History Main / ItsOkayToCry

* The 1972 children's album and TV special ''Free to Be... You and Me'' features a song called "It's Alright to Cry," sung by Rosey Grier.

See also MistakesAreNotTheEndOfTheWorld.

* ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'':
** In "Oh, What a Day!", Tina's miserable because of everything she's been through. She says she feels like crying, and Barney and the kids sing a song called "It's Okay to Cry", which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and it says that after you've had a good cry, you can talk about the way you feel.
** In "It's a Happy Day!", Barney tells the kids that everyone feels sad sometimes, and there's nothing shameful about it, [[MenDontCry not even for a boy]]. A bit later, Beth's rather sad because she's hurt her knee, so Barney sings her a slower reprise of "It's Okay to Cry", so she weeps a little.

* ''Series/SesameStreet'':
** There's a whole song called "It's All Right to Cry" about how crying is not just for babies and anyone can cry.
** The song "All I Want to Do is Cry" has a lyric about how it's fine to cry when you [[SeriousBusiness lose your mitten]] (it was sung by the Three Little Kittens).
** In ''Sesame Street Home Video Visits the Hospital,'' when the sick Big Bird finally breaks down in tears at the end of his stressful first day in the hospital, Maria assures him "It's okay to cry." "You bet it is!" he replies.

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/TouMyu'': The song "Otokomichi" (The Man's Path) is a celebration of everything masculine and righteous, but during the bridge also advocates for men to have a good cry once in a while since letting out those emotions will help them take a step closer to getting stronger.

* Music/{{Daughtry}}: The chorus of "Cry For Help" expresses that it’s okay to both physically cry and to ask others for help.

This often comes in conjunction with RepressionNeverEndsWell, as a character might be told that holding back their tears is unhealthy. A character who feels like they're UnableToCry may learn that it's healthier for them if they do. A SadClown may also be the one learning this moral. It also often accompanies ManlyTears, either from the man's buddies encouraging him to let it out, or the man himself affirming he's [[EmotionalBruiser secure enough in his masculinity]] to [[RealMenWearPink not care]]. This trope is related to the AngerIsHealthyAesop as this is when a character is taught that being angry is nothing to be ashamed of as long as it's not a violent extreme.

* ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'': Gandalf encourages Sam, Merry, and Pippin to weep after saying farewell to Frodo and Bilbo for the last time.

* ''Literature/SeeYouAtHarrys'': Sara holds her arms to Fern and bluntly tells her "Cry." after learning of Charlie's death.

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'': In "[[Recap/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteersS2E1MindPollution Mind Pollution]]", Linka's cousin Boris becomes hooked on Skumm's designer drug, Bliss, and slips some in Linka's food, getting her hooked as well. Linka manages to regain control; Boris dies of an overdose. Near the end of the episode, Linka lies on a cot, in recovery from the drug. Wheeler reassures her that it's okay that she needs to cry, citing what he's been told about how intense withdrawal pains are. Linka answers that it's not as painful as losing her cousin.

* In the ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' episode "My [=ABCs=]", after losing a patient, J.D.'s narration mentions this as one of the lessons he's learned from ''Sesame Street'' (and that the new interns haven't). Denise, one of the new interns, then walks in, makes a callous remark, and says "Woa, was ''not'' expecting the waterworks."

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': The episode Roger Codger has Stan bottling up his emotions because people, especially his coworkers emasculate him for it. When Roger appears to be dead and Stan has to get rid of him, he's still pretty stoic. Steve calls him a monster. Eventually Francine manages to convince him that crying is a good thing.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'': Parodied in [[https://twitter.com/Snoopy/status/489759607456542720 this strip]]. Lucy says that men shouldn't believe in the MenDontCry rule because it's alright for them to cry too. Charlie Brown promptly sheds a SingleTear, and Lucy comments that something has to happen to provoke those tears first.

* Creator/AndyLau: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwO3NHAq5TY It's Not a Crime For a Man to Cry]]" is about invoking this trope. Lau sings that when he was a kid, people told him not to cry, but now he knows that even strong people can be tired sometimes. He even claims that tears must be savored in the same way rainfall is considered beautiful.

