History Main / WhosLaughingNow

** Professor Snape plays with this, since he ''was'' bullied, his attempts at revenge and betrayal ultimately lead him into remorse and to seek redemption. He spends his profession making the majority of Hogwarts' pupils' studies hell.

What did the heroes do wrong? Maybe the [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy harmless mook]] [[NotSoHarmlessVillain wasn't so harmless after all]]. Maybe that last jibe went [[RantInducingSlight too far]]. Whatever the reason, this character is through with being the [[PluckyComicRelief comedy sidekick]] and determined to show the heroes precisely ''why'' you should BewareTheSillyOnes,
BewareTheNiceOnes, and BewareTheQuietOnes.

This can occur with victims of a world full of {{Jerk Jock}}s, where the KidsAreCruel and TeensAreMonsters. You can bet it will lead to this [[AnAesop aesop]]: said victim doesn't realize the irony, that by taking revenge they have [[HeWhoFightsMonsters become as bad as those who victimized them]]. If they do realize it, expect an IgnoredEpiphany. This could also result in the ButtMonkey being pushed back down into the former position, or the character could become relatively harmless but still extremely annoying. May result in the character becoming {{Arch Enem|y}}ies with the most abusive.

* Syndrome from ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' is a glaring example. Being a total screwup of an unwanted sidekick leads him to be rejected by his idol, which leads him to try and kill off all the world's superheros and rub it in said idol's face. In a twist, his actions as a BigBad result in him becoming the ButtMonkey again and again, because while he is a legitimate threat, he has no idea how to work under pressure. Once things don't go the way he planned, he ends up scrambling to rerail the scenario until it blows up in his face.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In one season 1 episode, a girl who was ignored by everyone in the school becomes invisible as a result, and decides to take revenge on [[AlphaBitch Cordelia]]. [[spoiler: Then she gets taken away by government agents and apparently becomes a government assassin.]]

* Wrestling/EricYoung's FaceHeelTurn in [[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]] in 2009 is a textbook Who's Laughing Now. Young had a comedy gimmick for much of his run in TNA, and eventually began to perceive himself as the ButtMonkey of the company, especially when he joined the Front Line and dumped many of the comedy aspects of said gimmick. Eric's inability to get title shots and opportunities for whatever reason resulted in him forming the World Elite faction, a group of [[{{Eagleland}} Anti-American]] {{Foreign Wrestling Heel}}s who believe their perceived lack of success and popularity is because they were not born in the United States.

* Nearly all of [[Creator/DonaldTrump Donald Trump's]] supporters invoked this after their candidate's victory in the 2016 United States elections.
** Likewise, UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton's [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]] history and a widespread perception of her as too ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections-happy made her opponents (rivals and voters alike) all too happy to invoke this after said Election, especially since most polls had seemingly predicted a CurbStompBattle in her favor.

* DoubleSubversion in ''Disney/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar''.

* On a different note, this is why nations and armies are expected to follow [[UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar certain laws and customs during warfare]]. Don't follow the rules and you're enemy will have no motivation to do the same, and will try to pay you back... ''with interest'' (and unfortunate consequences). [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment We'll just leave it at that]].

* Varsha Yajman, an Australian student who participated in the Sydney school strikes protesting against climate change, was told to stay in school by several individuals, including adults and business owners who witnessed the strikes. [[https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/the-climate-strike-organiser-who-received-a-nearperfect-atar/news-story/d0be57ffa775c35ef8a3eb1946b5f5ff She ended up receiving a near-perfect ATAR of 99.15]] [[UsefulNotes/AustralianSchoolSystem (a number that measures how well you did in comparison to all the other students within your grade in the state - the highest one can get is 99.95).]]

* During the offseason of 2018, NBA player Kawhi Leonard was in a tug-of-war with his current team, the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard wished to leave and after months and months of heart-ache, the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. The media and countless NBA fans called Leonard immature and foolish for how he handled the entire affair. [https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0903/0874/products/LEOK42955A_ae4551a8-f78a-46b4-bf83-87a1e30ed446.jpg?v=1575352804 This is how his first season with the Raptors ended]].

