History PlayingWith / FalseRapeAccusation

** Bob is quickly found innocent, but his reputation is still ruined. Alice's credibility is destroyed by having made the accusation. Meanwhile, the rapist gets away scot-free and continues to attack other women.

** Alice's culture is very [[NoWomansLand misogynistic]], and believes rape is about lust and sexuality, not power or anger. A woman who claims she was raped is almost never believed, or is thought to have [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming "deserved it" somehow]], such as by going to a certain place, or behaving or dressing a certain way. Or that AllWomenAreLustful, and that therefore the notion of a woman not wanting or not enjoying sex is absurd. Or that a woman who [[HollywoodHomely doesn't conform to that society's beauty standards]] in some way(s) should be "grateful" that a man would even give her the time of day, let alone have any kind of sex with her. Or she would only be believed if she was a [[TheIngenue demure, passive, and modestly-dressed asexual virgin]] beforehand...and even if she ''was'', good luck trying to convince anyone of that.

* '''Deconstructed''': When Alice is exposed as a lying fraud, Dave (an actual rapist) uses her story to turn public sympathy against his accuser Carol and [[KarmaHoudini ride public opinion all the way to an acquittal]].

%%* '''Deconstructed''': ???

** Previously a rapist was able to get acquitted, and went on the commit more crimes. The embarrassment the case caused the police and courts makes them extra wary of accused rapists claiming to be innocent.

* '''Implied''': The story starts on a prison chain gang. When another prisoner asks Bob why he's here, Bob replies that he's here "because of a lying bitch."

* '''Deconstructed''': ???

%%

%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%% ???

* '''Inverted''': It is proven ''beyond a reasonable doubt'' that Bob raped Alice, but he [[KarmaHoudini gets off scot-free]] due to some LoopholeAbuse.

* '''Subverted''': Bob is able to convince the jury, judge, and public that he is an innocent man, but he is actually guilty.
* '''Double Subverted''': Alice is lying, because she was not able to get him convicted in court, she settles for getting him ConvictedByPublicOpinion.

* '''Zig Zagged''': Alice accuses Bob of raping her, but it turns out that he didn't. Then Bob really does rape her, but everyone thinks that [[CryingWolf she's lying again]].

** Alice worries that no one would believe her (even if it ''was'' a case of date rape), and she doesn't press charges against Bob.

** Despite being innocent, Bob is [[KangarooCourt declared guilty anyway]] and sentenced to life imprisonment. His wife divorces him, his family disowns him, his friends abandon him, and the other prisoners refuse to say even one word to him. He falls into a depression as a result of his loneliness and [[DyingAlone dies alone and unloved]], [[DownerEnding everybody believing him to be guilty]].

* '''Exaggerated''': There is indisputable evidence that not only did Bob not rape Alice, but in fact Bob and Alice were never even on the same continent.

** Bob is accused of [[ThePeepingTom covertly watching Alice undress]], but not of physically raping her. ThePeepingTom is actually Rob, Bob's twin brother.

** Or her OverprotectiveDad finds out and does the accusing, seeing as he can't see how [[ShesAllGrownUp his little angel-princess]] could ''possibly'' have a sexual side.

* '''Subverted''':
** Bob is convicted of rape, and there is evidence.
** It is quickly shown that Bob is innocent, or at least that there is insufficient evidence to prove guilt.
** The defense puts Alice's credibility or [[SlutShaming sexual history]] on trial, in an attempt to paint Alice's testimony as unreliable.
** Bob did actually rape Alice, but it happened so long ago that the StatuteOfLimitations on charges has long since passed. Unfortunately for Alice, she waited too long to press charges, out of fear or embarrassment.
** Bob was only able to prove his innocence because a seemingly compassionate man named Dave encouraged him and told him his own tale of being falsely accused. However, it is soon learned that while Bob is innocent, Dave actually was a rapist.
* '''Double Subverted''':
** The rape trial happened way back in TheSeventies, before DNA evidence was really in use; Bob is cleared by DNA evidence in TheNineties and released from {{Prison}}.
** Bob is already ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
** The StatuteOfLimitations has been extended, leaving Alice just enough time to take Bob to court, but there isn't a lot of evidence left.

