The 15 Most Hated TV Characters of All Time

About this gallery...

To keep things fair (and diverse), we’re limiting this list to just one character per series – otherwise, let’s be honest, half of this list might be dominated by Game of Thrones. And while these characters are undeniably loathed, we want to give credit where it’s due: the actors behind them did their jobs exceptionally well. It takes serious talent to portray someone so convincingly detestable that millions of viewers can’t stop talking about them. | © HBO

Amber Bennett – Invincible (2021)

If there’s one thing Invincible proved, it’s that even in a world filled with alien attacks and exploding heads, a high school girlfriend can still be the most controversial figure in the room. Amber Bennett started off as a strong, independent love interest, but it didn’t take long for viewers to turn on her. Her endless frustration with Mark’s disappearances – while he was literally out saving lives – came off as tone-deaf at best. Every eye-roll and passive-aggressive line made fans grit their teeth. And when she revealed she already knew his secret and still gave him grief? That was the final straw for a lot of people. Amber quickly went from “refreshingly normal” to “top-tier annoying.” | © Amazon MGM Studios

Nate Jacobs – Euphoria (2019)

Toxic masculinity, party of one. Nate Jacobs is the kind of guy you wouldn’t want anywhere near your group chat, let alone your actual life. He manipulates, threatens, lies, and bulldozes his way through Euphoria, leaving emotional wreckage in his wake. Whether he's blackmailing Jules or emotionally abusing Maddy, there’s no break from his chaos. And that icy, dead-eyed stare? Instant rage fuel. Fans didn’t just dislike him – they actively rooted against him. The character has become one of TV’s most hated not because he’s complex, but because he’s consistently awful. There’s no nuance here. Just one massive walking problem. | © HBO

Piper Chapman – Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Few TV protagonists have fallen from grace as quickly as Piper Chapman. She arrived in Orange Is the New Black as the “relatable” middle-class outsider, but it wasn’t long before fans were counting the minutes until she was off-screen. From her entitled attitude to her tendency to throw everyone under the bus when it suited her, Piper made it hard to root for her – ever. Even in moments where she was meant to be sympathetic, her privilege screamed louder than the script. The more the show expanded its focus to other characters, the more viewers realized how much better things were without her front and center. | © Lionsgate

Joffrey Baratheon – Game of Thrones (2011)

Nothing says “TV villain” quite like a teenage tyrant with a crown and a god complex. Joffrey Baratheon didn’t just abuse power – he made it unbearable to watch. With every smug command and act of cruelty, Game of Thrones fans felt their blood pressure rise. His reign of terror over King’s Landing, especially his relentless torment of Sansa Stark, made him one of the most universally hated characters in television history. The loathing ran so deep, in fact, that Jack Gleeson – the actor behind the crown – reportedly stepped back from acting in part due to the real-life harassment he faced from fans who couldn’t separate him from the role. That’s how convincing (and despised) Joffrey was. | © HBO

The Governor – The Walking Dead (2010)

Just when fans thought walkers were the worst thing they’d encounter, The Walking Dead introduced the Governor – and suddenly, zombies didn’t seem so bad. With his smooth voice, polished speeches, and secret torture chambers, he became the kind of villain you love to loathe. While others were trying to rebuild society, this guy was collecting severed heads in jars like they were baseball cards. The deception, the violence, the straight-up madness – it was a masterclass in bad leadership. And every time you thought he was finally out of the picture, he’d pop up again with even more sinister plans. | © AMC Studios

Rachel Berry – Glee (2009)

There’s confidence, and then there’s Rachel Berry. In Glee, she didn’t just want to be the star – she demanded it, every single episode, whether anyone asked or not. Her insufferable ambition, need for attention, and tendency to bulldoze anyone in her way made her a magnet for fan frustration. Even in group numbers, she somehow made everything about her. Apologies were rare, humility was nonexistent, and the dramatics were dialed to eleven. Watching her sabotage friendships or cry about being misunderstood became a weekly ritual. Yes, she could sing – but for many fans, it was hard to hear the notes over all the ego. | © 20th Century Fox Television

Skyler White – Breaking Bad (2008)

Before the internet loved villains, it loved to hate Skyler White. As Walter White’s wife in Breaking Bad, she became the target of endless viewer frustration – not for being evil, but for standing in the way. Her suspicious glances, constant confrontations, and refusal to “just let Walt cook” drove a portion of the fanbase wild. She wasn’t plotting murders or running cartels, but somehow managed to annoy people more than the actual drug dealers. Even when she made legitimate choices, fans read them as controlling or disloyal. She became one of TV’s most polarizing figures – and not because she was wrong, but because people wanted her out of the way. | © Sony Pictures Television

Jenny Humphrey – Gossip Girl (2007)