* ''Website/TheArtOfManliness'': Zigzagged in "[[https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/when-is-it-okay-for-a-man-to-cry/ When Is It Okay for a Man to Cry?]]". The article lists times where it's okay for a [[ManlyTears man to cry]] (i.e. when someone you love dies or [[TearsOfJoy when your crush accepts your marriage proposal]]), and times when it's ''not'' okay for a man to cry, such as [[SoreLoser when your favorite sports team loses a game]].

This often comes in conjunction with RepressionNeverEndsWell, as a character might be told that holding back their tears is unhealthy. A character who feels like they're UnableToCry may learn that it's healthier for them if they do. A SadClown may also be the one learning this moral. It also often accompanies ManlyTears, either from the man's buddies encouraging him to let it out, or the man himself affirming he's [[EmotionalBruiser secure enough in his masculinity]] to [[RealMenWearPink not care]].

[[https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-crying Some researchers have argued that crying can actually be beneficial in some cases]]. In RealLife, [[TruthInTelevision repressing emotion and not showing vulnerability when required can be damaging to one's mental health]]. It is therefore not surprising that a number of stories encourage crying or showing vulnerability as AnAesop.

* ''WesternAnimation/MiscellaneousDisneyShorts'': "The Ballad of Nessie" is about the LochNessMonster losing her home. As she looks for a new place to live in, she is repeatedly told not to cry. Eventually she can't hold it in anymore and [[CryingARiver cries so much she floods the whole valley]], creating Loch Ness and giving her a new home.

** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'': Lucia becomes a DeathSeeker after discovering [[spoiler:she is a creation of the villain Arius]] and fears she may turn on her friends. When she tearfully suggests sacrificing herself to destroy the FinalBoss, Dante once again repeats his "Devils Never Cry" line and assures her that she is worthy of living.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'': After his brother Vergil [[[spoiler:lets himself fall into the Demon Realm]], Dante tries to pretend it doesn't bother him and pretends his tears are the rain in his eyes. His friend Lady quickly figures it out and assures him that "even a [[TitleDrop devil may cry]] when they've lost a loved one".
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': After Nero sees [[spoiler:both his uncle and father go to the Demon Realm, perhaps forever, after he just learned that he had a real family]], his friend Nico has this to say:

* ''WesternAnimation/InfinityTrain'': [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] in "[[Recap/InfinityTrainS1E8TheBallPitCar The Ball Pit Car]]" by One-One. After Atticus is turned into a ghom, Sad-One tells Tulip "It's okay to cry," and she breaks down into tears. [[spoiler:This actually ends up being important in hindsight; One-One telling Tulip that it's okay for her to feel sad hints as him being the real Conductor as the "Conductor" who confronted Tulip didn't care about her feelings and mockingly said "No more tears".]]

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'': "Devils Never Cry" is a recurring theme throughout the series. Essentially, it means that showing emotion and vulnerability is what separates you from the real monsters.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'': After helping Dante defeat [[BigBad Mundus]], Trish shares a hug with him and is surprised to find her self shedding tears of joy. This is the first time Dante says "Devils Never Cry" and tells her that there is nothing wrong with her showing emotion like a human.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'': Lucia becomes a DeathSeeker after discovering she is a creation of the villain Arius and fears she may turn on her friends. When she tearfully suggests sacrificing herself to destroy the FinalBoss, Dante once again repeats his "Devils Never Cry" line and assures her that she is worthy of living.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'': After his brother Vergil lets himself fall into the Demon Realm, Dante tries to pretend it doesn't bother him and pretends his tears are the rain in his eyes. His friend Lady assures him that "even a [[TitleDrop devil may cry]] when they've lost a loved one".
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': After Nero sees both his uncle and father go to the demon realm, perhaps forever, after he just learned that he had a real family, his friend Nico has this to say:
--->It's okay to cry if you want, Nero, over a loss. It doesn't make you a crybaby. ... does make you a little bitch, though.

* Series/LivingSingle'': PlayedForLaughs in the first episode. After Regine learns that her boyfriend is married, Synclaire tells her that she should cry, citing how if she doesn't, then her tear ducts will dry up and when she gets old she'll be unable to cry.

* VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}: This quote is said by [[TokenGoodTeammate Ollie Bulb]] if you lose against him in the Root pack battle.

-->It's okay to cry if you want, Nero, over a loss. It doesn't make you a crybaby. ... does make you a little bitch, though.

Contrast MenDontCry TryingNotToCry, HeWillNotCrySoICryForHim.