Niceness Denial

"Now please don't get the idea that I'm doing it because I'm generous, or worse, amiable."

— Major Winchester, M*A*S*H, "The Winchester Tapes"

A character often thought of as a Jerkass does something nice for someone/a group of people. This seems to put them in Jerk with a Heart of Gold territory.

However, they quickly deny this. They claim entirely selfish and/or self-centered reasons for doing what they did, claiming it benefits them solely in some way, or surely they would never have done it.

They might even state that they are disturbed/disgusted that it was perceived as nice, and that they have a reputation as a jerk/tyrant/scoundrel to maintain, and that if anyone says anything about them doing something "nice", the beneficiary of the act can expect swift and severe retribution. They might also acknowledge that the act was nice, but then claim that they are not, and merely did it either "For the Lulz" or "to keep everyone guessing."

Sometimes this is merely cover, to prevent being flooded with requests. Other times, however, they very much mean what they say, and are more than willing to demonstrate their still-vile nature.

The Stoic may also wonder why an emotional attachment is being ascribed to a purely pragmatic decision.

If they're telling the truth, it's often a Bait-and-Switch Sentiment.

It'll often double as a Suspiciously Specific Denial.

Another common way this will play out is when a Card-Carrying Jerkass or a Card-Carrying Villain does something heroic by complete accident. They'll usually try to deny that they're heroic in any way.

This may overlap with a Tsundere in a Romantic Comedy, i.e., "I'm not doing this because I like you or anything."

Compare Friendship Denial. Related to and may overlap with I Was Just Passing Through or Pragmatic Villainy.

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Examples:

Anime & Manga

• Dragon Ball:
  • At the start of the Saiyan Saga, Gohan tells Piccolo that Goku believes he isn't as bad as he used to be after he reincarnated. He's just grumpy. Piccolo is quick to snarl at the insinuation and amps up Gohan's training as punishment. Deep down, Piccolo did appreciate Gohan's genuine kindness toward him, and it's what kicked off his turn from villain to hero.
  • Similarly, Vegeta has also changed from a villain to a genuine hero. It took him longer than Piccolo to summit his character as a good person. It paid off, as by Battle of Gods, everyone acknowledges and praises Vegeta's positive Character Development. In typical Vegeta fashion, he furiously denies it, stating that the "Prince of All Saiyans" is not a righteous-hearted goodie-goodie.

Fan Works

• Harry's New Home: As Snape discusses with Harry who his new guardian will be now that he's been removed from his abusive Muggle family's custody, Harry asks if Snape can be his new guardian. Snape asks why he would want such a thing, and Harry says it's because he's nice. Snape vocally protests that he's not nice, even though he was the first authority figure at Hogwarts to notice that Harry had been abused, and immediately brings it to the attention of Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse.

Films — Animated

• In The Sword in the Stone Archimedes puts himself in danger to save Wart (in fish form) from a giant pike. Merlin ribs him about his heroism, but Archimedes claims that he thought Wart was just a normal fish that he wanted to eat. Neither Merlin nor Wart buys this for a second.

Literature

• How Not to Summon a Demon Lord: Diablo in his previous life was a very shy gamer who ended up a hikikomori because of his inability to talk to other people. That shyness is still with him in his current life and the only way he can interact with others is by role-playing a Demon Lord when he speaks. And proper Demon Lords do not admit to doing anything for a benevolent reason. So he ends up giving this particular trope a lot of exercise.
• The Master and Margarita: When Woland tells Margarita that he will fulfill her only wish, she asks for Frieda — a woman who is tormented in hell by memories of how she killed her new-born child. Woland is disgusted by Margarita's mercy, but she quickly denies it.
  'No,' Margarita replied emphatically, 'I know that one can only speak frankly with you, and so I will tell you frankly: I am a light-minded person. I asked you for Frieda only because I was careless enough to give her firm hope. She's waiting, Messire, she believes in my power. And if she's left disappointed, I'll be in a terrible position. I'll have no peace in my life. There's no help for it, it just happened.'
• The Rising of the Shield Hero: Naofumi Iwatani develops a bitter streak early in the series and makes frequent use of this trope because he fears he would end up being a doormat for everyone around him otherwise, particularly through the second half of the series. His close associates and those who are perceptive seem to see through his facade easily and it only gets more and more transparent as the series continues.
• The Screwtape Letters: Screwtape starts the book off by denying any sort of kindness in assisting Wormwood. He points out that doing so helps him to avoid their Father's usual round of punishments and tortures if Wormwood is successful. Given who Screwtape is, we should probably take him at his word on this, but only this.

