History Main / JerkWithAHeartOfJerk

'''Koopa Troopa 2:''' Well what if she says no? \\
'''Bowser:''' (''torches the Koopa into a Dry Bones'') THEN I WILL POWER UP WITH THIS STAR AND ''DESTROY THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM!''

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn_bLGhZCaY The Top Anime Guide to Tsundere]] and completely tears apart the character trope from the perspective of a [[DamnedByAFoolsPraise tsundere fan who awkwardly tries to defend them]]. He starts with the premise "[[NotEvilJustMisunderstood tsunderes are not bitches, they're just misunderstood]]." However, he misunderstood]]", yet describes them as lashing out for petty reasons, only to turn around and insist they are not so bad. He ends with by [[FreudianSlip slipping out]] "[[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk tsunderes are not misunderstood, they're bitches]]", and then goes back to defending them again.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': As [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEdaClawthorne Eda Clawthorne]] points out, [[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Emperor Belos]] doesn't want to free her of her curse out of the kindness of his heart, he wants to free her of her curse so she'll be [[DealWithTheDevil indebted to him]]. Then we learn even ''that'' wasn't true, and he attempts to have her petrified. In "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS2E16HollowMind Hollow Mind]]" [[spoiler:it's revealed [[Characters/TheOwlHouseTheGoldenGuard Hunter]], the closest person he has to a MoralityPet, is an artificial creation called a grimwalker. Hunter, along with all his Golden Guard predecessors, were created by Belos and then killed and replaced whenever they went against him. Belos admits that any affection he showed Hunter was calculated manipulation to keep Hunter useful for as along as possible. When that usefulness comes to an end, Belos tries to kill and replace him too.]] The same episode also reveals that Belos' stated well-intentioned goals with regards to the Coven system and Day of Unity [[spoiler:are actually steps to accomplish a planned genocide of witches and demons because Belos is in fact the human Philip Wittebane and considers all non-humans inherently evil.]]

May also go hand in hand with GoodFlawsBadFlaws: a character may have a Good Flaw, then repent and apologize... only to turn out to have a Bad Flaw. A FairWeatherFoe is often this towards their enemies. This character taken to their logical extreme would then become a particularly tragic AntiVillain since such characters [[ObliviouslyEvil genuinely believe themselves reformed]]. In such cases, the character still fits this trope only if they're [[{{Hypocrite}} smug about their moral struggle]], rather than anguished. The most dangerous example is the KnightTemplar type, such as one who tries to reform their criminal past by murdering other criminals.

** Joseph Sugarman, the maternal grandfather of the titular character, at first [[FauxAffablyEvil seems like a very pleasant and charming]] [[Standard50sFather 1950s dad]], but is gradually shown to be an unempathetic sociopath who abuses his wife and daughter, all with DissonantSerenity. Every time it appears there's light in his darkness, he almost immediately subverts it immediately after.

** Draco Malfoy. Despite a few JerkassWoobie moments in the later books, Malfoy is still an unrepentant UpperClassTwit DirtyCoward school bully, even when the war against Voldemort begins raging. When the chips are down, Malfoy runs to hide behind someone else, whether it be his two burly cronies or his father. The only time Draco shows any sort of respect to Harry Potter at all is when Harry saves Draco's life ''three times'' in the final book, and even then, it's a GrudgingThankYou. [[DracoInLeatherPants Hasn't stopped the fans, though.]]

* ''WebAnimation/LetMeExplainStudios'': Rebecca's High School Drama Teacher, nicknamed [[MeaningfulName "Medusa"]]. [[note]] Becca points out that the title of "Medusa" ''[[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer really was the teacher's genuine nickname]]'', and she [[CardCarryingVillain wore it like a badge-of-honor]] [[/note]] Throughout Becca's time in High School, [[SadistTeacher Medusa]] had a [[ControlFreak tight grip]] on the theatre department; she had a HairTriggerTemper, was prone to mood-swings, and often was verbally abusive towards several of her students, [[TeachersUnfavoriteStudent especially towards Rebecca]], whom she regularly overlooked in castings. But she always gave Becca Straight-A's for being a good student & actress. Then during Senior Year, when Rebecca was auditioning for the lead-role that she greatly desired in a play, was the most qualified for in the entire school, fit every necessary criteria, had senior-year student casting priority, AND was the ''only'' senior-year girl in the class... Medusa still ''[[KickTheDog refused to cast her in ANY part]]'' out of sheer contempt for her, which she [[LackOfEmpathy casually]] [[HiddenDisdainReveal tells other students]]. Upon learning this, Rebecca quit her class then-&-there.