* A chapter from the first story of ''ComicBook/TheMask'' is even titled this trope. It shows Stanley Ipkiss killing people who wronged him such as the mechanics who ripped him off and a school teacher who picked on him when he was a kid. This guy can really hold a grudge.

* ''ComicBook/ScoobyDooTeamUp'': In the ComicBook/{{Shazam}} issue, After Sabbac mocks Ibac for being tricked into saying his transforming word, he's tricked as well and Ibac asks "Who's the dolt now?".

* ''ComicBook/ScoobyDooTeamUp'': After Sabbac mocks Ibac for being tricked into saying his transforming word, he's tricked as well and Ibac asks "Who's the dolt now?".

** Parodied (like so many other things) in ''[[ShowWithinAShow Cheat Commandos]]'', where recurring ButtMonkey Reynold ends up sharing a cell with the freshly-imprisoned Blue Laser Commander, who convinces him to take his frustrations out on a picture of [[GIJoe Duke]] {{Expy}} [[DesignatedHero Gunhaver]]. By the end, he's working for Blue Laser as their latest member, "Scrawnjob" (though [[GoKartingWithBowser considering how unnaturally friendly the Cheat Commandos are with Blue Laser]], it's debatable whether this really counts as a FaceHeelTurn on any level).

What did the villains do wrong? Ahem everything. But they are going to pay for at least one of their KickTheDog moments. And what better way to go about it than to [[FaceHeelTurn become a villain]]?

* ''Fanfic/{{Apotheosis}}'': Izuku spent years abused and put down by society for being quirkless. After his dreams of being a hero are crushed by All Might, he finally snaps and goes down the road of villainy, eventually culminating in him building an ''[[ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet Infinity Gauntlet]]'' and becoming Japan's worst supervillain, arguably surpassing even All for One himself. After that, many people, including the aforementioned All Might, are suddenly wishing they had treated him ''much'' better pre-FaceHeelTurn.

** This other Fae actually warns the Morrigan about this, saying Lauren wont take any abuse lying down. Which isn't to say Lauren is above having fun with it. After the Morrigan refers to Lauren as a dog once to often, she awakens the next morning restrained with a golden retriever (named Lauren Jr.) in her room, [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments and peanut butter on her nether regions]].

'''Amber''': [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Because there's nothing funny about a dickless moron with a battery up his ass.]]

* ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'': In one episode, Billy, a high school boy, is bullied viciously by his best friend's {{Jerkass}} boyfriend. Guess who shows up the next day with a loaded gun? [[spoiler: However, Billy reveals that [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim he doesn't want to hurt them]], and simply wants to scare the shit out of them until they apologize. The aforementioned best friend manages to talk him out of continuing his rampage in a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} that may never be equaled, [[HopeSpot right before the boyfriend stumbles into things, and an overenthusiastic cop comes in and mucks everything up.]] It ends well, though.]]

---> '''Nerd''': Should have done your ''own'' homework, guys! ''(laughs smugly)''

--->'''Sandler:''' ''I was fired, I was fired/ NBC said that I was done/ Then I made over 4 billion dollars at the box office/ So I guess you could say '''I won!'''''

* Eric Young's FaceHeelTurn in [[Wrestling/ImpactWrestling TNA]] in 2009 is a textbook Who's Laughing Now. Young had a comedy gimmick for much of his run in TNA, and eventually began to perceive himself as the ButtMonkey of the company, especially when he joined the Front Line and dumped many of the comedy aspects of said gimmick. Eric's inability to get title shots and opportunities for whatever reason resulted in him forming the World Elite faction, a group of [[{{Eagleland}} Anti-American]] {{Foreign Wrestling Heel}}s who believe their perceived lack of success and popularity is because they were not born in the United States.

* The [[TheAllegedCar Lemons]] from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Cars}} Cars 2]]'' were apparently made evil all because of this.

