History Main / FriendshipDenial

** In another episode, the kids of Springfield go to Shelbyville to find their missing lemon tree, and Nelson and Martin are paired up. When Martin gets in trouble, he calls upon Nelson for help:

** Subverted in "Treehouse Of Horror XX", when Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster and the Wolfman arrive at the Simpsons' house.

** A more [[StealthInsult subtle]] example occurs in "Lisa's First Word" in the scene where Homer first meets Ned Flanders, which also explains why Homer is on a LastNameBasis with him.

[[folder:Films -– Animation]]

[[folder:Films -– Live-Action]]

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

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In "Lover's Walk", Buffy and Angel try to act like they're JustFriends, but [[JerkassHasAPoint Spike]] calls them on it, telling them they'll ''never'' be just friends. Buffy is forced to acknowledge that Spike's right, and tells Angel as such near the end:

* The episode "It's A Book" from ''Series/JonAndKatePlusEight'' has the young Leah Gosselin saying this:
-->"Don't call me buddy. Call me Leah."
* ''Series/HogansHeroes": Klink has an epic one in the episode "The Big Picture", mixed with DiggingYourselfDeeper, when a friend of his is accused of complicity in the July 20, 1944 plot to assassinate UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, and a Gestapo agent confronts Klink with a picture of Klink an dthe conspirator:

* The pilot episode of ''Series/The West Wing'':

* A RunningGag in ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'' is [[TheHero Ban]] calling [[TheLancer Houji]] "aibou" (which in Japanese can mean "partner" or "buddy"), and Houji replying that he doesn't call him that way. It's so significant that an episode has Ban pulling a SpotTheImposter on an Alienizer [[GrandTheftMe who took over Houji's body]] precisely because he knew Houji would never call him that way. [[spoiler:In the series finale, it's Houji who calls Ban "aibou", and Ban happily retorts the usual "Don't call me that!"]].
* Jade West does this often on ''Series/{{Victorious}}'', she's always denying her friendship with Tori. At one point, she denies any attachment to almost the entire gang.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** In an episode 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 and 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.
** Subverted in "Treehouse Of Horror XX", when Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster and the Wolfman arrive at the Simpsons' house.
--->'''Marge''': Friends of Homer's?\\
'''Homer''': They're not my friends.\\
'''Count Dracula''': We brought a bottle of booze. Booooze!\\
'''Homer''': Come in, come in.
** A more [[StealthInsult subtle]] example occurs in "Lisa's First Word" in the scene where Homer first meets Ned Flanders, which also explains why Homer is on a LastNameBasis with him.
--->'''Ned:''' The handle says Flanders, but my friends call me Ned!\\
'''Homer (annoyed):''' Hello, Flanders.

* Before teaming up with [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] in a match, Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin 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.

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, its subtrope AcquaintanceDenial, and MutuallyUnequalRelationship (where one character thinks they're friends, the other definitely doesn't).

* 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 never actually having gone through with it due to circumstances.

--> '''Col. Klink:''' General Mulendorf.\\
--> '''Captain Bohrmann:''' That's his arm around your shoulders.\\
--> '''Col. Klink:''' Yes. We were friends.\\
--> '''Captain Bohrmann:''' Close friends. [[WhamLine And very possibly associated in the plot to assassinate the Fuhrer.]]\\
--> '''Col. Klink:''' I knew the man. We went to school together for ten years; saw each other every day. But what's that?\\
--> '''Captain Bohrmann:''' [[FromBadToWorse You were also best man at his wedding.]]\\
--> '''Col. Klink:''' Oh, well... [[BlatantLies I had nothing else to do that afternoon.]]\\

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 and MutuallyUnequalRelationship (where one character thinks they're friends, the other definitely doesn't).

* Happens at least twice in ''WesternAnimation/IceAge'', though it isn't a ''real'' denial since Manny knows neither Sid nor Diego at this time.

