History Main / TrophyViolence

* When Creator/JaneYolen received the [[https://www.nesfa.org/about/history/janes-skylark/ Skylark Award]] from the new England Science Fiction Association, she put it on display in her window. Unluckily, the glass lens in the trophy [[SolarPoweredMagnifyingGlass focused the light from the window and started a fire]] on her best wool coat. There were no injuries, but she was amused enough by the incident that it is now included in her official author bio. The punch line? Relating the story to Creator/BruceCoville, she complained, "I'm going to have to [[AccidentalInnuendo put [this] where the sun doesn't shine]]!"

* ''Series/TheGilliesReport'' contained a rare self-inflicted version as John Clarke explained what happened when the brilliant, but strangely accident prone, Dave Sorensen, captain of the Australian [[{{Calvinball}} Farnarkeling]] went to accept the Sportsman of the Year award:

* ''Series/TheGilliesReport'' conyained a rare self-inflicted version as John Clarke explained what happened when the brilliant, but strangely accident prone, Dave Sorensen, captain of the Australian [[{{Calvinball}} Farnarkeling]] went to accept the Sportsman of the Year award:

* In ''Film/TheFifthElement'', after the military rigs the contest so that Corben can go to the resort and get the sacred stones, Father Cornelius tries to talk him into handing over the tickets, but after being interrupted by the cops, Corben brings Cornelius and Leloo out of hiding, and while Corben is distracted, Cornelius grabs a bronze trophy, knocks him out and takes the tickets.

->"''Impaled on my Nobel Peace Prize. How ironic.''"

* When Creator/JaneYolen received the [[https://www.nesfa.org/about/history/janes-skylark/ Skylark Award]] from the new England Science Fiction Association, she put it on display in her window. Unluckily, the glass lens in the trophy [[SolarPoweredMagnifyingGlass focused the light from the window and started a fire]] on her best wool coat. There were no injuries, but she was amused enough by the incident that it is now included in her official author bio. The punch line? Relating the story to Creator/BruceCoville, she complained, "I'm going to have to [[AccidentalInnuendo put this where the sun doesn't shine]]!"

-->-Lisa, [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E12BartGetsFamous "Bart Gets Famous"]], ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

[[caption-width-right:350:]]

-->"''Impaled on my Nobel Peace Prize. How ironic.''"

%%Please put tropes in alphabetical order%%

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

* A trophy is used as a weapon in the slasher ''Killer Movie''.

* The ''Series/{{Bones}}'' episode 'The High In The Low' has a campus drug dealer murdering someone with a writer's award trophy.
* The trope appears in an episode of ''Series/{{Bosch}}'' when a local priest is murdered.
* Subverted in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine''. Jake claims that a murder suspect did this in a fit of rage towards his colleague, which is why the trophy in question doesn't appear in the crime scene photo. However, this was just a ruse to trick the culprit into confessing to the crime. Jake later admits that the trophy wasn't at the scene because a cleaning lady dropped it, and it was never used in the murder.

* In ''Series/CSICrimeSceneInvestigation'', a trophy is used to kill a popular football coach.
* In an episode of ''Series/TheDoctorBlakeMysteries'', a school principal is killed with a school trophy.
* In the pilot of ''Series/DoomPatrol2019'', Cliff bashes Bump over the head with his racing trophy after finding out that Bump has been sleeping with his wife.
* In season 3 of ''Series/{{Elite}}'', [[spoiler:Polo uses an academic trophy to kill Marina.]]
* In season 1 of ''Series/{{Fargo}}'', Nygaard hits Malvo over the head with his insurance salesperson of the year trophy. Despite his success following [[spoiler:his wife's murder and escape from the law]], his past is still following him.
* A mother kills a teacher with a trophy in ''Series/FrankieDrakeMysteries'', after consulting her about her academically-suffering daughter.
* The trophy in ''Series/HowToGetAwayWithMurder'' initially symbolises a student's success under Annalise's teaching and mentorship. After it becomes a murder weapon, everyone involved must conceal and hide it, contrasting with the idea that trophies are usually boasted.
* ''Series/InsideNo9'': In [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/InsideNo9S6E2SimonSays "Simon Says"]], Simon fakes Gavin's death by (pretending to) stab him with the National Television Award on Spencer's mantelpiece. After Spencer believes this is a continuation of the blackmail and kills Spencer, he realizes it was all a trick when he sees Gavin still alive. The last shot is of the National Television Award trophy, implying that Spencer will use that to kill Gavin for real, and then he's on the phone to his agent [[JustJokingJustification joking about abandoning fans' bodies in the river.]]
* A bowling trophy is used as a murder weapon in an episode of ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''.
* In the first episode of ''Series/{{Motive}}'', a bowling trophy is used as a murder weapon.
* In the episode 'Dinner Party' from ''Series/TheOfficeUS'', Jan throws Michael's Dundie award at his plasma TV, breaking them both.
--> '''Michael:''' THAT IS A 200 DOLLAR PLASMA SCREEN TV YOU JUST KILLED!
** In a later scene, we see her trying to repair the trophy with glue, but it keeps falling apart. This is symbolic of her relationship with Michael.
* In the first episode of ''Series/SkyRoja'' a fight ensues and a man is hit in the head with a trophy. He falls to the ground and a large pool of blood forms.
* In season 6 of ''Series/TheSopranos'', Christopher picks up a glass award off of J.T's shelf. He asked what it's for, and J.T condescendingly replies its a Humanitis award. Christopher proceeds to hit him in the face with it.

