History Main / FriendshipDenial

* Jade from ''Series/Victorious'' is probably the poster girl for this trope.

* Although Knuckles of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series is billed as the titular character's [[FriendlyRivalry friend and rival]] in some manuals, a common verse of his theme song in the ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Sonic]]'' ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Adventure]]'' games seem to ignore the 'friend' part. But this is due to Knuckles being [[CharacterizationMarchesOn established]] as the serious, [[HairTriggerTemper short-tempered]] [[IneffectualLoner loner]] character:
-->[[HiddenHeartOfGold I have no such things as weak spots]],
-->[[TeethClenchedTeamwork Don't approve of him, but you gotta trust him]],
-->This alliance has a purpose,
-->This partnership is temporary.

-->'''Piccolo''': "[[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Friends?! Don't press your luck. When do you think I became your friend?]] I'm a demon! Don't you ever forget that!!]] [[BlatantLies I'm merely using you— to take over the world!!]]" *flies away*

-->'''Piccolo''': "SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Friends?! Don't press your luck. When do you think I became your friend?]] I'm a demon! Don't you ever forget that!!]] [[BlatantLies I'm merely using you— to take over the world!!]]" *flies away*

-->'''Piccolo''': "Friends?! Don't press your luck. When do you think I became your friend? I'm a demon! Don't you ever forget that!! I'm merely using you— to take over the world!!" *flies away*

This is the trope where a character flat out denies his friendship with one or another for some reason. Perhaps the character is either TheLancer who has trouble getting along with TheHero and doesn't like [[TeethClenchedTeamwork working with]] him that much. He may be a [[IWorkAlone natural-born loner]] who isn't concerned about ''intimate'' friendship. Or he's a plain {{Jerkass}} who thinks that having friends makes him uncool and [[BadassDecay less of a badass]]. But note that in spite of all of these reasons, that doesn't mean the person wants to wish death on him. When the chips are down, he still does help out his 'friend' because it's the [[GoodSamaritan right thing to do]].

This is the trope where a character flat out denies his friendship with one or another for some reason. Perhaps the character is either {{The Lancer}} who has trouble getting along with {{The Hero}} and doesn't like [[TeethClenchedTeamwork working with]] him that much. He may be a [[IWorkAlone natural-born loner]] who isn't concerned about ''intimate'' friendship. Or he's a plain {{Jerkass}} who thinks that having friends makes him uncool and [[BadassDecay less of a badass]]. But note that in spite of all of these reasons, that doesn't mean the person wants to wish death on him. When the chips are down, he still does help out his 'friend' because it's the [[GoodSamaritan right thing to do]].

Sometimes, other versions of this trope would be that the character may not be in denial after all. Reasons being that the character doesn't ''fully'' know the hero since in order to be a friend, you must be intimate to know who they are; most examples of this would have a {{Nice Guy}} call the other "buddy", "pal", or "friend", but the offended character responds with "I'm not your buddy/pal/friend." A character in the workforce is appointed to work with a group of people, but friendship isn't a part of his job description since [[BeingPersonalIsntProfessional Being Personal Isn't Professional]]. Even to the extremes, the character in question is actually the hero's [[ArchEnemy arch-nemesis]] either by honesty or [[FalseFriend revealance]]. Obvious, isn't it?

This is the character trait of one or two characters in duo of {{Vitriolic Best Buds}}. A group of characters can do this to one particular person in their group, which is {{The Friend Nobody Likes}}. Can be the kind of relationship the {{Ragtag Bunch Of Misfits}} would have. Often related to {{Hidden Heart Of Gold}}. Can be utilized as the tool to permanently end a friendship, which is {{We Used To Be Friends}}, or at least temporarily in a {{Feud Episode}}.

Compare [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend She's Not My Girlfriend]] and {{Just Friends}} for the more romantic versions.

* In the first season of ''Anime/SonicX'', [[TheRival Knuckles]] would occasionally deny being friends with [[Franchise/{{Sonic The Hedgehog}} Sonic]] (as the page quote above tells you), but this is due to his disapproval of the hedgehog's reckless nature and [[DeadpanSnarker snarky attitude]]. It also doesn't help that Knuckles is quite [[GreeneyedMonster jealous]] of Sonic's freedom and popularity despite being a loner with a task to guard the Master Emerald.
* This happens in ''[[Manga/{{Dragonball}} Dragonball Z]]'' when Piccolo became infuriated of being defeated by the androids, but the others try to calm him down:

* ''Anime/{{Noir}}''. Mirielle needed Kirika to stay alive to help her find the answers to Soldats, but this doesn't change the fact that both are {{Heterosexual Life Partners}} with a dose of {{Ho Yay}}.

* ''[[Film/{{OceansEleven}} Ocean's Eleven]]'' has the two Malloy twins having this exchange:

* In ''{{Role Models}}'', Wheeler begins a rather rocky bond with [[MouthyKid Ronnie Shields]]:

* In ''Literature/{{The Kite Runner}}'', Hassan considers Amir a friend, but Amir considers him anything but. This is only because Hassan is Amir's servant as he points out to [[DepravedBisexual Assef]]. He's also a bit jealous of how his father treats Hassan.

* The episode "It's A Book" from ''{{Jon And Kate Plus Eight}}'' has the young Leah Gosselin saying this:

* In the ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", we have Sheldon and Penny introducing themselves to Creator/{{Stan Lee}}.

* ''{{Merlin}}'': Frequently between the titular character and Arthur.

* Lead singer of [[Music/{{AliceInChains}} Alice In Chains]]' Layne Staley states in his final interview before his tragic death that he never bothered to call the rest of his AIC members to help him with his drug addiction and states that said members are not his friends.

* Before teaming up with [[Wrestling/{{Dwayne Johnson}} The Rock]] in a match, Wrestling/{{Stone Cold Steve Austin}} states in an interview that both arch-rivals are partners for the main event and do have respect for one another, but as for the friends part, "[[CatchPhrase Hell No!]]". The Rock was thinking the same way, too.
* Wrestling/{{Batista}}'s {{Face Heel Turn}} in the 2009 Bragging Rights pay-per-view has some aspects of this. He gives [[Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr Rey Mysterio]] a {{No Holds Barred Beatdown}} because he believed he got in his way of once again becoming the World Heavyweight Champion, despite it was a Fatal-4-Way match which also involved Wrestling/{{CM Punk}} and then world champion Wrestling/{{The Undertaker}}. Therefore, in Batista's mind, Mysterio was not his friend that night.
-->'''Batista''': "[[MemeticMutation YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIEND!!]]"

* Mao seems to have this kind of attitude in ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice''. He would throw a temper-tantrum whenever someone offers kindness or friendship. He also denies having an arraigned {{Friendly Rivalry}} with Raspberyl.

* [[SociopathicHero Jade Curtiss]] of ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' seem to have this sort of opinion about the other protagonists despite actually learning about {{The Power Of Friendship}}:

* ''{{The Boondocks}}'' has Huey being interviewed about about him [[EnemyMine teaming with]] [[BoomerangBigot Uncle Ruckus]] after they decide to leave town and go to Canada due to the election of {{Barack Obama}}:

* Fluttershy does this to Discord in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Keep Calm and Flutter On" after he starts causing havoc in Ponyville. This actually pivots his {{Heel Face Turn}} as he realises he actually wants her friendship (being the first he's ever had due to his callous pranks), after which she is perfectly happy to take him in.

Sometimes, other versions of this trope would be that the character may not be in denial after all. Reasons being that the character doesn't ''fully'' know the hero since in order to be a friend, you must be intimate to know who they are; most examples of this would have a {{Nice Guy}} call the other "buddy", "pal", or "friend", but the offended character responds with [[MyNameIsNotDurwood "I'm not your buddy/pal/friend]]." A character in the workforce is appointed to work with a group of people, but friendship isn't a part of his job description since [[BeingPersonalIsntProfessional Being Personal Isn't Professional]]. Even to the extremes, the character in question is actually the hero's [[ArchEnemy arch-nemesis]] either by honesty or [[FalseFriend revealance]]. Obvious, isn't it?

