any weather reporter or meteorologist has to be prepared for this, especially in the media. Be kind to them. The same goes for any journalist in general.
429* A real-life aversion was managed by the Anglo-Norman nobility in 1120. William Adelin, the only son and heir of King Henry I had drowned in the White Ship disaster, and none of the nobles dared to break the news to the short-tempered king. In the end, they sent a small boy to do it. Henry couldn't get angry with him, and instead merely broke down in tears.
430* Some kingdoms in ancient times had treaties with each other that expressly forbid this. Indeed, if the person sent as a messenger by one kingdom to another was not allowed to return home unharmed, [[ThisMeansWar it would be considered an act of war.]]
431* The Spartans and the Athenians infamously did this to Darius' messengers at the beginning of the UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars, an act that ''ComicBook/ThreeHundred'' erroneously moves forward to Xerxes' invasion a decade later (he sent messengers to every Greek ''polis'' ''except'' those two, for obvious reasons).
432** Though intended as an act of defiance, the rest of the Greeks were ''horrified'', as messengers were thought to be under divine protection, and harming them meant bringing down the wrath of the gods. [[Literature/TheHistories Herodotos,]] writing from decades later, thought that the destruction of Athens at the hands of Xerxes' army was ''not a severe enough punishment'' for their deed. The Spartans, meanwhile, could not get good omens from their sacrifices for years and, in desperation, [[HumanSacrifice sent two volunteers to Xerxes' court to beg for execution]], which the king [[CruelMercy turned down.]]
433* While overzealous fans and mean-spirited trolls towards video game developers and game journalists are nothing new, there are people that will take it to the next level by sending death threats or the like towards anyone that gives a game a bad review or if a game developer does something the fans doesn't like. ''VideoGame/NoMansSky'', which was in development for a few years, was announced that it wouldn't be able to meet its original release date. The reporter that made the delay known to the public was slammed with death threats for delaying the game, despite the fact that he had nothing to do with the delay at all. When a PR from the developers confirmed that the delay was true, he received death threats as well.
434* This is the reason why QA departments are often unfairly resented in various business, as their main function is to be the bearers of bad news by alerting the rest of the company about potential bugs, problems, or defects that need to be fixed, even though QA doesn't actually create those issues, and without them such issues would end up in the hands of customers which would create even more problems for the companies.
435* From a biological stand-point, pain itself is this. Sure, nobody likes to feel pain as it is by definition an unconfortable sensation tha brings a sense of disconfort and ocasionally suffering. However, the sensation of pain itself it's always a reaction from something getting broken inside the body and requiring a fixing. Pain's main job inside the body is essentially being a bearer of bad news so the person can take the correct measures to help against inflamations, wounds, broken bones and even emotional issues. Sadly, all too often people get often addicted to pain-killers in a desire to avoid the suffering and in turn often merely end up shutting down the bearer of bad news without actually fixing the actual source of the problem itself.
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