History Main / FriendshipDenial

* ''WesternAnimation/ProudFamily'': [=LaCienega=] often claims she and Penny aren't friends. Penny can't seem to take a hint.

* Lead singer of Music/AliceInChains 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.

* 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 HeelFaceTurn as he realizes 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.

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

Compare ShesNotMyGirlfriend and JustFriends for the more romantic versions or LoserFriendPuzzlesOutsiders for times where other people might allege (incorrectly) that two people couldn't possibly be friends. See also WeDoNotKnowEachOther.

* [[WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder Lord Hater]] is the king of this trope--justifiably at first, as he's ''not'' Wander's friend, but [[CharacterizationMarchesOn far less plausibly as Season 2 progresses]] and he begins doing things like ask for Wander's help to get him a date with his crush. He similarly denies his friendship with Peepers in Season 1 ("Got it, pal? Psych! We're not pals! Hater out!"), despite the fact that they both consider each other friends. {{Lampshaded}} by Wander in the MusicalEpisode.
--> '''Wander:''' ''I know you try to deny it…''
--> '''Hater:''' I ''do'' deny it 'cause we're ''not!''
--> '''Wander:''' ''Chase me 'round the galaxy and try to hide it''

** After ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', however, he started joining Sonic in his adventures, becoming one of his most staunch allies.

** This lasts all of two games however as starting with VideoGame/SonicHeroes, Knuckles is very frequently willing to abandon his life's mission of protecting the Master Emerald to help Sonic out, and is openly referred to as his friend.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'', TheHeroine Luz Noceda gets off on the wrong foot with Amity Blight, her classmate at witch school, and wants to make up with and befriend her. When Amity's twin older siblings, Edric and Emira--who love to playfully tease her--embarrass her in front of Luz and tell her she should stop being a jerk to her "her friend", Amity angrily replies, "She is not my friend!", clearly saddening Luz...though, thankfully, by the end of the episode, the two somewhat mend fences, and Amity promises to rethink her behavior and try to be nicer to her. Ironically enough, she ends up ''falling in love'' with Luz by the end of the first season, and they begin dating in Season 2.

-->-- '''Mao''', ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}''

* Jade West does this often on ''Series/{{Victorious}}'', even to Cat, whom is clearly her ''best'' friend. Her favorite subject is her rival, Tori. At one point, her she denies any attachment to almost her entire little gang.

* Lightly teased in the ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' DLC ''The Descent.'' Renn and Valta's actual relationship is unclear - they're either BestFriends, LikeBrotherAndSister, or BelligerentSexualTension - but it's very obvious that they care about each other deeply. In conversation with Renn, the Inquisitor may comment on their friendship, leading Renn to snark, "What makes you think we're friends?"

** In ''The Hounds of Baskerville'', the interaction between [[OddFriendship Sherlock Holmes and John Waston]] skirts around this. Sherlock outright states to John that he has no friends, though he later amends that by saying "I don't have ''friends'', I just have one.

* Happens at least twice in ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'', though it isn't a ''real'' denial since Manny knows neither Sid nor Diego at this time.
-->'''Manny''': (''to Sid'') There is no "we". There never ''was'' a "we"! In fact, without me, there wouldn't even be a ''you''!
** When Manny and Sid meet Diego for the first time
-->'''Diego''': Name's Diego, friend.
-->'''Manny''': Manfred. And I'm not your friend.

* As [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic's]] [[FriendlyRivalry Friendly Rival]] and [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]], Knuckles tends to deny being friends with him. One of the verses in his very ImageSong has this line:

* 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.

* As [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic's]] [[FriendlyRivalry Friendly Rival]] and [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]], Knuckles tends to deny being friends with him. His very ImageSong has this verse:

* As [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic's]] [[FriendlyRivalry Friendly Rival]] and [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]], Knuckles tends to deny being friends with Sonic. His very ImageSong has this verse:

[[folder: Film]]

* 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!