* ''Fanfic/LittleBro'' has [[spoiler:Huey, Dewey and Louie's father]], a DeadbeatDad who makes no effort whatsoever to see his kids, even when he's visiting Duckburg.

* ''Fanfic/DarkSpectrumPublicEnemy'': The [[spoiler:Changeling that was disguised as Rainbow]] appears to show genuine sympathy to Rainbow Dash, telling her she has great friends who care about her. [[spoiler:It only said that to guilt trip her into turning herself in.]]

-->'''Margo:''' Hey, [[DamnedByFaintPraise you did everything someone like you was willing to do.]]
-->'''Tiffani:''' [[SkewedPriorities What am I going to tell my dad? He just bought me that car.]]

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* Super Kami Guru from ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged''. At first, he seems like a jerk. Then, when Freeza threatens to kill Nail, Guru passionately stands up for Nail (even if Nail initially doesn't want him to) and psyches him up, telling him he's TheParagon of the Namekians and [[DareToBeBadass challenges him to kick the crap out of Freeza]]. Nail, psyched up, challenges Freeza to a fight, only for Guru to reveal via InternalMonologue that he knows perfectly well Nail hasn't got a chance of winning and that Guru knows a technique that ''would'' let Nail have a chance but never taught him it because... Guru's a ''jerk''. He also died while Gohan and Krillin were summoning the dragon simply because it would be "a dick move".

* ''Fanfic/JuniorOfficers'': Deborah's father, a notorious misogynist, immediately accepts his illegitimate granddaughter Stacy. Seems sweet...until you realize that he's only so understanding because it was his son David who brought her home and not either his eldest daughter Margaret or his youngest, Deborah.
* ''Fanfic/KaraOfRokyn'': Villain Blackflame, who has always been a [[ManipulativeBitch manipulative]] jerkass, befriends Jara and claims to be trying to help her become the best wrestler, but it's soon made clear she is trying to [[ManipulativeBitch manipulate her]] into killing Jara's rival and Blackflame's enemy [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]].

