If you thought likes were the only thing that mattered on YouTube, think again. While millions of creators chase those sweet thumbs-up, there’s another side of the story – the videos that earned massive public backlash.
From controversial music videos to disappointing rewinds, the platform has seen some legendary flops. In this blog, we’re diving into the most disliked YouTube videos of all time. Expect drama, disappointment, and a few “how did this even happen?” moments.
Note: This list is based on a mix of publicly available dislike counts (before YouTube removed public dislike visibility in 2021), official data from Wikipedia, and additional context around audience reception.
What Is the Most Disliked Video on YouTube Ever?
The title of the most disliked video on YouTube ever goes to “YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind”, uploaded in December 2018. It racked up over 19 million dislikes before YouTube disabled public dislike counts.
The video faced massive backlash for feeling out of touch, ignoring major creators, and being overly sanitized. Viewers felt it represented corporate YouTube rather than the actual community – and they didn’t hold back.
Top 10 Most Disliked YouTube Videos of All Time
YouTube is a platform where content can go viral for various reasons, not all of them positive. Some videos have garnered significant backlash, leading to millions of dislikes. Here’s a look at the top 10 most disliked YouTube videos, based on data available before YouTube hid public dislike counts in 2021.
Rank | Video Title | Channel | Dislikes (Before Hidden) | Reason for Backlash |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind | YouTube | 19.94 million | Perceived as out of touch and excluding major creators. |
2 | Baby Shark Dance | Pinkfong | 14.97 million | Repetitive nature leading to viewer fatigue. |
3 | Sadak 2 Trailer | Fox Star Studios | 13.67 million | Accusations of nepotism in Bollywood. |
4 | Baby | Justin Bieber | 12.47 million | Overexposure and backlash against teen pop. |
5 | Johny Johny Yes Papa | LooLoo Kids | 11.95 million | Criticized for low-quality animation and content. |
6 | YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record | YouTube | 9.26 million | Viewed as a lackluster follow-up to the 2018 Rewind. |
7 | Bath Song | Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes | 5.60 million | Annoying repetition and simplistic content. |
8 | Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm | Miroshka TV | 6.98 million | Creepy animation and nonsensical content. |
9 | Lakdi ki Kathi | Jingle Toons | 3.03 million | Criticized for low-quality animation and content. |
10 | Wheels on the Bus | Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes | 3.03 million | Annoying repetition and simplistic content. |
Now, let us look at the breakdown of the top 10 most disliked YouTube videos.
1. YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind – YouTube
This video became notorious for feeling disconnected from the actual YouTube community. It omitted major creators like PewDiePie and focused heavily on corporate-safe content and celebrities.

Viewers criticized it as cringeworthy, overly sanitized, and inauthentic. The backlash was swift, leading it to become the most disliked video on the platform. YouTube later acknowledged the criticism but disabled comments and kept the dislike count visible at the time.
2. Baby Shark Dance – Pinkfong
“Baby Shark Dance” gained massive popularity but also a surprising amount of dislike due to its repetitive, catchy tune that some found annoying or even irritating over time. While kids loved it, many adults expressed frustration online, leading to a polarized reaction.

Pinkfong did not disable comments or dislikes, instead embracing the viral success and continuing to release similar content, turning the controversy into a marketing win. This is also the most viewed video on YouTube.
Check the most-viewed music videos on YouTube.
3. Sadak 2 Trailer – Fox Star Studios
The Sadak 2 trailer became highly controversial amid accusations of Bollywood nepotism, especially after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Fans strongly disliked the trailer, blaming the Bhatt family for promoting industry insiders over outsiders.

The public backlash made it one of the most disliked videos on YouTube. Pooja Bhatt defended the film publicly, while Alia Bhatt reportedly disabled comments on her social media to avoid negativity.
4. Baby – Justin Bieber
Released in 2010, “Baby” became both a massive hit and a target of criticism for its repetitive lyrics and catchy yet polarizing chorus. Many viewers found it annoying, leading to a huge number of dislikes and meme parodies.

Despite the backlash, Justin Bieber embraced the attention, keeping comments and dislikes active, and continued engaging with fans through social media and new releases.
5. Johny Johny Yes Papa – LooLoo Kids
The “Johny Johny Yes Papa” nursery rhyme by LooLoo Kids became one of the most disliked videos on YouTube due to its repetitive lyrics and simplistic animation, which many parents found irritating.

The video’s portrayal of a child lying to his father, even in a playful context, raised concerns among viewers about promoting dishonesty. Despite the backlash, LooLoo Kids did not disable comments or dislikes, continuing to produce similar content for children.
6. YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record – YouTube
This Rewind tried to fix the previous year’s backlash by showing a simple highlight reel of top creators and trends. However, fans called it lazy and uninspired, criticizing the lack of original content.

The video quickly gained millions of dislikes. YouTube left comments and dislikes on but admitted the criticism. Ultimately, it was the last Rewind video before the series was discontinued.
7. Bath Song – Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
CoComelon’s “Bath Song,” released in May 2018, became one of the most disliked videos on YouTube, amassing over 8.9 million dislikes. The song’s repetitive lyrics and fast-paced animation, designed to captivate young children, led to criticism from parents and educators.

Concerns were raised about its overstimulating effects on toddlers, potentially hindering speech development and executive function. Despite the backlash, CoComelon did not disable comments or dislikes, continuing to produce similar content.
8. Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm – Miroshka TV
Miroshka TV’s “Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm” became controversial due to its simplistic and repetitive content, featuring animated eggs changing colors, which some parents found monotonous and unsettling.