-->-- '''Mao''', ""Disgaea""

-->-- '''Mao''', ""Franchise/VideoGames/Disgaea""

-->-- '''Mao''', "Disgaea''

-->"Sonic isn't my buddy!"
-->-- '''[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Knuckles The Echidna]]''', ''Anime/SonicX'', ''Cracking Knuckles''

* At the beginning of ''{{Wicked}}'', Glinda has to deny her friendship with the recently deceased Elphaba for political reasons.

[[folder: Anime & Manga ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Light Novels ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* In ''{{The Kite Runner}}'', Hassan considers Amir a friend, but Amir considers him anything but. This is only because Hassan is Amir's servant as he points out to [[DepravedBisexual Assef]]. He's also a bit jealous of how his father treats Hassan.

* In the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode "The Hounds of Baskerville", the interaction between [[OddFriendship Sherlock Holmes and John Waston]] lapses around this. Sherlock outright states to John that he has no friends, until just seconds later that he tells him that [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming he only has one]], which is John.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': An arrogant business man sitting next to the Warners on a plane declares that "I'd rather be eaten by cannibals than be your 'special friend'!" [[TemptingFate He soon comes to regret his words]].

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' set on the first day of school, class nerd Martin greets class bully Nelson as an old friend, since they had spent their summer together at space camp; but Nelson tries to downplay their relationship.

-->"Sonic isn't my buddy!"
-->-- '''[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Knuckles The Echidna]]''', ''Anime/SonicX'', ''Cracking Knuckles''

So you have two characters who seem to work well together and they seem to have a decent relationship going on. They are loyal to one another and seem to respect each other very well. You can tell that they're friends, right?

Well, in the case of one particular character, not exactly.

This is the trope where a character flat out denies his friendship with one or another for some reason. Perhaps the character is either {{The Lancer}} who has trouble getting along with {{The Hero}} and doesn't like [[TeethClenchedTeamwork working with]] him that much. He may be a [[IWorkAlone natural-born loner]] who isn't concerned about ''intimate'' friendship. Or he's a plain {{Jerkass}} who thinks that having friends makes him uncool and [[BadassDecay less of a badass]]. But note that in spite of all of these reasons, that doesn't mean the person wants to wish death on him. When the chips are down, he still does help out his 'friend' because it's the [[GoodSamaritan right thing to do]].

Sometimes, other versions of this trope would be that the character may not be in denial after all. Reasons being that the character doesn't ''fully'' know the hero since in order to be a friend, you must be intimate to know who they are; most examples of this would have a {{Nice Guy}} call the other "buddy", "pal", or "friend", but the offended character responds with [[MyNameIsNotDurwood "I'm not your buddy/pal/friend]]." A character in the workforce is appointed to work with a group of people, but friendship isn't a part of his job description since [[BeingPersonalIsntProfessional Being Personal Isn't Professional]]. Even to the extremes, the character in question is actually the hero's [[ArchEnemy arch-nemesis]] either by honesty or [[FalseFriend revealance]]. Obvious, isn't it?

On a brighter note, there are high chances for the character to consider that the other character is truly their friend, and from that point on, the bond will become stronger and better than it was before. If they are ''not'' technically friends, [[FireForgedFriends they will soon become closer as the series progresses]].

This is often common in crime scenes where a character denies friendship with the second party as a ruse to escape responsibility for his crimes, especially in a trial.

This is the character trait of one or two characters in duo of {{Vitriolic Best Buds}}. A group of characters can do this to one particular person in their group, which is {{The Friend Nobody Likes}}. Can be the kind of relationship the {{Ragtag Bunch Of Misfits}} would have. Often related to {{Hidden Heart Of Gold}}. Can be utilized as the tool to permanently end a friendship, which is {{We Used To Be Friends}}, or at least temporarily in a {{Feud Episode}}.

Compare [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend She's Not My Girlfriend]] and {{Just Friends}} for the more romantic versions.