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* In the final boss battle of ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami'', Jacket uses a trophy to kill the Father's pet panthers, and then uses it to knock down his female bodyguard.

* In episode 5 of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', it's revealed that [[spoiler: the King of Prosecutors Trophy was the murder weapon the whole time.]]

[[folder:WebComic]]
* ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': This is the incident that starts the entire story. Xykon, in the course of burgling the mage Fyron Pucebuckle, beats him to death with his own Wizzy award, resulting in Fyron's student Eugene swearing an oath of vengeance against Xykon.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

** In the crossover with ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', when Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin are fighting, Homer briefly weaponises the show's 31 Emmys against Peter.
** In "And Then There Were Fewer", Derek is bludgeoned to death with one of James Woods's Golden Globe Awards, sending him falling off the balcony of the mansion.

** Lisa has an ImagineSpot in which Bart is impaled on her Nobel Prize.
** In "Girls Just Want to Have Sums", Lisa is at the school auditorium, accepting a math award. Bart stands up and takes credit for it. Lisa gets angry and throws the trophy at him, but Bart ducks out of the way, and the trophy hits Ralph instead.
* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': In "Who Bopped Bugs Bunny?", Sappy Stanley the Elephant knocks Bugs out with his own Shloscar.
* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': In "Up, Up And Away In My Pitiful Balloon", to get her hands on the "Revenge of the Island" prize money reserved for contestants, Heather hits Chris in the head with a Gemmy award while he's piloting the zeppelin. She later throws Gemmy awards at Jo and Cameron when they try to stop Heather.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mark_metcalfe_getty_images_aria_awards_2019_8.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Ouch!]]

[[/folder]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/h_fz32vvz46ww4yojao5siqyxjnci3ucctzvbrjf0fw.png]]

* The famously pointy Australian Recording Industry Association award trophies have been known to cause injuries, as discussed in a 2018 Junkee article[[https://junkee.com/aria-awards-deathtrap/180516]]. One confirmed injury includes someone working at UNIFIED Music Group, who impaled his foot. Grinspoon member Phil Jamieson and pop singer Montaigne have also confirmed they both came close to impaling their foots on one. Sydney band manager Julian Marshall was hospitalised after dropping a box of ARIA awards (all weighing 1.75kg each) on his foot.

* ''Literature/TomorrowTown'': The events of the story are kicked off by Varno Zhoule, former science fiction author and present founder of the titular proposed futurist town, being bludgeoned to death in his home with one of his own Hugo Award's. As Richard Jeperson eventually figures out Zhoule was in fact killed by his deputy and the Town's other founder George Gewell who hit him around the head with his own Hugo Award out of frustration at his incompetence and impractical ideas. Then afterwards Gewell moved the body and stole one of Zhoule's to divert suspicion from him.

* When Creator/JaneYolen received the [[https://www.nesfa.org/about/history/janes-skylark/ Skylark Award]] from the new England Science Fiction Association, she put it on display in her window. Unluckily, the glass lens in the award [[SolarPoweredMagnifyingGlass focused the light from the window and started a fire]] on her best wool coat. There were no injuries, but she was amused enough by the incident that it is now included in her official author bio. The punch line? Relating the story to Creator/BruceCoville, she complained, "I'm going to have to [[AccidentalInnuendo put this where the sun doesn't shine]]!"