Live-Action TV

• Doctor Who: "The Magician's Apprentice" Missy, a female incarnation of The Master, is helping UNIT look for The Doctor. Clara, suspiciously, acidly asks Missy if she's "turned good". Missy demonstrates otherwise by vaporizing two UNIT soldiers and remarking on how she knew one had a newborn child at home.
• The Librarians 2014: "...And The Infernal Contract", Stone is gloating about how Ezekiel is turning good after the reveal that he isn't using magic to steal stuff. Ezekiel counters by handing Stone back his own wallet, now devoid of cash.
• M*A*S*H: Maj. Winchester noted Dr. Jerk and aristocratic blue blood, agrees to help Hawkeye by taking on a duty for him. He quickly warns that it is not because he is a nice person.
  Maj. Winchester: All right, all right, all right. I'm giving in merely because I can use a three-day vacation from you. Now please don't get the idea that I'm doing it because I'm generous, or worse, amiable.
• Night Court:
  • "Dan's Boss": Dan learns that his new boss is a dwarf named Vincent Daniels. Dan spends the majority of the episode denigrating and insulting Vincent until he ends up rather predictably fired. Harry gives Dan a What the Hell, Hero? lecture, which Vincent overhears. He relates the story of his Disappeared Dad, and Dan has a Jerkass Realization and sincerely apologizes. Vincent rehires him, leading to this moment:
    Dan: You're taking me back?
    Vincent: Yes. Because I think you're being sincere. Also, I've seen your conviction record. You're good.
    (Dan looks gratified)
    Vincent: But most of all I'm taking you back because it will give me the opportunity to make your life a LIVING HELL! You think you're a tough customer? Well, move over, Buster! Because I'm the toughest, I'm the meanest, I'm the nastiest little man God ever put on this earth! I'm going to make you run, I'm going to make you jump, I am going to make you slither on the ground like a snake!
    Dan: GOD BLESS YOU! (Dan hugs him, then leaves)
  • "Dan's Operation Pts. 1 & 2": Two particularly heartbreaking moments from the two-parter. In the first half, Harry is trying to give Dan some sound, heartfelt advice, and Dan, in no mood, snaps at him, saying, "Has it ever occurred to you that the only reason I listen to you is that it is my job! I have to!" After Dan goes into a coma and then comes out of it, he and Harry have another heart-to-heart where Dan expands on that, saying that of the many, many women he's slept with, none of them have ever said to him "I love you", and he says that it's because in order to be loved, on must be able to give, and he cannot give. Harry, however, gives Dan a You Are Better Than You Think You Are speech.
  • "Earthquake". Dan is trapped in an elevator with Roz and two sumo wrestlers (It Makes Sense in Context) after an earthquake immobilizes it between floors. Dan is panicking due to claustrophobia until Roz slaps him. But when they're freed, Roz tells everyone that Dan was a really cool customer who handled himself well. When Dan asks her about it, later, she gives us this gem:
    Roz: I don't want anyone to know I was nice to you.
    Dan: Why?
    Roz: Because then everybody would want to be my friend. Then they'd want to hang around all the time, and sooner or later two of them would get into an argument. And I'd try to cool them off, but I'm not much good at that, so I'd just gun 'em all down, and end up frying in the electric chair.
    Dan: (nods, then smiles) Better to be safe than sorry.
• Sesame Street: In one episode, Oscar, who's a huge grump, donates toys to charity. He claims he's not doing it to be "nice", but just because he doesn't like the toys.
• Star Trek
  • Star Trek: The Original Series: In "Amok Time", Spock hugs Kirk and gleefully shouts his name when he finds out he's not really dead. However, Spock claims that he did this not because he sees Kirk as a friend, but rather because he's relieved that a captain hasn't been lost.
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine:
    • In "Crossfire", Odo has his floor soundproofed. His downstairs neighbor Quark, who's Vitriolic Best Buds with him, thinks that he's doing this so that he won't bother him with noise, but Odo claims it to be a coincidence.
    • In one episode, Odo (who's had his Voluntary Shapeshifting powers turned off) and Quark are stranded on a mountain and Odo has a broken leg. Quark pulls Odo along, but when Odo is surprised that Quark cares, Quark claims he's just planning to eat him if he runs out of food.