* ''Fanfic/NeverHadAFriendLikeMe'': Amanda's parents are [[ParentalNeglect outrageously neglectful]] toward her. Amanda herself claims that [[ParentsAsPeople they are just busy people]] who simply don't have time for her. Throughout the story, it becomes clear that they do have time and money to spend on Amanda, but they ''choose'' not to. After they coldly reject her Christmas present and make her cry, and then straight up [[KickTheDog admit that they only kept her to get an inheritance]] does it become clear they have no love for their daughter?
* Benjamin Hares, the estranged husband of Grace Glossy from ''Fanfic/OldWest''. He charmed Grace to rush with him to the altar, but then he suddenly left his pregnant wife penniless to escape the debts he had hoarded as a ConMan. Ten years later, he suddenly appears back on her doorstep, acting like he's sorry and wants a chance to make up things with Grace and their son. He then tries to sell Grace's lands behind her back, claiming he wants what's best for her, but in reality, it's just so that the BigBad would settle his debts. When Grace confronts him, he destroys any credibility of sincerity by returning to his old ways of [[NeverMyFault trying to guilt-trip Grace over his undoings]]. When she tells him they're done and tries to throw him out, [[DomesticAbuse he assaults her without shame]], proving himself worse than just a liar and a coward. [[spoiler:It leads to his [[AssholeVictim well-earned death]] at the vengeful fangs of Rattlesnake Jake.]]
* ''Fanfic/OnTrial'': James the guard, full stop. He's a nasty person who uses his position as a guard as an excuse to abuse and terrorize the prisoners, believing that they all deserve the worst the justice system can offer and refusing to treat them like people. He beat up Varian when he was imprisoned and does the same to Cassandra when she's arrested. [[spoiler: When he's later arrested after his crimes against Corona are revealed, he gets little to no sympathy from anyone (even though his treatment is better than what he gave to his prisoners)]].
* ''Fanfic/{{Suikakasen}}'': After Seiga's EstablishingCharacterMoment, it is made very clear that she [[FauxAffablyEvil is very twisted deep down despite seeming friendly]], but several moments suggest a possible change of heart. It doesn't come to pass. After Yoshika gets rejected her opportunity to become a hermit by the reikon and begs Seiga to help her so that she can keep her promise with Kasen to meet again as hermits, Seiga says that she will ask the reikon once more and returns with a red pill. Yoshika takes this red pill by Seiga's instruction and the episode's CreativeClosingCredits begin to play, telling us information about the characters and related concepts like usual by starting with humanizing Seiga by detailing [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes her falling in love with a man named Kan Kaku and being forced to leave him while being heartbroken]]... and then it tells us that [[spoiler:the red pill is mercury sulfide ''poison''.]] Things still don't look too bad, with the scene cutting back to Seiga beginning to cry [[spoiler:at Yoshika's deathbed, suggesting that it was a regretful MercyKill]]... but then Seiga's tears turn into a SlasherSmile and she ''[[EvilIsPetty laughs]]''. [[spoiler:And then she [[SpeakIllOfTheDead calls Yoshika an idiot]] and mocks her for wanting to become a hermit for Kasen's sake, throwing away any possibility that she cared for her and is perfectly fine with ruining Yoshika's life despite being in a similar scenario of being separated from a loved one.]] All of this is just buildup for a certain ForegoneConclusion [[ReforgedIntoAMinion regarding Yoshika]].
* [[spoiler:[[RoyalBrat Himetsuru Ichimonji]]]] in ''Fanfic/TalesOfTheUndiscoveredSwords'' bravely protects his friends from the enemies ''[[OneManArmy on his own]]'' while flat-out saying he does so because he still considers them beneath him and that it's his duty as a "princess" to protect his "people". To top it off, when he's treated for his injuries after the battle, he ''still'' acts like a petulant RoyalBrat.

* Sora Hoshino of ''Fanfic/WhereTalentGoesToDie'' is a [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] jerk who nevertheless [[JerkassHasAPoint has a fair number of good points about the killing game]]. In spite of that, he's still entirely out for himself, [[spoiler:and murders two classmates who'd done nothing to deserve it in an attempt to graduate (which would result in the other students being executed), simply because he gave up hope of escaping]].
* In ''Fanfic/DanganronpaLastHurrah'', there's Jirou Katashi, the Ultimate Mathematician. Early on, he establishes himself as an InsufferableGenius, but gradually reveals something of a redeeming side in his interactions with the others. However, [[spoiler:he turns out to be the second murderer, and has the least sympathetic motive out of all of the killers. He seemingly redeems himself in his final moments by having a HeelRealization and giving the group a clue as to a murderer in their midst, but it later turns out that he faked his death and is the mastermind, meaning that his HeelRealization was a lie, and his clue was likely intended to incite another murder]].
* ''Fanfic/DarkSpectrumPublicEnemy'', The [[spoiler: Changeling that was disguised as Rainbow]] appears to show genuine sympathy to Rainbow Dash, telling her she has great friends who care about her. [[spoiler: It only said it to guilt trip her into turning herself in.]]

* Caledon Hockley in ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'', who saves an abandoned, crying child for his selfish purposes.