* Wrestling/JimCornette was initially just a photographer selling his work at Jarrett family Continental Wrestling Association shows. One day he asked his mother, who also sold merchandise in the area, for more money so he could become a manager, an aspiration that earned him endless mocking from the likes of Bill Dundee and Wrestling/JerryLawler, derision from what wrestlers would give him a chance and lots of jeering from the fans. Laughed out of CWA, Cornette went to Mid-South, found Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, then put together one of the greatest tag teams of all time, Wrestling/TheMidnightExpress, who helped him get back at the fans by antagonizing popular acts like Magnum TA, The Street People, Wrestling/LegionOfDoom and, [[ArchEnemy of course]], Wrestling/TheRockNRollExpress. He'd also manage the likes The Grappler, Wrestling/BigVanVader, The Heavenly Bodies and The Head Hunters against former managerial clients who spurned him, lead his [[Wrestling/{{SMW}} own promotion]] in an invasion of Wrestling/{{WCW}} and the NWA itself against the WWF, which resulted in the oft overlooked skirt wearing Head Bangers being thrust into stardom.

* Eric Young's FaceHeelTurn in Wrestling/{{TNA}} in 2009 is a textbook Who's Laughing Now. Young had a comedy gimmick for much of his run in TNA, and eventually began to perceive himself as the ButtMonkey of the company, especially when he joined the Front Line and dumped many of the comedy aspects of said gimmick. Eric's inability to get title shots and opportunities for whatever reason resulted in him forming the World Elite faction, a group of [[{{Eagleland}} Anti-American]] {{Foreign Wrestling Heel}}s who believe their perceived lack of success and popularity is because they were not born in the United States.

* Wrestling/JimCornette was initially just a photographer selling his work at Jarrett family Continental Wrestling Association shows. One day he asked his mother, who also sold merchandise in the area, for more money so he could become a manager, an aspiration that earned him endless mocking from the likes of Bill Dundee and Wrestling/JerryLawler, derision from what wrestlers would give him a chance and lots of jeering from the fans. Laughed out of CWA, Cornette went to Mid-South, found Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, then put together one of the greatest tag teams of all time, Wrestling/TheMidnightExpress, who helped him get back at the fans by antagonizing popular acts like Magnum TA, The Street People, Wrestling/LegionOfDoom and, [[ArchEnemy of course]], Wrestling/TheRockNRollExpress. He'd also manage the likes The Grappler, Wrestling/BigVanVader, The Heavenly Bodies and The Head Hunters against former managerial clients who spurned him, lead his [[Wrestling/SmokeyMountainWrestling own promotion]] in an invasion of Wrestling/{{WCW}} and the NWA itself against the WWF, which resulted in the oft overlooked skirt wearing Head Bangers being thrust into stardom.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} High shooters are sometimes falsely portrayed as this. Many other school shooters, both before and after, were (sometimes) this trope to a T. There's also the 2007 Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho. His videos that he mailed to NBC directly stated that this was his motive (although, the truth is that Cho was severely mentally ill and his motive had little basis in reality).

** Likewise, UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton's [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment controversial]] history and a widespread perception of her as too ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections-happy made her opponents (rivals and voters alike) all too happy to invoke this after said Election, especially since most polls had seemingly predicted a CurbStompBattle in her favor.

* On a different note, this is why nations and armies are expected to follow [[UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar certain laws and customs during warfare]]. Don't follow the rules and you're enemy will have no motivation to do the same, and will try to pay you back... ''with interest'' (and unfortunate consequences). [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment We'll just leave it at that]].

* In some Italian stories WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck has a secret identity as Paperinik il Diabolico Vendicatore (Diabolico Vendicatore being Italian for [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Devilish Avenger]]). While he's sometimes portrayed as a more lighthearted superhero, other stories make clear it's actually about showing up everyone who laughs at Donald (he even conned Gladstone in thinking that Donald cursed him into being unlucky, and showed as Donald to get paid for taking the curse away), with the criminals fitting it due them taking the easy way in life (the very first story has Paperinik stealing Scrooge's mattress while he's sleeping on it because stealing the sacks of money in the same room would have been too easy. Just to make clear that if he ever decided to become a thief nothing and no one could stop him since the beginning).

* "''The Future Soon''" by Music/JonathanCoulton is about how the singer is laughed at now, but one day when he's grown up and it's the future take over the world with his legions of killer robots and show them all.