[[quoteright:335:[[Anime/GirlsUndPanzer https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/denial_oi_friendship.png]]]]

* ''Literature/RoysBedoys'': Loys claims to have no friends and that Roys’s friends aren’t his own, but they seem very close to him. He hangs out with them a lot, and he even invites them to his birthday party.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

[[folder: Film – Animation]]

-->'''Diego''': Name's Diego, friend.
-->'''Manny''': Manfred. And I'm not your friend.

-->'''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!

[[folder: Film – Live-Action]]

-->'''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.

-->'''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.

-->'''Wheeler''': You ready, pal?
-->'''Ronnie''': I ain't your pal, vanilla.

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

-->'''Penny''': Hi. I'm Penny. This is my friend Sheldon.
-->'''Sheldon''': We're not friends at the moment. Depends on how this goes.

-->'''Alice Morgan''': ''(3-hand salute)'' Brownies honor.
-->'''John Luther''': One coffee doesn't make us friends.

-->'''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.

'''Donna''': She's not my best friend.
--->'''Eric''': Well, then who's your best friend?
--->''(beat)''
--->'''Donna''': Oh crap. How the hell did that happen?

-->'''Alan''': Nice guy. Poker buddy?
-->'''Charlie''': Yeah, I used to-- And don't call me 'buddy'.

-->'''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.

[[folder: Music]]

-->Wait, I'm not 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/FortyEightHrs'' in both of his songs "Life's On The Line" and "Get In My Car".

[[folder: Professional Wrestling]]

[[folder: Religion and Mythology]]

[[folder: Theatre]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

--> '''Grace:''' I was just trying to help. I'm your friend.
--> '''Steph:''' No, you're not. You're an annoying, self-righteous, nerdy prude. And the only good thing about this is that I won't have to spend anymore time with you.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

--->'''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.

--->'''Token''': Ignoring him? How come?
--->'''Kyle''': Because he's a [[FatBastard fat]], [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain racist]], [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], [[FeelingOppressedByTheirExistence intolerant]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]].
--->''(beat)''
--->'''Token''': Oh. Yeah.

--->'''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.

--->'''Marge''': Friends of Homer's?
--->'''Homer''': They're not my friends.
--->'''Count Dracula''': We brought a bottle of booze. Booooze!
--->'''Homer''': Come in, come in.

--> '''Wander:''' ''I know you try to deny it...''\\

[[folder: Real Life]]

[[Anime/GirlsUndPanzer https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/denial_oi_friendship.png]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2000px_the_denial_of_saint_peter_caravaggio_1610.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Peter denying knowing Jesus when questioned by CityGuards]]

* In ''Manga/KoiToUso'', Nejima becomes concerned when his best friend Nisaka is becoming distant, and confronts him after he leaves upon hearing a hurtful conversation in the classroom. Nisaka promptly tries to push Nejima away and says that they were never true friends [[spoiler:[[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove because Nisaka cares for him in a different way]] than Nejima does him]].
-->'''Nisaka:''' You can't [[spoiler:kiss]] a friend.

* ''Anime/MyHeroAcademia'': Bakugo and Todoroki eventually started working together more and more over the course of the series and by the time they have a public interview, Todoroki openly stated that he and Bakugo were friends, only for Bakugo to angrily deny it and say the only reason they even associate together is because it's mandatory for them to take courses together.

* ''Anime/MyHeroAcademia'': Bakugo and Todoroki eventually started working together more and more over the course of the series and by the time they have a public interview, Todorki openly stated that he and Bakugo were friends, only for Bakugo to angrily deny it and say the only reason they even associate together is because it's mandatory for them to take courses together.

* OlderThanFeudalism: This trope was prophesied in the Literature/TheFourGospels. UsefulNotes/{{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 whether ha was with Jesus. Trying to avoid getting himself into further trouble, Peter responds with "No! I do not know Him!". As the rooster crows on his third denial, with Jesus looking at him, Peter [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizes that he was wrong]].