* There are a lot of characters who are this in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' such as [[DepravedKidsShowHost Chris]], [[LethalChef Chef]], [[{{Delinquents}} Duncan]], [[FatBitch Sugar]], [[EvilTwin Amy]], [[TheBully Jo]], [[JerkJock Lightning]], [[ManipulativeBastard Alejandro]], and [[AlphaBitch Heather]] but the worst of them all is [[GoGetterGirl Courtney]]. Unlike the others, Courtney doesn't seem to understand that she is a bad person (and even thinks that everyone likes her) and puts the prize money above those close to her. In ''All-Stars'', while members of the Villainous Vultures (sans [[TokenGoodTeammate Gwen and Cameron]]) are proud of their status as villains and even admit that they are jackasses, Courtney protests when she was transferred to the team in "Saving Private Leechball", being oblivious that her actions throughout the episode are villainous (scheming to eliminate Zoey, pushing an injured Sam to move faster, and even using him as a human shield). What's more, she gave Gwen the cold shoulder for stealing Duncan from her when Gwen attempts to apologize. After making amends, the two promise to go to the finale together but Courtney reveals that she is going to eliminate Gwen to bring Scott with her so he can give her an easy win. Worst, she thinks that Gwen will acknowledge her actions. After Gwen discovered this, when given a chance for redemption (i.e. vote for herself), she is reluctant to do so.

Also, '''Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease''' please. Yes, these kinds of people certainly [[TruthInTelevision do exist in real life]], but it's also a morality trope and would inevitably lead to a {{FlameWar}}. [[noreallife]]

[[noreallife]]

* ''VideoGame/DyztopiaPostHumanRPG'': President Zazz is presented as a demanding and controlling boss, but he seems to at least have a benevolent goal of vanquishing demons and reviving the original humans. He even pays for Akira's party despite being irritated by their desire to retire. Then he reveals that he intends to displace the non-human citizens in favor of the humans, and that he plans on conquering other countries to further expand his human supremacist state.

While one '''cannot''' be both a JerkWithAHeartOfGold '''and''' a Jerk with a Heart of Jerk simultaneously, a character can alternate between the two. For instance, this could be a result of DependingOnTheWriter, and CharacterDevelopment can cause an evolution in either direction. However, these tropes are almost polar opposites by definition. The JerkWithAHeartOfGold is, when it comes to the crunch, a decent guy. The JerkWithAHeartOfJerk, on the other hand, might be capable of the occasional PetTheDog moment, but they are, under all that meanness... an even worse person.

It can also serve as a DoubleSubversion of a straight-up {{Jerkass}} as well, since it does frequently involve misleading the audience and/or characters into believing that a Jerkass character might have a nicer side, but then shows he/she does not (though despite this, the JerkWithAHeartOfJerk is not an {{Exaggerated|Trope}} {{Jerkass}}).

* ''WebAnimation/LetMeExplainStudios'': Rebecca's High School Drama Teacher, nicknamed [[MeaningfulName "Medusa"]]. [[note]] Becca points out that the title of "Medusa" ''[[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer really was the teacher's genuine nickname]]'', and she [[CardCarryingVillain wore it like a badge-of-honor]] [[/note]] Throughout Becca's time in High School, [[SadistTeacher Medusa]] had a [[ControlFreak tight grip]] on the theatre department; she had a HairTriggerTemper, was prone to mood-swings, and often was verbally abusive towards several of her students, [[TeachersUnfavoriteStudent especially towards Rebecca]], whom she regularly overlooked in castings. But she always gave Becca Straight-A's for being a good student & actress. Then during Senior Year, when Rebecca was auditioning for the lead-role that she greatly desired in a play, was the most qualified for in the entire school, fit every necessary criteria, had senior-year student casting priority, AND was the ''only'' senior-year girl in the class... Medusa still ''refused to cast her in ANY part'' out of sheer contempt for her, which she [[LackOfEmpathy casually]] [[HiddenDisdainReveal tells other students]]. Upon learning this, Rebecca quit her class then-&-there.

While one '''cannot''' be both a JerkWithAHeartOfGold '''and''' a Jerk with a Heart of Jerk simultaneously, a character can alternate between the two. For instance, this could be a result of DependingOnTheWriter, and CharacterDevelopment can cause an evolution in either direction.

However, these {{tropes}} are almost polar opposites by definition. The former [=Jerkass=] is when it comes to the crunch, a decent guy. The latter [=Jerkass=] might be capable of the occasional PetTheDog moment, but they are, under all that [=jerkassery=]... a bigger jerk/asshole. This {{trope}} also {{subvert|edTrope}}s HiddenHeartOfGold. It can serve as a DoubleSubversion of a straight-up Jerkass as well, since it does frequently involve misleading the audience and/or characters into believing that a Jerkass character might have a nicer side, but then shows he/she does not.