Video Games

• Disgaea: Demons believe they're inherently evil, so they tend to deny any goodness they may have. Larhal, the protagonist of the first game is a stand-out example of this.
• Genshin Impact: Eula is a classic Tsundere who always swears vengeance on people, due to the people hating her simply for being a member of the despised Lawrence clan. That said, she repeatedly does nice things for others, especially children, and dismisses it as something she had to do as a Captain of the Knights of Favonious.
• God of War (PS4): Kratos and Atreus are passing through the mines on their journey when they find a dragon called Hraezlyr attacking their new associate Sindri. At Atreus' encouragement, the normally self-interested Kratos decides to fight the dragon and kill it. Afterward, Sindri is ecstatic:
  Sindri: But-but-but— nobody's killed a dragon for hundreds of years... not since the Grand Culling of the Wyrms! And unless I'm mistaken, you did all that... for me!
  Kratos: You are mistaken. The dragon was simply in our path... nothing more.
  Sindri: (laughs) You deny it all you want, but you saved me! And that... deserves compensation. (he gifts the heroes by transferring the Shock and Awe properties of Hraezlyr's Breath Weapon to Atreus' bow)

Visual Novels

• Va11halla: As the story takes place in a Good-Guy Bar, most of your clients are pretty nice people, or need some time to open up. Ingram, however, stands out for being way ruder and more confrontational than your usual customers. Whenever he does something nice, such as complimenting Fore, he'll always try to undermine it by complaining about something else or saying it's common sense, and if you serve him sweet drinks against his wishes, he will open up more on his personal life.

Web Animation

• Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures: When Kuromi and Badtz-Maru enter a video game tournament without Keropi, it's because they plan to use their winnings to give Keropi a copy of the game so he can play with them. Kuromi, in particular, tells Keropi not to mention it to anyone, as she wants to maintain her tough girl reputation.

Western Animation

• Doc McStuffins: A truthful example occurs in "Chilly Gets Chilly", when Lambie holds onto Doc's leg, and Doc says, "That's a nice cuddle". Lambie corrects her that she's just keeping warm, not "cuddling".
• In The He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special, Skeletor kidnaps two Earth children who accidentally were taken to Eternia to receive a large windfall from Horde Prime. When the children both point out how kind he is for both giving them extra warm winter jackets to survive in the frozen wasteland and saving them from an abominable snowman (the latter of which gains a smile from Skelly), he snaps out of it, declares he's not kind and will still deliver them to Horde Prime.
• The Spectacular Spider-Man: In "First Steps", Flint Marko uses his power to construct a sandcastle big enough to stand inside for a little girl after some older kids tease her for struggling to build a small sandcastle on her own. Seeing this, Hammerhead taunts him for seemingly going soft, but Flint insists he was only doing it to scare those teenagers, not for her — an excuse that falls a bit flat given that he even made sure to give the girl her shovel and bucket back afterward and told her not to stay out too late.
• Total Drama: Duncan has shown himself to do good deeds towards the ones he's closest to, such as when he got DJ a new bunny. Courtney says that it was something very nice of him to do, followed by Duncan despertly trying to deny that it was so.

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