The video amassed billions of views, primarily from young children, raising concerns about its overuse of autoplay features and potential overstimulation. Despite the criticism, Miroshka TV has not publicly responded or disabled comments or dislikes, continuing to produce similar content.
9. Lakdi ki Kathi – Jingle Toons
This animated version of the classic Hindi children’s song received criticism for lacking the charm and authenticity of the original. Many viewers found the animation and presentation disappointing or overly commercialized.

The video gained millions of dislikes, reflecting mixed public sentiment. Jingle Toons did not publicly respond to the backlash nor disable comments or dislikes on the video.
10. Wheels on the Bus – Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes
CoComelon’s “Wheels on the Bus” video, released in May 2018, became one of the most disliked videos on YouTube, accumulating over 6.9 million dislikes. The video faced criticism for its repetitive and overstimulating content, which some parents and educators felt was not conducive to healthy child development.

Despite the backlash, CoComelon did not disable comments or dislikes, continuing to produce similar content for young audiences.
Why Did YouTube Hide The Dislike Count?
In 2021, YouTube made a big change by hiding the public dislike counts on videos. The official reason was to protect creators from targeted harassment and dislike attacks, which had become common and harmful. YouTube believed this would encourage a more positive environment.
However, the community’s reaction was mixed – many creators and viewers felt it reduced transparency and made it harder to gauge a video’s quality at a glance. Despite this, dislikes can still be seen privately by creators.
Most Disliked Music Videos on YouTube
Music videos often rack up millions of views – and sometimes, millions of dislikes too. This happens because of hate-watching, where viewers tune in mostly to criticize or join the buzz around controversial or polarizing songs.
Note: Since “Baby” by Justin Bieber and “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong were already covered earlier, they are excluded here to avoid repetition.
Rank | Music Video | Artist | Dislikes (Est.) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Friday | Rebecca Black | 3.96 million |
2 | Shake It Off | Taylor Swift | 3.30 million |
3 | Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) | Shakira | 3.12 million |
4 | Gangnam Style | PSY | 2.90 million |
5 | Dark Horse | Katy Perry | 2.80 million |
6 | Trollz | 6ix9ine & Nicki Minaj | 2.50 million |
7 | Hot Problems | Double Take | 2.10 million |
8 | Friday (Remix) | Rebecca Black ft. Dave Days | 1.90 million |
9 | Anaconda | Nicki Minaj | 1.85 million |
10 | Shake It Off (Lyric Video) | Taylor Swift | 1.70 million |
Music videos often attract large-scale hate-watching due to overexposure, divisive fan reactions, or simply not meeting expectations. These videos prove how quickly public opinion can turn, even for chart-topping hits.
Most Disliked Videos by Category
YouTube’s most disliked videos span across various categories, showing that no genre is immune to public criticism. From branded content to children’s videos and political uploads, each category has its own reasons for sparking massive backlash.
Corporate or Branded Videos
Branded content like YouTube Rewinds often tops the dislike charts. The YouTube Rewind 2018 and 2019 videos faced huge backlash for being out of touch with the community. Similarly, trailers like Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and aggressive ads have also attracted waves of dislikes due to fan disappointment or perceived insincerity.
Children’s Content
Surprisingly, kids’ videos aren’t safe from dislikes either. Videos like Johny Johny Yes Papa and certain Cocomelon songs often get mass dislikes. This happens because of their repetitive, simple content that some viewers find annoying or overplayed, turning them into targets for hate-watching even outside the usual audience.
Political or Controversial Uploads
Political videos and controversial topics regularly stir strong reactions. Certain uploads have triggered backlash due to their messages or timing, resulting in a surge of dislikes. These videos become hotbeds for debate, reflecting the polarized opinions viewers bring to YouTube’s platform.
How to Still See Dislikes on YouTube
Even though YouTube hides public dislike counts, you can still check them using tools like the “Return YouTube Dislike” browser extension. This handy extension estimates dislike numbers by collecting data before the change and tracking user feedback over time – giving you a good idea of how much a video is disliked without YouTube showing it directly.
Conclusion: “YouTube Rewind 2018” Tops The List Of Dislikes
To sum it up, the world of most disliked YouTube videos is as diverse as it is fascinating. From the record-breaking backlash against YouTube Rewind 2018 to the surprising dislikes on children’s content like Johny Johny Yes Papa, and the widespread hate-watching of certain music videos, each category tells its own story.
Corporate videos often face criticism for missing the mark, while political uploads stir strong emotions. Despite YouTube hiding dislike counts, tools like the Return YouTube Dislike extension keep transparency alive. It’s a wild ride – and the dislikes keep telling the story!
FAQs
YouTube hid dislikes in 2021 to protect creators from harassment and targeted dislike attacks, aiming to create a more positive environment on the platform.
YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind holds the record with over 19 million dislikes due to fan disappointment and criticism.
Using browser extensions like Return YouTube Dislike, you can estimate dislike numbers even though YouTube hides them publicly.
Kids’ videos like Johny Johny Yes Papa often get disliked for repetitive content and annoyance, attracting both young viewers and adults who hate-watch them.
Apart from “Baby” and “Baby Shark Dance,” videos like Rebecca Black’s “Friday” and Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” rank high on dislike lists.
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