Why does なんてね mean "Just kidding"?

Question

I very often see なんてね or some similar phrase being translated to "Just kidding"? but why does it mean this and how does the grammar behind it work?

Answer 1

なんて is

Disbelief or deep emotion about unexpected fact seen or heard.

This expression is used when you talk. In written form, takes “〜とは”

なんてね　is

なんて　”ことがあったりして〝ね　there is hidden "if it happens, what should we do?" between なんて and　ね



Answer 2

One is that it's a contraction, so it would be "~ing such a thing." "If I said/did such a thing would be ludicrous, right?"

Second as a collocational phrase, it topicalizes something the speaker things is ridiculous or stupid.