!!Examples:

[[AC: {{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]
* In the first season of ''Anime/SonicX'', [[TheRival Knuckles]] would occasionally deny being friends with [[Franchise/{{Sonic The Hedgehog}} Sonic]] (as the page quote above tells you), but this is due to his disapproval of the hedgehog's reckless nature and [[DeadpanSnarker snarky attitude]]. It also doesn't help that Knuckles is quite [[GreeneyedMonster jealous]] of Sonic's freedom and popularity despite being a loner with a task to guard the Master Emerald.
* This happens in ''[[Manga/{{Dragonball}} Dragonball Z]]'' when Piccolo became infuriated of being defeated by the androids, but the others try to calm him down:
-->'''Krillin''': "Wh-what's that look on your face? Do you have a plan?! C'mon, tell us! We're your friends!"
-->'''Piccolo''': "Friends?! Don't press your luck. When do you think I became your friend? I'm a demon! Don't you ever forget that!! I'm merely using you— to take over the world!!" *flies away*
* ''Anime/{{Noir}}''. Mirielle needed Kirika to stay alive to help her find the answers to Soldats, but this doesn't change the fact that both are {{Heterosexual Life Partners}} with a dose of {{Ho Yay}}.
* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Uryu Ishida will make it very clear that he and Ichigo are not best friends, despite being an frequent ally to him and the other Soul Reapers.

[[AC: {{Film}}]]
* Jack of ''[[Film/FortyEightHours 48 Hours]]'' has this quote that comes in mind as he forms a grudging partnership with Reggie, a convict, to hunt down Ganz:
-->'''Jack''': Now, get this! We ain't partners. We ain't brothers. And we ain't friends. I'm puttin' you down and keepin' you down until Ganz is locked up or dead. And if Ganz gets away, you're gonna be sorry YOU ever MET me!
* ''[[Film/{{OceansEleven}} Ocean's Eleven]]'' has the two Malloy twins having this exchange:
-->'''Turk Malloy''': "Watch it, bud."
-->'''Virgil Malloy''': "Who you calling bud, pal?"
-->'''Turk Malloy''': "Who you calling pal, friend?"
-->'''Virgil Malloy''': "Who you calling friend, jackass?"
-->'''Turk Malloy''': "Don't call me a jackass."
-->'''Virgil Malloy''': "I just did call you a jackass."
* In ''{{Role Models}}'', Wheeler begins a rather rocky bond with [[MouthyKid Ronnie Shields]]:
-->'''Wheeler''': "You ready, pal?"
-->'''Ronnie''': "I ain't your pal, vanilla."
* Ray Jackson of ''Film/BloodSport'' has this memorable phrase:
-->"I ain't your pal, dickface."
* Vincent and Butch have a short conversation of this in ''Film/PulpFiction'':
-->'''Butch''': "You lookin at something, friend?"
-->'''Vincent''': "You ain't my friend, Palooka."
-->'''Butch''': "What's that?"
-->'''Vincent''': "I think you heard me just fine, Punchy."
* ''Film/RaisingArizona'' has the introduction of Leonard Smalls:
-->'''Leonard Smalls''': "Name's Smalls. Leonard Smalls. My friends call me Lenny... only I ain't got no friends."
* From ''Film/JerryMaguire'':
-->'''Bob Sugar''': "It's not 'show friends'. It's 'show business'."
* ''Film/{{Tombstone}}'':
-->'''Turkey Creek Jack Johnson''': "Why you doin' this, Doc?"
-->'''Doc Holliday''': "Because Wyatt Earp is my friend."
-->'''Turkey Creek Jack Johnson''': "Friend? Hell, I got lots of friends."
-->'''Doc Holliday''': "...I don't."
* In ''Film/PineappleExpress'', Dale and Saul fall into this trope after Dale got himself arrested for smoking a joint and selling weed to middle school kids, also escaping from the police. The two got into an argument, in which Dale tells Saul that they were never friends and never will be. The two did reconcile at the end of the movie, however.

[[AC: {{Light Novel}}]]
* In ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', Chi tells Christopher that he doesn't consider him as a friend, but he considers him as somebody he wants to kill despite that he never gone through it due to circumstances.

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]
* In ''{{The Kite Runner}}'', Hassan considers Amir a friend, but Amir considers him anything but. This is only because Hassan is Amir's servant as he points out to [[DepravedBisexual Assef]]. He's also a bit jealous of how his father treats Hassan.

[[AC: {{Live Action TV}}]]
* ''Series/TheCosbyShow'': A parental example has Cliff trying to tell Rudy that he's her friend, but Rudy responds that he's her dad.
* The pilot episode of ''The West Wing'':
-->'''Laurie''': "Tell your friend P.O.T.U.S. he's got a funny name, and he should learn how to ride a bicycle."
-->'''Sam Seaborn''': "I would, but he's not my friend; he's my boss."
* The ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "Lover's Walk" has Buffy telling Angel that they aren't friends and never will be just after telling him that she's not coming back.
* In the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode "The Hounds of Baskerville", the interaction between [[OddFriendship Sherlock Holmes and John Waston]] lapses around this. Sherlock outright states to John that he has no friends, until just seconds later that he tells him that [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming he only has one]], which is John.
* The episode "It's A Book" from ''{{Jon And Kate Plus Eight}}'' has the young Leah Gosselin saying this:
-->"Don't call me buddy. Call me Leah."
* At the end of the second episode of ''Series/{{Luther}}'', [[GoodIsNotNice the titular character]] and [[AffablyEvil Alice Morgan]] have this conversation:
-->'''Alice Morgan''': *doing 3-hand salute* "Brownies honor."
-->'''John Luther''': "One coffee doesn't make us friends."
* From the episode "The Final Sacrifice" in ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'':
-->'''Satoris''': Why don't you ask your friend when he arrives?
-->'''Crow T. Robot''': Ha. The joke's on you. I don't have any friends.
* In the ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", we have Sheldon and Penny introducing themselves to Creator/{{Stan Lee}}.
-->'''Penny''': "Hi. I'm Penny. This is my friend Sheldon."
-->'''Sheldon''': "We're not friends at the moment. Depends on how this goes."

** In "Jackie's Cheese Squeeze" in where Eric tells Jackie not to tell anyone they're friends after their talk about setting things straight with Eric whom Jackie had kissed.

-->'''Eric''': Donna, you have to let her stay with you. Come on, she's your best friend.
-->'''Donna''': She's not my best friend.
-->'''Eric''': Well, then who's your best friend?

-->'''Donna''': Oh crap. How the hell did that happen?
* From the ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'' episode "An Old Flame With A New Wick":
-->'''Alan''': "Nice guy. Poker, buddy?"
-->'''Charlie''': "Yeah, I used to-- And don't call me 'buddy'."

[[AC: {{Music}}]]
* Lead singer of [[Music/{{AliceInChains}} Alice In Chains]]' Layne Staley states in his final interview before his tragic death that he never bothered to call the rest of his AIC members to help him with his drug addiction and states that said members are not his friends.
* The opening statements of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" by They Might Be Giants implies that they are not a friend in a traditional sense, but their job as the protector of its owner is the closest thing to one:
-->"I'm your only friend; I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am."
* This verse of "Automatic Stop" by The Strokes deal with the a guy and a girl who have ended their romantic relationship and realize that they aren't friends to begin with after knowing each other for a short period of time:
-->Wait, I'm gonna give it a break.
-->I'm not you friend,
-->I never was.
* Rapper [[Music/FiftyCent 50 Cent]] has a quote similar to the one from ''[[Film/FortyEightHours 48 Hours]]'' in both of his songs "Life's On The Line" and "Get In My Car".
-->"We ain't buddies, we ain't partners, and we damn sure ain't friends."

[[AC: {{Professional Wrestling}}]]
* Before teaming up with [[Wrestling/{{Dwayne Johnson}} The Rock]] in a match, Wrestling/{{Stone Cold Steve Austin}} states in an interview that both arch-rivals are partners for the main event and do have respect for one another, but as for the friends part, "[[CatchPhrase Hell No!]]". The Rock was thinking the same way, too.
* Wrestling/{{Batista}}'s {{Face Heel Turn}} in the 2009 Bragging Rights pay-per-view has some aspects of this. He gives [[Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr Rey Mysterio]] a {{No Holds Barred Beatdown}} because he believed he got in his way of once again becoming the World Heavyweight Champion, despite it was a Fatal-4-Way match which also involved Wrestling/{{CM Punk}} and then world champion Wrestling/{{The Undertaker}}. Therefore, in Batista's mind, Mysterio was not his friend that night.
-->'''Batista''': "[[MemeticMutation YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIEND!!]]"

[[AC: {{Real Life}}]]
* It is used to hide some aspects of an individual that aren't mainstream of the social group like hiding that the individual likes X series or that hobby that isn't that well viewed in society. Reasons vary but the most common in this tropers opinion is the hiding of a factor.

[[AC: {{Religion}}]]
* This trope was actually prophesied in the Literature/{{The Bible}}, making this {{Older Than Feudalism}}. {{Jesus}} tells Peter that he will deny Him [[RuleOfThree three times]] before the rooster crows, but Peter assures Him that he will never do that to Him. However, as Jesus was arrested that night, somebody in the crowd asks Peter was he with Jesus. Trying to avoid getting himself into further trouble, Peter responds with "No! I do not know Him!". As the rooster crows and with Jesus looking at him, Peter [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizes that he was wrong]].

[[AC: {{Sports}}]]
* Real Madrid football player Xabi Alonso admitted that he has no friendship with fellow Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, but in the football field, there is, as he quotes, "appreciation" and "professional respect" for each other.

[[AC: {{Theater}}]]
* At the beginning of ''{{Wicked}}'', Glinda has to deny her friendship with the recently deceased Elphaba for political reasons.

[[AC: {{Video Games}}]]
* Falco has something to say to the lava birds in ''VideoGame/StarFox64'':
-->'''Falco''': "I ain't your buddy! Go away!"
* Although Knuckles of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series is billed as the titular character's [[FriendlyRivalry friend and rival]] in some manuals, a common verse of his theme song in the ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Sonic]]'' ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Adventure]]'' games seem to ignore the 'friend' part. But this is due to Knuckles being [[CharacterizationMarchesOn established]] as the serious, [[HairTriggerTemper short-tempered]] [[IneffectualLoner loner]] character:
-->[[HiddenHeartOfGold I have no such things as weak spots]],
-->[[TeethClenchedTeamwork Don't approve of him, but you gotta trust him]],
-->This alliance has a purpose,
-->This partnership is temporary.
* Mao seems to have this kind of attitude in ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice''. He would throw a temper-tantrum whenever someone offers kindness or friendship. He also denies having an arraigned {{Friendly Rivalry}} with Raspberyl.
* [[SociopathicHero Jade Curtiss]] of ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' seem to have this sort of opinion about the other protagonists despite actually learning about {{The Power Of Friendship}}:
-->'''Jade''': I don't know about "friends," but we do have an awkward bond of sorts.

