Top 100 Most Hated TV Characters Of All Time (2025 List)

Television has given us countless memorable characters, but some are remembered for all the wrong reasons. From sadistic villains to annoying protagonists, these characters have earned widespread hate from viewers across the globe. 

These characters spark intense debate and evoke strong emotional responses, proving that love isn’t the only powerful connection viewers can have with characters on screen. In this article, we will cover the top 100 most hated characters and why they are hated. 

Top 10 Most Hated TV Characters

The most despised characters in television history share certain traits: they’re often cruel, selfish, or are obstacles to beloved protagonists. Some were designed to be hated, while others earned audience hate unintentionally. 

Here’s the list of top 10 television’s most loathed characters.

Rank	Character	Show
1	Joffrey Baratheon	Game of Thrones
2	Ramsay Bolton	Game of Thrones
3	Skyler White	Breaking Bad
4	Shou Tucker	Fullmetal Alchemist*
5	Rachel Berry	Glee
6	Livia Soprano	The Sopranos
7	Caillou	Caillou
8	The Governor	The Walking Dead
9	Cersei Lannister	Game of Thrones
10	Todd Alquist	Breaking Bad

Now, we will get into details about each character, their role in the show, and why fans hate them from the bottom of their hearts.

1. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)

Joffrey wasn’t just a villain; he is the best example of ill-tempered, sadistic tyranny. As the boy-king, his cruelty knew no bounds, getting pleasure from tormenting Sansa Stark, executing Ned Stark on a whim, and abusing anyone weaker than him.

His cowardice in actual battle contrasted sharply with his arrogance, making his every smile and command utterly infuriating for viewers who desperately awaited his downfall.

2. Ramsay Bolton (Game of Thrones)

If Joffrey was a cruel brat, Ramsay was a calculating monster who took sadism as an art form. His systematic torture of Theon Greyjoy (“Reek”), brutal rape and abuse of Sansa Stark, and liking for hunting humans with dogs showcased profound depravity.

Ramsay lacked any redeeming qualities, embodying pure evil that made audiences recoil and cheer fervently for his eventual, brutal demise.

3. Skyler White (Breaking Bad)

Skyler’s placement is controversial, often attributed to misogynistic viewpoints, but many viewers genuinely disliked her perceived hypocrisy and obstruction of Walt’s plans.

While Walt got into the drug business, Skyler’s moral objections and actions (like the affair with Ted Beneke or giving Walt’s money away) were seen by some as irritating obstacles rather than understandable reactions to her husband becoming a criminal kingpin. Her complexity and impulsive nature are the reasons why every Breaking Bad fan hates her.

4. Shou Tucker (Fullmetal Alchemist / Brotherhood)

Shou Tucker earned universal condemnation for one monstrous act: fusing his young daughter, Nina, and her dog, Alexander, into a chimera to maintain his State Alchemist certification.

This horrific betrayal of innocence and parental duty, driven by selfish ambition, is a singularly shocking and unforgivable moment in anime history, making Tucker an eternally hated figure for his cold, calculated cruelty against his own family.

5. Rachel Berry (Glee)

Unlike the outright villains, Rachel Berry’s unpopularity stems from her overwhelming ambition, perceived selfishness, and often irritating personality. While talented, her relentless pursuit of stardom frequently led her to undermine friends, demand the spotlight, and act entitled.

Many viewers found her character arc repetitive and her personality irritatingly self-absorbed, making her a frequent target of audience frustration despite being a protagonist.

6. Livia Soprano (The Sopranos)

Tony Soprano’s manipulative and miserable mother, Livia, was a masterclass in psychological antagonism.

Her negativity, passive-aggression, and willingness to conspire against her own son (even attempting to have him killed) made her a profoundly unsettling and hateful figure. Livia represented the toxic familial roots of Tony’s own issues, embodying a suffocating, joyless presence that viewers found chillingly repellent.

7. Caillou (Caillou)

The titular character of this children’s show is widely despised by parents and non-viewers alike for his constant whining, bratty behavior, and lack of consequences. Caillou often throws tantrums to get his way, displaying impatience and entitlement.

Many adults exposed to the show find his voice and actions intensely annoying, making him a surprising, yet understandable, fixture on hated character lists for representing frustrating toddler behavior.

8. The Governor (The Walking Dead)

Philip Blake, known as The Governor, was a charismatic but ruthless leader whose descent into paranoid tyranny provided a chilling human counterpoint to the zombie threat.

His charm masked deep cruelty, shown by his hoarding of walkers (including his undead daughter), brutal torture of rivals like Glenn and Michonne, and the massacre of his own people. His blend of charisma and barbarity made him a compelling but deeply hated antagonist.

9. Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Cersei’s ruthless ambition, incestuous relationship with her brother Jaime, and cruelty make her a primary antagonist throughout Game of Thrones. 

While occasionally showing vulnerability (mostly regarding her children), her defining traits were pride, paranoia, and a willingness to destroy anyone in her path. These traits led to the fiery destruction of the Sept of Baelor. Her complex villainy earned her both fascination and intense hatred.

10. Todd Alquist (Breaking Bad)

Todd represented chilling, sociopathic emptiness. His polite facade masked a complete lack of empathy, most horrifyingly demonstrated when he shot and killed young Drew Sharp without hesitation simply because he witnessed their train heist.

His later actions, including enslaving Jesse Pinkman and murdering Andrea Cantillo, solidified his status as one of television’s most disturbing and hate-worthy characters due to his unnerving, detached cruelty.

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Top 20 Most Hated TV Characters

Beyond the most infamous characters, television history is filled with other intensely disliked figures. These characters may not have achieved the universal hatred of those in the top ten but have nonetheless earned significant viewer antipathy.

Characters like Andy Bernard from The Office went through personality changes that were seen as annoying or out-of-character, especially in later seasons. Similarly, Dawn Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was disliked for being perceived as whiny and changing the show’s established dynamic upon her introduction.

Despite being the protagonist, Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother gets frustrated with his selfishness, pretentiousness, and drawn-out romantic pursuits.

Here is a list of the top 20 TV characters:

Rank	Character	Show
11	Andy Bernard	The Office (US)
12	Dawn Summers	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
13	Ted Mosby	How I Met Your Mother
14	Piper Chapman	Orange Is the New Black
15	Will Schuester	Glee
16	Ellis Grey	Grey’s Anatomy
17	Scrappy-Doo	Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo
18	Janice Soprano	The Sopranos
19	King Bumi (Movie)	The Last Airbender (M. Night)
20	Pete Campbell	Mad Men

100 Most Hated TV Characters

The list of disliked characters extends far beyond the commonly known examples, covering genres and decades of television history.

Further down the list, we have characters like Marnie Michaels from Girl, who are unpleasant to viewers due to narcissism and cringe-worthy behavior.

Despite being a core member of the beloved sitcom, Ross Geller from Friends is criticized for his possessiveness in relationships (especially with Rachel), academic snobbery, persistent whining, and moments of profound insecurity that show in his controlling behavior.

Ezra Fitz from Pretty Little Liars remains controversial and disliked for his inappropriate relationship with a teenage student, regardless of the show’s romantic framing. