He would not fucking say that

Meme
Synonyms:
Date Started:	TikTok Edit: 2 November 2021 Phrase use in fandom more generally precedes this
Related:	Out of Character, Fanon
See Also:	Langsam's Law
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He would not fucking say that is a phrase that has become frequently used in response to character interpretations or fanworks portraying characters out of character.

While fans have commented that the phrase has been used for years in fandom and fanwork discussions, it became more popular as both a meme and response following replies to a parody South Park video on TikTok.

Debates about the use of the phrase, or similar wording, can become heated, with some fans believing others use the phrase in response to believable character changes based on context or fairly minor mischaracterisations. Other fans will discuss variations of the phrase — such as portrayals in fanart — or how the phrase can be used to consider characterisation as opposed to dismissing a portrayal entirely.

Usage in Character and Fanon discussions

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.

Usage

Given that the phrase is not an unusual one, it is highly likely that it was in use within fandom spaces before the South Park TikTok. Some commentary on posts about the TikTok include fans disputing that one particular TikTok created the phrase. However, the phrasing does seem to have become more widely used and discussed since November 2021.

Use of the phrase more often occurs when fans are discussing the tendency for fandoms to portray characters out of character. Characters being woobified, infantalised, or having their flaws sanded off to portray them as innocent and pure characters are frequent targets of this commentary.

What is considered OOC varies wildly based on who you ask, because different people might portray a character differently and both think they're being totally in-character while thinking the other author is being OOC. There are, of course, some instances where it's pretty universally agreed that something is OOC, but in many instances it's subjective to some degree.

The way I can most succinctly define "OOC" is: he would not fucking say that.

thewritegrump 

Criticisms and Responses

Some fans will respond to commentary like "he would not fucking say that" by pointing out that fandom and fanworks are not canon, so criticising fans for writing characters in a way that others perceive as incorrect is not in the spirit of fandom. Sometimes people write characters saying things they wouldn't just because they want to and people can just not read those works.

"he would not fucking say that" you're right but I have the power of google doc and lying

bamsara 

In addition to this more general response, other fans will criticise the use of the phrase because they believe that people overuse it.

For example, people completely misunderstanding canon divergence or other AUs and using the phrase in complaints about a fanwork when they have misunderstood that the context has been changed so the characterisation may change as well. Other fans claim that the phrase is used in response to relatively minor mischaracterisations and that the overuse can discourage other fans from creating fanworks.

Other fans have said that they are happy to accept differences in characterisation when the author has been convincing in making the new characterisation make sense, and that they find themselves thinking "they would not fucking say that" more often when the wider narrative of a fanwork isn't as convincing about how the character ended up developing in a way where they would say that. Some fans discuss using this as a type of characterisation practice.

[wizardarchetypes]
“he would not fucking say that!” then put him in a situation that makes him say it, we wanna see him squirm

[gallusrostromegalus]
It’s good old fashioned characterization practice when confronted with “he would not fucking say that” to go “under what circumstances WOULD he say that?” And then go “and how would he get into those circumstances?” And boom. You have a MUCH more solid character.

It’s also a fun magic trick as a writer to write a guy so well you get people foaming at the mouth on the comments going “HE WOULD NOT SAY THAT BUT HE *DOES* AND IT *MAKES SENSE* FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU!!!”

Variations

They would not fucking listen to that

Creating character playlists is a popular fan activity and one that can lead to commentary about the music choices making little or no sense for the character in question. Much like other headcanons, there can be a tendency for fans to just transpose their own music taste onto a character. As a result, the music of artists who are particularly popular, such as Taylor Swift's music, often feature in the character playlists which prompt these responses.

when people make character playlists for middle aged men and it's full of like mitski and lemon demon it's the same as feeding a dog a vegan diet i think

#He Would Not Fucking Say That but for playlists#He Would Not Fucking Listen To That

undercitytwerkteam 

Taylor swift is a plague to fandom edit-GUNSHOT

#he would NOT fucking listen to that#IT DOES NOT FIT THE CHARACTER#the amount of videos I've had to click off is disturbing

wasp-coffee 

The South Park Pronouns TikTok

The TikTok, posted by mrstweakshonkers on 2nd November 2021, is a parody edit, widely considered to mock the tendency for South Park characters to be woobified and portrayed in extremely out of character ways by some parts of the fandom.

The video opens with a picture of Eric Cartman and the text "how south park characters would react if you asked their pronouns". Each character's reply is then revealed, with Cartman's being "I use any pronouns, thank you for asking!". Other South Park characters appear, including Mrs Tweak whose reveal has her image being changed for what seems to be Mrs Tweak drawn in a different "sexy style", with the response "milf/milfself", cementing the fact the video is not serious.

Another crucial piece of information that is tragically brushed over is that the original video ends with lewd art of Mrs Tweek with milf/milfself pronouns :3

fayoftheforest 

In 2023, Tumblr user, cassierobinsons, posted about this edit, discussing it as the original "he would not fucking say that", which was debated in the comments. This included other fans saying the phrase was already in use before TikTok.

[cassierobinsons]

it's important to me that people know the original "he would not fucking say that" was in response to a tiktok where someone said eric cartman would thank you for asking for his pronouns. Like it just doesn't hit the same without context.

[cassierobinsons]

everytime someone uses "he would not fucking say that" for something he would absolutely fucking say given slightly different circumstances or has already fucking said i immediately become indignant cause you can't waste a joke like this on mild characterisation nitpicks. sorry. it has to be on par with Any Pronouns Cartman.

[rhube]

Am I the only person who feels like 'he would not fucking say that' isn't a meme it's just what people have always said sometimes? Like, that is a fairly common thing to say.

[yo-snap]

I can guarantee that is not the original "he would not say that." First ever misattribute in history??? Fuck you.

[sing-you-fools]

@yo-snap yeah i definitely uttered the sentence "he would not fucking say that" many, many times before tiktok existed this is weird

The Tumblr post, which had hundreds of responses, and thousands of reblogs and likes (80,000+ notes to-date), led to more discussions including:

• How Cartman would say that if he thought he could manipulate someone, use it to his own advantage, or generally be an asshole to someone.
• How the phrase is used too much, in response to relatively minor mischaracterisations.
• That the TikTok edit was not the origin of the phrase.
• The woobification of South Park characters.
• Some people believing the original post was serious.
• A small number of people who claimed Cartman would genuinely respond like that, including discussions of Cartman's gender identity and pronouns.

Further Discussions and Meta

• The cousin of "he would not fucking say that" is "he would not fucking listen to that", r/CuratedTumblr, ^{Archived version}
• As much as it pains me to say, some of my blorbos would be fence-sitting centrists, ^{Archived version}