[[AC: {{Western Animation}}]]
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'': On occasions, [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Spongebob]] just can't take a hint of the fact that Squidward is everything but his friend.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', we have this hilarious dialogue in the episode "Canada On Strike":
-->'''Stephen Abootman''': "Look, guy. We have to stay strong. If you don't stand with your fellow Canadians, then you are a rat!"
-->'''Terrance''': "Don't call me a rat, buddy."
-->'''Stephen Abootman''': "I'm not your buddy, friend."
-->'''Phillip''': "He's not your friend, guy."
-->'''Stephen Abootman''': "I'm not your guy, buddy."
-->'''Terrance''': "He's not your buddy, friend."
-->'''Stephen Abootman''': "I'm not your friend, guy."
** Another example is in the episode "The Death Of Eric Cartman" where the other boys deny [[{{Jerkass}} Eric]] as their friend and that they will start ignoring him from this point on:
--->'''Token''': "Ignoring him? How come?"
--->'''Kyle''': "Because he's a [[FatBastard fat]], [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain racist]], [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence intolerant]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]]."
--->'''Token''': *beat* "Oh yeah."
* ''{{The Boondocks}}'' has Huey being interviewed about about him [[EnemyMine teaming with]] [[BoomerangBigot Uncle Ruckus]] after they decide to leave town and go to Canada due to the election of {{Barack Obama}}:
-->'''Huey''': "First of all, we're not a team. Second of all, we're not a team. [[IWasJustPassingThrough I've got gas money, he's got the license]]. We're just gonna drive to Canada and to go on separate ways."
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'': In one episode Peter and Meg are forced to spend time together and realize that they actually like each other; but they agree that Peter will still act like a jerk to her when they're not alone.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'': Arthur and Molly (one of the Tough Customers bullies) spend time and get along together when Molly's mom makes her let Arthur & DW use their backyard pool. They agree to act like they hate each other when there are other people around.
* From ''WesternAnimation/ThePebbleAndThePenguin'':
-->'''Hubie''': "Hey buddy, looks like we're two birds of a feather."
-->'''Rocko''': "Don't call me buddy!"
-->'''Hubie''': "And, gee, it looks like I got me a friend!"
* Fluttershy does this to Discord in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Keep Calm and Flutter On" after he starts causing havoc in Ponyville. This actually pivots his {{Heel Face Turn}} as he realises he actually wants her friendship (being the first he's ever had due to his callous pranks), after which she is perfectly happy to take him in.
* At the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'', Manny denies being friends with either Sid or Diego. Eventually he comes around.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': An arrogant business man sitting next to the Warners on a plane declares that "I'd rather be eaten by cannibals than be your 'special friend'!" [[TemptingFate He soon comes to regret his words]].
* From the episode "Unjustly Neglected Drama" of ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim'', an actor is interrogated by a detective whether or not is he friends with Tim. He denies it. In fact, the denial was a line that was used from a play:
-->'''Chipper''': "He's not my frieeeend. [[LargeHam He's not anything to meeeee]]."
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' set on the first day of school, class nerd Martin greets class bully Nelson as an old friend, since they had spent their summer together at space camp; but Nelson tries to downplay their relationship.
** In another episode, the kids of Springfield go to Shelbyville to find their missing lemon tree, and Nelson & Martin are paired up. When Martin gets in trouble, he calls upon Nelson for help:
--->'''Martin''': No one manhandles the bosom chum of Nelson Muntz. Spring forth, burly protector, and save me!
--->*long pause; the kids look around*
--->'''Nelson''': Aw, jeez. I never hang out with him, normally.
** This was hilariously subverted in "Treehouse Of Horror XX":
--->'''Marge''': *Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster and the Wolfman are at the door* Friends of Homer's?
--->'''Homer''': They're not my friends.
--->'''Count Dracula''': We brought a bottle of booze. Booooze!
--->'''Homer''': Come in, come in.

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Uryu Ishida will make is very clear that he and Ichigo are not best friends, despite being an frequent ally to him and the other Soul Reapers.

This is the character trait of a {{Jerkass}} or {{Jerk With A Heart Of Gold}} in duo of {{Vitriolic Best Buds}} if he's paired with a {{Nice Guy}}. A group of character can do this to one particular person in their group, which is {{The Friend Nobody Likes}}. Can be the kind of relationship the {{Ragtag Bunch Of Misfits}} would have. Often related to {{Hidden Heart Of Gold}}. Can be utilized as the tool to permanently end a friendship, which is {{We Used To Be Friends}}, or at least temporarily in a {{Feud Episode}}.

* Lina Inverse and Naga the White Serpent in TheSlayers OVAs and movies are VitriolicBestBuds who will vehemently deny that they are best buds, or any kind of buds. Both claim that the other is their sidekick. Or rival, depending on the mood.

* In ''Film/PineappleExpress'', Dale and Saul fall into this trope after Dale got himself arrested for smoking a joint and selling weed to middle school kids, also escaping from the police. After that, Dale tells Saul that they were never friends and never will be. The two did reconcile at the end of the movie, however.

* This was invoked in "Jackie's Cheese Squeeze" in ''Series/That70sShow'' where Eric tells Jackie not to tell anyone they're friends after their talk about setting things straight with Eric whom Jackie had kissed.

* In ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', Chi tells Christopher that he doesn't consider him as a friend, but he as somebody he wants to kill despite that he never gone through it due to circumstances.