It is one step more complex than FauxAffablyEvil. Compare and contrast BitchInSheepsClothing (this is Bitch In Bitch Clothing), SheepInSheepsClothing, SubvertedSuspicionAesop, and HiddenHeartOfGold. For the more malicious, see BaitTheDog, CompleteMonster (even if it's a YMMV trope), ForTheEvulz, TheSociopath, NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist, and PragmaticVillainy. This {{trope}} is not an {{Exaggerated|Trope}} {{Jerkass}}.

An InUniverse example, where it was the jerk’s friend who thought they had HiddenDepths only to find out they didn’t, often leads to PostSupportRegret, as the betrayed friend has remained a faithful friend to the jerk on the basis that they thought the jerk was a good person deep down.

May also go hand in hand with GoodFlawsBadFlaws: a character may have a Good Flaw, then repent and apologize... only to turn out to have a Bad Flaw. A FairWeatherFoe is often this towards their enemies. This character taken to their logical extreme would then become a particularly tragic AntiVillain since such characters [[ObliviouslyEvil genuinely believe themselves reformed]]. In such cases, the character still fits this {{trope}} only if they're [[{{Hypocrite}} smug about their moral struggle]], rather than anguished. The most dangerous example is the KnightTemplar type, such as one who tries to reform their criminal past by murdering other criminals.

* ''WebAnimation/LetMeExplainStudios'': Rebecca's High School Drama Teacher, nicknamed [[MeaningfulName "Medusa"]]. [[note]] Becca points out that the title of "Medusa" ''[[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer really was the teacher's genuine nickname]]'', and she [[CardCarryingVillain wore it like a badge-of-honor]] [[/note]] Throughout Becca's time in High School, [[SadistTeacher Medusa]] had a [[ControlFreak tight grip]] on the theatre department; she was prone to mood-swings, had a HairTriggerTemper, and often was verbally abusive towards several of her students, [[TeachersUnfavoriteStudent especially towards Rebecca]], whom she regularly overlooked in castings. But she always gave Becca Straight-A's for being a good student & actress. Then during Senior Year, when Rebecca was auditioning for the lead-role that she greatly desired in a play, was the most qualified for in the entire school, fit every necessary criteria, had senior-year student casting priority, AND was the ''only'' senior-year girl in the class... Medusa still ''refused to cast her in ANY part'' out of sheer contempt for her, which she [[LackOfEmpathy casually]] [[HiddenDisdainReveal tells other students]]. Upon learning this, Rebecca quit her class then-&-there.

* ''WebAnimation/LetMeExplainStudios'': Rebecca's High School Drama Teacher, nicknamed [[MeaningfulName "Medusa"]]. [[note]] Becca points out that the title of "Medusa" ''[[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer really was the teacher's genuine nickname]]'', and she [[CardCarryingVillain wore it like a badge-of-honor]] [[/note]] Throughout Becca's time in High School, [[SadistTeacher Medusa]] had a [[ControlFreak tight grip]] on the theatre department; she was prone to mood-swings and often was verbally abusive towards several of her students, [[TeachersUnfavoriteStudent especially towards Rebecca]], whom she regularly overlooked in castings. But she always gave Becca Straight-A's for being a good student & actress. Then during Senior Year, when Rebecca was auditioning for the lead-role that she greatly desired in a play, was the most qualified for in the entire school, fit every necessary criteria, had senior-year student casting priority, AND was the ''only'' senior-year girl in the class... Medusa still ''refused to cast her in ANY part'' out of sheer contempt for her, which she [[LackOfEmpathy casually]] [[HiddenDisdainReveal tells other students]]. Upon learning this, Rebecca quit her class then-&-there.

* Another case of a legitimate JerkWithAHeartOfGold being described like this is in one of the ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' guidebooks: J. Jonah Jameson is described as "Under his rough, crusty and rude exterior... You'll find that he's even ''worse''!" Justified in that the Heart Of Gold is very much DependingOnTheWriter in his case.