* '''Lampshaded''': "How could a girl like ''[[DepravedBisexual her]]'' be accusing a guy like ''[[CelibateHero Bob]]'' of rape?!"

** Or Alice worries that no one would believe her (even if it ''was'' a case of date rape), and she doesn't press charges against Bob.

* '''Deconstructed''':

%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

** Alice is a {{Jerkass}} who hates Bob and is GenreSavvy enough to know that accusing him of rape is the best way to destroy him.

** Bob did actually rape Alice, but it happened so long ago that the statute of limitations on charges has long since passed. Unfortunately for Alice, she waited too long to press charges, out of fear or embarrassment.

** The statute of limitations has been extended, leaving Alice just enough time to take Bob to court, but there isn't a lot of evidence left.

** Alice slept with Bob consensually, and he left various forensics; the real rapist [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy took pains not to leave any evidence]].

* '''Zig Zagged''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob was out of the country at the time of the alleged rape.

* '''Parodied''': Bob becomes a MemeticMolester.

%%* '''Implied''': ???

* '''Downplayed''': Bob is accused of having drugged Alice and had sex with her. He did have sex with the drugged Alice, but he wasn't the one who drugged her, and he only had sex with her because he didn't realize at the time that she was drugged.

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''': Bob is quickly found innocent, but his reputation is still ruined. Alice's credibility is destroyed by having made the accusation. Meanwhile, the rapist gets away scot-free and continues to attack other women.

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob was out of the country at the time.

*** Alternately, Alice slept with Bob consensually, and he left various forensics; the real rapist [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy took pains not to leave any evidence]].

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Basic Trope''': Someone accuses someone else of rape, even though that person is beyond a reasonable doubt [[NotGuiltyVerdict not guilty]].
* '''Played Straight''': Bob is accused of raping Alice, but he didn't.

* '''Justified''': Alice couldn't see her attacker's face, and misidentified Bob.
** Bob is in a PoliceLineup, and his features are remarkably similar to the suspect's.
** Alice slept with Bob consensually, but she regrets it and accuses him of date rape.
*** Or her OverprotectiveDad finds out and does the accusing, seeing as he can't see how [[ShesAllGrownUp his little angel-princess]] could ''possibly'' have a sexual side.

* '''Subverted''': Bob is convicted of rape, and there is evidence.

** Bob did actually rape Alice, but it happened so long ago that the statute of limitations on charges has long since passed. Unfortunately for Alice, she waited too long to press charges, out of fear or embarrassment.
* '''Double Subverted''': The rape trial happened way back in TheSeventies, before DNA evidence was really in use; Bob is cleared by DNA evidence in TheNineties and released from {{Prison}}.
** Bob is already ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
** The statute of limitations has been extended, leaving Alice just enough time to take Bob to court, but there isn't a lot of evidence left.
* '''Deconstructed''':
* '''Reconstructed''':

* '''Lampshaded''': "How could a girl like ''her'' be accusing a guy like ''Bob'' of rape?!"

* '''Invoked''': Alice is [[RapeAsDrama raped]] by a stranger in the park. He wore a condom and shaved all his pubic hair, so there isn't much in the way of forensic evidence, and Alice only saw his face for maybe two seconds.
** Alice wakes up in Bob's bed, naked. At first, [[WhatDidIDoLastNight she doesn't know what happened]], but then she remembers that she agreed to go home with him.
* '''Defied''': Alice makes it clear that she doesn't really know what the attacker looked like.

*** Or Alice worries that no one would believe her (even if it ''was'' a case of date rape), and she doesn't press charges against Bob.

* '''Played For Laughs''':
* '''Played For Drama''': Almost always is.

** The defense puts Alice's credibility or [[SlutShaming sexual history]] on trial, in an attempt to paint Alice's testimony as unreliable.

* '''Lampshaded''':