Ambition is one thing – but Jenny Humphrey made it feel like a contagious disease in Gossip Girl. Her rise from Brooklyn nobody to Upper East Side chaos agent left a trail of burned friendships, stolen ideas, and way too much eyeliner. She wanted to be queen bee, but never had the grace – or restraint – to pull it off. Every scheme felt more desperate than the last, and her constant boundary-pushing grated on even the most patient fans. The moments when she tried to play the victim didn’t land either – by then, the damage was done. Jenny wasn’t just disliked for what she did, but how she made the show feel when she was around: tense, petty, and exhausting. | © Warner Bros. Television / Alloy Entertainment

Ted Mosby – How I Met Your Mother (2005)

For someone supposedly telling the greatest love story ever, Ted Mosby made it unbelievably hard to root for him. In How I Met Your Mother, he was less a romantic hero and more a self-centered narrator dragging viewers through a decade of failed relationships and unnecessary drama. Every long-winded monologue felt more self-congratulatory than heartfelt. He idolized love but rarely respected the people he pursued. And don’t get fans started on that finale – after nine seasons of buildup, Ted’s last-minute pivot back to Robin felt like emotional whiplash. He talked like a poet, acted like a hypocrite, and wore out his welcome well before that last yellow umbrella scene. | © 20th Century Fox Television

Shō Tucker – Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)

Some TV characters are hated. Shō Tucker? He’s reviled. In Fullmetal Alchemist, this so-called “Sewing-Life Alchemist” shocked viewers with one of the darkest twists in anime history. When it was revealed that he fused his own daughter and dog into a chimera to preserve his State Alchemist license, the collective gasp was heard across anime fandoms worldwide. It wasn’t just heartbreaking – it was unforgivable. There was no redemption arc, no tragic backstory that could wash it away. Just pure, calculated cruelty. Even in a series filled with war, loss, and betrayal, Tucker stands alone as the character fans still can't bring themselves to watch again. His name alone sparks outrage, even decades later. | © JNN

Alan Harper – Two and a Half Men (2003)

Alan Harper spent an entire sitcom career being whiny, insecure, and thoroughly exhausting. No matter how many times he mooched off Charlie or complained about alimony, he never seemed to get the hint. His cheapness was legendary, his pity‑party phone calls endless, and his neuroses magnified by every episode. Fans didn’t tolerate Alan because he was relatable – they tolerated him because they had no choice. Every failed business venture or awkward social moment just piled on the cringe. His role wasn’t charming – it was a spiral of self‑pity. And when he had the nerve to preach morals? That’s when eye‑roll collective consciousness peaked. | © Warner Bros.

Janice Soprano – The Sopranos (1999)

Annoyance had a name: Janice Soprano. She barged into every scene with a shrill laugh, manipulative schemes, and an ability to turn family gatherings into staged dramas. Whether she was pulling emotional stunts or drawing Tony into one of her messes, she made every conversation worse. Her voice alone triggered viewer frustration – just the pitch of it was enough to make people cringe. She never let go of the chaos, even when she tried to reinvent herself in L.A. or start a family. Janice wasn't the strategist of the Soprano clan – she was its emotional landmine. And fans despised her not because she was evil, but because she made everything harder. | © HBO

Caillou – Caillou (1997)

If toddler television earned caricatures, Caillou would be its poster child. On the surface, he was an inquisitive four-year-old – but what turned viewers against him was perpetual whining, endless complaining, and tantrums over nothing. Every request felt entitled, every meltdown felt rehearsed. The show’s gentle format couldn’t mask the character’s ability to wear down even the most patient viewer. Parents and preschoolers alike complained that Caillou seemed incapable of saying “please” or hearing “no.” Despite being educational in intention, his behavior sparked more eye-rolls than applause. And that bald-headed glare? Almost cartoonishly grating. | © CINAR Corporation (later Cookie Jar Entertainment)

Ross Geller – Friends (1994)

Watching Ross Geller’s on-and-off romance with Rachel was painful, and not always in a sweet way. His obsessive jealousy, epic insecurity, and way-too-long explanations made fans wince more than celebrate. From obsessing over “we were on a break” to orchestrating passive-aggressive sandwiches at work, Ross made average discomfort feel sitcom-scale. His constant neediness overshadowed any charm he might’ve had. And the finale? After nine seasons of teary build-up, the pivot back to his ex felt like emotional whiplash. Ross didn’t earn sympathy – he earned exasperation. | © Warner Bros.

Scrappy‑Doo – Scooby‑Doo and Scrappy‑Doo (1979)

As soon as Scrappy-Doo showed up, the tone of the show changed – and not for the better. In Scooby‑Doo and Scrappy‑Doo, his ultra-enthusiastic catchphrases and reckless “ru-huh!” approach clashed with the original formula. Where Mystery Inc. once relied on mystery and mild scares, Scrappy brought pure chaos. Viewers loathed how he charged head-first into danger, no mystery-solving needed. His loud, small-dog bravado grated on nostalgia-heavy fans who wanted classic Scooby vibes – not puppy-sized bravado. He became the symbol of everything that went wrong with the franchise’s reboot phases. Enough said. | © Worldvision Enterprises