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Open Secret: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"[[Sarcasm Mode|Brilliant!]]" Harry whispered. "[[Lampshade Hanging|If everyone knows, no one will suspect it's a secret!]]"''|'''Harry Potter''', ''[[Harry Potter and
This trope is when a particular piece of information is officially declared to be secret... but it is widely known by everyone ''anyway''. The characters might as well not even attempt [[The Masquerade]], because all the civilians around them know who they are and what they are up to. And that super-secret bit of gossip that no one can ever know? Hate to tell you this, but ''everyone knows it already''. Of course, the holders of the secret continue to act as if no one outside of their little group knows anything at all.
[[Overt Operative]] is a [[Sub-Trope]]. Contrast to [[The Not-Secret]], where the creators pretend the "secret" is actually secret right up until [[The Reveal]].
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{{examples}}
== Anime & Manga ==
* In ''[[To
* In ''[[Naruto]]'' a law exists that forbids anyone revealing that the titular character is the vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox. While this means that Naruto's generation and those younger are ignorant of the Nine-Tails, every person able to remember the attack knows about it.
** The secret becomes even more open in ''Shippuden'' where several members of Naruto's generation openly discuss the matter.
*** As of the {{spoiler|Fourth Ninja World War}} it is officially not a secret anymore. {{spoiler|Part of the coalition's main objectives is to protect Naruto (and Killer Bee)}}.
* In ''[[Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam]]'', Quattro's real identity as Char. Not only would the audience not be fooled (the same character design, the visible scar, the same voice actor) but the fact that he flies around in a custom red Rick Dias shows that he isn't exactly keeping a low profile.
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* In his own book, ''Wolverine'', Patch was actively concealing the fact that he was, in fact, the titular superhero while he was operating in "deep cover" in Madripoor. Of course, all of his contacts knew he was Wolverine, though they chose not to reveal this. They figured it was best not to delve too deeply into the private affairs of a walking blender.
* When the Human Torch of the ''[[Fantastic Four]]'', a character whom the in-universe public knows as Johnny Storm, got his own ongoing feature in ''Strange Tales'' starting in issue #101, he maintained a secret identity in his home town of Glenville—the inhabitants of which knew his sister Sue was the Invisible Girl, but obtensibly don't know who the Torch was (the four schoolmates who do know who he is are now out-of-town graduates who were sworn to secrecy). #106 had him discover that everyone knew who he really is after all, they just respected his privacy.
* In [[Brian Michael Bendis]]' 2001 ''[[Daredevil]]'' run, Matt Murdock's [[Secret Identity]] was outed. Although the accusation was "officially" fought back, since then ''everyone'' knows or at least heavily suspects Matt Murdock is Daredevil, so much so that he had to cease practicing law himself for a time due to the fodder it supplied the opposing counsel.
== Fanfiction ==
* In the [[Glee]] fanfic [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6384367/1/We_Have_a_Problem We have a problem], Kurt and Puck go to great lengths to keep their [[Ho Yay|relationship]] a secret. When they finally decide to come out, it turns out that more or less everybody already knew.
== Film ==
* [[James Bond]]'s status as a 00 Agent is supposed to be classified. Pretty much everyone on Earth with any sort of connection to a government, a terrorist organization, or an intelligence agency knows about him, though.
* In ''[[Good Night and Good Luck]]'' there is a subplot dedicated to Joseph Wersha and his wife as they try to keep their marriage secret or risk getting fired. Naturally at the end of the movie it is revealed that every one in the office already knew they were married and just didn't care. But they still have to leave because of budget cuts and are asked to walk, which they agree to.
* In ''[[Johnny Dangerously]]'', the fact that nightclub owner Johnny Kelly is secretly the titular mob boss is known to everyone in the world other than Johnny's mother and little brother. This is pointed out to Johnny by ''the Pope''.
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* When Jerry Lawler's son Grandmaster Sexay wrestled in WWE, Lawler didn't want it to be mentioned on air, as he thought it made him look old. So [[Jim Ross]] kept making jokes about who his father might be.
* [[Triple H]] and Stephanie McMahon were a on-screen couple until they "divorced" in early 2002. They then got married for real in 2003, which resulted in various references, like Triple H telling Vince McMahon that they're "practically family", until it was flat out stated during the buildup to Wrestlemania XXV.
* The fakeness of wrestling was not officially acknowledged for many years, but upon the death of Owen Hart, Jim Ross admitted it usually was fake, but that Owen's injuries were real. Ross didn't get fired because he handled the situation so well otherwise.
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== Webcomics ==
* Towards the end of ''[[Bob and George]]'', [http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/061115 George's secret identity] in the hand-drawn continuity is shown to be one of these.
* In ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' this happens when suddenly Elliot becomes ill and his previously unheard of cousin Ellen is [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-06-19 temporarily transferred] instead. ''[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-06-22 Yeah, sure]''.
* ''[[A Magical Roommate]]'': The country of Umbria considers the existence of our world to be a highly classified secret. This is news to everybody, including the dragon who published books on our world and placed them in a public library.
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* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'': The Sovereign is the leader of the guild, and his identity is a well kept secret...except almost everyone knows he's [[David Bowie]]. Yes ''David Bowie''
* The ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' episode "Green Isn't Your Color" had Spike confess his deepest secret to Twilight and Pinkie...his crush on Rarity. A secret everyone in town was already aware of...except for [[Cloudcuckoolander|Pinkie]] of course.
* A ''[[House of Mouse]]'' episode had Clarabelle about to reveal a big secret and everybody in the Club is worried is going to be his/her secret. By asking Clarabelle what about, they finish revealing their own secret to Clarabelle instead: Mickey do something in his ears so are always rounded no matter angle you see it, while Donald reveal he's part Goose. When is Goofy turn, he discard Mickey's and Donald's like everybody already know that, but his secret, according to him, is bigger {{spoiler|He's rather clumsy. And can prove it!}}
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[[Category:The Secret Index]]
[[Category:Truth and Lies]]
[[Category:
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