16 Most Hated Characters in TV History

16 Most Hated Characters in TV History

Television has given us countless memorable characters over the years, but not all of them won our hearts. Some characters were so annoying, cruel, or frustrating that viewers actively rooted against them. These antagonists and irritating personalities often drove plots forward, but at the cost of becoming universally disliked. Let’s take a look at the small-screen characters that had audiences throwing popcorn at their TVs.

1. Joffrey Baratheon

The sadistic boy king from ‘Game of Thrones’ tops many lists of TV villains. His cruel streak knew no bounds as he tormented Sansa Stark, ordered the execution of her father, and used his crossbow on unfortunate women.

Audiences cheered when his poisoning finally came, making his death one of the most satisfying TV moments ever. Actor Jack Gleeson’s performance was so convincing that he received hate mail from viewers who couldn’t separate fiction from reality. Joffrey embodied pure evil without redemptive qualities, making him the character everyone loved to hate.

2. Ramsay Bolton

Following Joffrey’s footsteps, Ramsay Bolton took cruelty to new levels in ‘Game of Thrones.’ His torture of Theon Greyjoy, sadistic hunting of women, and psychological warfare made viewers’ skin crawl with each appearance.

Unlike other villains who might have complexity, Ramsay seemed to exist purely to inflict pain. His wedding night scene with Sansa Stark remains one of the most controversial moments in the series, causing some viewers to stop watching altogether. When his own hounds finally turned on him, fans celebrated the poetic justice of his demise.

3. Skyler White

Walter White’s wife in ‘Breaking Bad’ faced unfair hatred from fans who saw her as an obstacle to Walt’s criminal endeavors. Viewers often missed that Skyler was reacting reasonably to her husband’s transformation into a drug kingpin.

The character became a lightning rod for misplaced anger, with actress Anna Gunn even receiving death threats. Her smoking while pregnant and affair with Ted further alienated viewers who were team Walt. Years later, many critics have reassessed Skyler as a rational character trapped in an impossible situation rather than the nagging wife she was unfairly labeled.

4. Lori Grimes

On The Walking Dead, Lori’s romance with Shane—Rick’s best friend—after thinking her husband had died caused a major stir. The love triangle became a source of tension both on-screen and among viewers.

Fans criticized her for poor parenting (“Where’s Carl?” became a show meme) and seemingly selfish decisions during the zombie apocalypse. Her character often made questionable choices that put others in danger. Though her death while giving birth was tragic, many viewers had already turned against her character, making her one of the least mourned major character deaths in the series.

5. Janice Soprano

Every time Tony’s sister popped up on The Sopranos, viewers braced themselves for her nasal monologues, Seattle shout-outs, and cringe-worthy tales of her “enlightenment.”

Janice manipulated everyone around her, including elderly people and vulnerable men. She would abandon her own child, return only when convenient, and somehow make herself the victim in every situation. Even in a show filled with murderers and criminals, Janice managed to be uniquely irritating in ways that made her stand out as particularly unlikable.

6. Ted Mosby

The main character of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ somehow became the most annoying person on his own show. Ted’s pretentious personality, constant relationship drama, and self-centered storytelling wore thin over nine seasons.

His obsession with finding “the one” while rejecting perfectly good partners made him seem entitled rather than romantic. Viewers grew tired of his architectural references and correcting people’s grammar while ignoring his own flaws. The series finale only cemented many fans’ dislike when it revealed his entire story was just justification for pursuing his children’s “Aunt Robin.”

7. Ross Geller

Despite being part of the beloved ‘Friends’ ensemble, Ross accumulated significant viewer dislike over ten seasons. His jealousy, possessiveness, and frequent whining about being “on a break” made him increasingly grating. Ross’s treatment of women raised eyebrows, from hiding Rachel’s messages to lying about annulling their Vegas marriage.

His condescending attitude about his education and constant need to be right in every situation didn’t help his case. Though David Schwimmer’s physical comedy provided laughs, Ross’s personality traits have aged poorly, making him the friend many modern viewers would prefer to unfriend.

8. Emily Waltham

Ross’s British wife on ‘Friends’ became a target of viewer hatred despite her reasonable reactions. After her groom said another woman’s name at their wedding, Emily demanded Ross cut Rachel from his life. Fans sided with Rachel and the core friend group, viewing Emily as an outsider trying to break up the show’s dynamics.