-->"''Impaled on my own Nobel Prize. How ironic.''"

And the award for the best murder weapon goes to..

The trope is when someone murders or injures someone with an award. Occasionally, the award may be used to damage something inanimate. The award is usually a plaque or a sports trophy, which makes sense considering how sharp those things can be. It can be Main/PlayedForLaughs but sometimes it's straight up macabre. You can see this trope the most in Main/PoliceProcedural shows, because of the [[ViolenceIsDisturbing violently disturbing imagery]]. The use of an everyday object especially juxtaposes with what we consider dangerous.

The significance behind using a trophy as a weapon is usually contextual to the scene. But in general, a trophy is a symbol of success. It's a physical manifestation of the character's hard work, especially if they're [[TalentedButTrained talented,]] so that makes it even more ironic when their own trophy kills them. Often, a Main/TrophyRoom will accompany the scene, making Main/TheResenter even more Main/DrivenByEnvy. I mean, what's more intimidating than a wall covered in gold trophies? Hence, characters who use the trophy as a weapon could be subconsciously jealous of the victim's success. In some cases, someone uses their ''own'' trophy as a weapon, which could symbolise that their success has corrupted them. They could be a Main/JerkWithAHeartOfJerk or an Main/AcademicAlphaBitch who lost their way, and now, they're using their own trophies to hurt others in Main/DramaticIrony.

Not unexpectedly, the plaque or trophy usually breaks in the process, which could symbolise the victim's Main/JustDesserts if they abused their power in the past. If it's their own trophy, it may reflect their willingness to sabotage their own success by hurting others. Contrasting these darker examples, it can serve as a Main/VisualGag, especially if its accidental.

Although the trope implies the trophy is used as a weapon, in some cases it can hurt a character unintentionally. For instance, a heavy trophy could fall off the shelf in a Main/TrophyRoom and hit someone on the head (again embodying an ironic fate). Someone might also trip and fall on a trophy, becoming Main/ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice.

Compare Main/InstrumentOfMurder, Main/EdibleBludgeon and Main/ImprovisedWeapon. Not to be confused with a Main/CreepySouvenir, the trophies that serial killers take from their victims, or video game achievement trophies that come in the form of weapons.

** Lisa has an Main/ImagineSpot in which Bart is impaled on her Nobel Prize.

* ''ComicBook/DarkNightATrueBatmanStory'': As Paul Dini reveals in a flashback whilst waiting for surgery, that following being stood up by his then girlfriend to the Emmy Awards, he used the Emmy trophy that he'd won that very night to viciously cut himself in front of the bathroom mirror out of self loathing.

[[folder:Films-Animated]]

[[folder:Films-LiveAction]]

* ''Literature/TomorrowTown'': The events of the story are kicked off by Varno Zhoule, former science fiction author and present founder of the titular proposed futurist town, being bludgeoned to death in his home with one of his own Hugo Award's. As Richard Jeperson eventually figures out Zhoule was in fact killed by his deputy and the Town's other founder George Gewell who hit him around the head with his own Hugo Award out of frustration at his incompetance and impractical ideas. Then afterwards Gewell moved the body and stole one of Zhoule's to divert suspicion from him.

* In the first episode of ''Series/SkyRoja'' a fight ensues and a man is hit in the head with a trophy. He falls to ground and a large pool of blood forms.

* When Creator/JaneYolen received the [[https://www.nesfa.org/about/history/janes-skylark/ Skylark Award]] from the new England Science Fiction Association, she put it on display in her window. Unluckily, the glass lens in the award [[SolarPoweredMagnifyingGlass focused the light from the window and started a fire]] on her best wool coat. There were no injuries, but she was amused enough by the incident that it is now included in her official author bio. The punch line? Relating the story to Creator/BruceCoville, she complained, "I'm going to have to [[AccidentalInnuendo put it where the sun doesn't shine]]!"

Seems a little too on the nose, right?

-->-Lisa, [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E12BartGetsFamous"Bart Gets Famous"]], ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

--->"''Impaled on my own Nobel Prize. How ironic.''"
--->-Lisa, [["Bart Gets Famous" Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E12BartGetsFamous]], ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''