[[caption-width-right:350:Peter denying knowing Jesus when questionedby CityGuards]]

[[folder: Light Novels]]

[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''Literature/TheKiteRunner'', 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.
* ''Literature/RoysBedoys'': Loys claims to have no friends and that Roys’s friends aren’t his own, but they seem very close to him. He hangs out with them a lot, and he even invites them to his birthday party.
* ''Literature/TheyCageTheAnimalsAtNight'': At the orphanage, there's a "kid rule" that everyone abides but no one talks about: Don't make friends. It's used so that they don't get hurt when their friends leave the orphanage. Jennings learns this the hard way when his buddy Mark won't agree to be his friend.
[[/folder]]

* In ''Manga/LoveAndLies'', Nejima becomes concerned when his best friend Nisaka is becoming distant, and confronts him after he leaves upon hearing a hurtful conversation in the classroom. Nisaka promptly tries to push Nejima away and says that they were never true friends [[spoiler:[[AnguishedDeclarationOfLove because Nisaka cares for him in a different way]] than Nejima does him]].

* 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".

* Jack of ''Film/FortyEightHours'' has this quote that comes in mind as he forms a grudging partnership with Reggie, a convict, to hunt down Ganz:

* In ''Fanfic/BloomFullyOnTheTallWall'', Homura isn't used to friends and her depression doesn't help. As a result, she initially denies being Togo and the other girls friend.
* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Izuku is mistaken for Lexi's friend because of how much she knows about him and her insistence on hanging around him whenever possible. Pony is relieved when he flatly denies it, as Lexi used to bully her back in America when they met at parties.
* In the Literature/{{Discworld}} of Creator/AAPessimal, there are two girls of around thirteen. Each is the alpha in her own group. [[{{Tykebomb}} Famke Smith-Rhodes-Stibbons]] is a student Assassin regarded as an outstanding pupil with a sketchy attitude to School rules. [[MilitaryBrat Alexandra Mumorovka]] is a [[MilitaryAcademy Air Watch cadet]] who is regarded as the outstanding best of her intake. The two become Best Enemies from the time of first meeting, delight in devising new insults for each other, are casually rude and off-hand, and cover each other's backs in a street fight. And hotly and indignantly deny they are friends in any way at all.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePebbleAndThePenguin'', the duet "Looks Like I've Got Me A Friend" has Hubie trying to get Rocko to admit that they've become friends and Rocko denying it until he finally admits it in the end:
-->'''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!

* 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:

* The plot of ''Theatre/DearEvanHansen'' revolves around an inversion of this trope. After Connor's suicide, the Murphys believe that he and Evan were friends, and Evan [[CannotSpitItOut is unable to tell them that they're wrong.]] (Blame the anxiety.) The rest of the show is caused by this event.

* Falco has something to say to the lava birds in ''VideoGame/StarFox64'':
-->'''Falco''': I ain't your buddy! Go away!
* 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 him saying this line regarding working with Sonic:

* Gladion of ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' goes out of his way on at least two separate occasions to state that he's not friends with your character, even after growing to consider you a WorthyOpponent. Although his exact words are "I know we aren't friends," which makes it sound less like denial on his part and more like acknowledging what he believes to be ''your'' stance on the matter.

* Lightly teased in the ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' DLC ''The Descent.'' Renn and Valta's actual relationship is unclear - they're either {{Best Friend}}s, 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?"

** This happens in ''Anime/DragonballZ'' when Piccolo became infuriated of being defeated by the androids, but the others try to calm him down:

* 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. [[spoiler:Ironically enough, she ends up ''falling in love'' with Luz by the end of the first season, and they begin dating in Season 2.]]

* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'': Karen regularly interacts with Ishigami in ''We Want to Talk About Kaguya'' and looks on happily when he's being comforted by the Cheer Team during the sports festival, but she states that they have a strict business relationship when Erika asks if they're friends (he's acts as the editor for her [=KaguyaXShirogane=] doujinshi). This denial is probably for continuity purposes since Maki is established in the main series to be the first girl to consider him a friend.