Her ultimatum to Ross seemed controlling, though it was understandable given the circumstances. Emily became the show’s convenient villain, allowing writers to end the marriage while keeping audience sympathy firmly with Ross despite his wedding day blunder.

9. Marnie Michaels

Armed with delusions of pop stardom and zero vocal talent, Marnie from Girls strutted through each scene with the unwavering confidence of someone who’s never been told “no.”

Her treatment of friends and romantic partners showed little empathy or self-awareness. The character seemed to represent the worst millennial stereotypes: privileged, narcissistic, and convinced of her own exceptionalism despite evidence to the contrary. Even in a show full of flawed characters, Marnie stood out for her ability to make everything about herself while remaining blind to her own shortcomings.

10. Jenny Humphrey

Starting as an innocent outsider on ‘Gossip Girl,’ Jenny’s transformation into a scheming Queen Bee made viewers turn against her. Her storyline devolved from sympathetic Brooklyn girl to power-hungry manipulator willing to hurt anyone in her path.

The character’s rebellion felt increasingly forced and unlikable, with dark makeup and attitude to match. Jenny’s attempt to break up Nate and Serena, drugging her own brother, and various betrayals of former friends cemented her villain status. Taylor Momsen’s real-life music career reportedly contributed to the character being written off, but many fans were relieved to see Jenny banished to Hudson.

11. Ezra Fitz

By romanticizing a student-teacher relationship, Pretty Little Liars glossed over the disturbing power dynamics at play—something that didn’t sit right with a large portion of the audience from the start.

The situation worsened when it was revealed Ezra knew Aria’s age when they met and had been researching the girls for a book. His stalking and manipulation were reframed as dedication to solving a mystery rather than the creepy behavior it actually was. Despite these red flags, the show gave Ezra a happy ending, leaving many fans disturbed by the normalization of his inappropriate conduct.

12. Piper Chapman

The protagonist of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ quickly became one of its least likable characters. Based on a real person, Piper’s privileged perspective and self-centered approach to prison life grew tiresome as viewers connected with the more compelling stories of other inmates.

Her “not like other criminals” attitude and tendency to create problems for herself and others made her increasingly frustrating. The character often seemed oblivious to her own privilege while making situations worse for more vulnerable women. Fortunately, the show expanded beyond Piper, allowing more diverse and interesting characters to take center stage as the series progressed.

13. Andy Bernard

Though Andy Bernard’s early arc on The Office hinted at redemption after his anger-management stint, the decision to elevate him to manager ultimately reversed that progress, leaving fans with a frustrating and inconsistent character.

His three-month boat trip abandoning both his job and girlfriend showed stunning selfishness. Andy’s constant name-dropping of Cornell, terrible singing ambitions, and entitled attitude made him increasingly difficult to root for. While many characters on The Office were flawed, Andy’s inconsistent characterization and regression made him particularly frustrating for fans who had previously warmed to him.

14. Pete Campbell

The ambitious account executive from ‘Mad Men’ earned viewer contempt through his smug attitude and entitled behavior. Pete’s treatment of women, including cheating on his wife with neighbors and coworkers, painted him as morally bankrupt. His constant social climbing and professional jealousy made him appear pathetic rather than driven.

Pete’s punchable face became a running joke among fans, with his beating by Lane Pryce becoming one of the show’s most satisfying moments. Though the character gained some depth over time, his early seasons established him as the man viewers loved to hate at Sterling Cooper.

15. Tariq St. Patrick

Despite living a life most could only dream of, Tariq from Power couldn’t resist sabotaging it all. Ignoring his father’s efforts to protect him, he ran straight into the very life Ghost tried to escape.

His betrayal of his family reached its peak when he became involved in the plot that led to his father’s death. Fans were particularly angry that such a disliked character not only survived but received his own spin-off series. Tariq embodied the worst kind of privileged teenager – ungrateful, reckless, and convinced he knew better than everyone around him.

16. April Nardini

The long-lost daughter who appeared in the later seasons of ‘Gilmore Girls’ quickly became the show’s most disliked character.

April’s sudden introduction felt like a contrived plot device designed solely to create problems between Luke and Lorelai. Her precocious personality and science project that discovered Luke was her father strained credibility. Fans resented how this character derailed the central romance they had been waiting years to see fulfilled. Though not the actress’s fault, April represented the worst kind of late-series addition – an unnecessary complication to a story that was already working perfectly well without her.