Okay, I was ignorant. I did something stupid. I got overeager or ahead of myself. I didn't realize the implications of my action, or I seriously thought I wouldn't screw this one up. I'm sorry. But please, don't hold it against me... I was Just Trying To Help.

Not only is this a handy pre-defined message, it's also a stock phrase commonly used by characters, e.g. young kids in cartoons after their innocent attempt to help out causes a series of Disaster Dominoes. Another common use of this is when someone is on the wrong end of a Rant-Inducing Slight or Minor Insult Meltdown as after trying a little too hard to help.

Comics

• Garfield responds with this phrase when Jon reminds him how last time they went to the farm, Garfield tried to grow chickens by planting them in the ground.
• In Batman, Spoiler utters this line while collapsing into Batman's arms. It is quite a Tear Jerker, seeing as she is limping half dead after being shot and tortured for many hours, trying to make a contingency plan of Batman's work, which had accidentally caused a gang war.

Film

• Star Wars:

Lando, while being strangled by Chewbacca: Just trying to help...

• The Dark Knight

Juvenile vigilantes, after being tied up by Batman: We were just trying to help!

Live Action TV

• 90210: "Lucky Strike"

Dixon Wilson: She can stay in my room. [everyone smiles] Just trying to help.

• All in the Family

Edith Bunker: Archie was just trying to help.

• All My Children

Ryan Lavery: Babe was just trying to help.

• Angel: "Judgment"

Cordelia Chase: Dennis is very sensitive, he's just trying to help. He's more a person than a G-H-O-S-T.

• Battlestar Galactica: "Collaborators"

Jammer: [pleading with the Circle] I was just trying to help people!

• Charmed: "Pardon My Past"

Prue Halliwell: Just trying to help.

Theatre

• Rent: Presumably, this was the grounds upon which Angel was trying to defend Mark after the latter was caught filming a homeless woman who didn't appreciate the exploitation.

Woman: Who the fuck do you think you are? I don't need no goddamned help from some bleeding heart cameraman, my life's not for you to make a name for yourself on. Angel: Easy, sugar, easy. He was just trying to-- Woman: Just trying to use me to kill his guilt?

Western Animation

• 101 Dalmatians The Series

Spot: Hey, you were just trying to help a fellow creature. We know your heart was in the right place.

• My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "Winter Wrap-Up"

Twilight: *tearing up after a series of fails* I just wanted to... oh...! *runs off crying*

• • Also used at the beginning of "Sisterhooves Social" when Sweetie Belle is trying to do something nice for Rarity.
• Bat-Mite says this all the time in The New Adventures of Batman after causing Batman, Robin, and/or Batgirl a major problem that sets them back.

Web Original

• Red vs. Blue:

Doc:I'm really sorry guys. I was only trying to help. Grif:Oh is that all? I for one was totally confused. I thought you were savagely trying to kill our sergeant by ramming him over and over with a six thousand pound steel death machine. Now that we know that you're just trying to help, by all means, please continue.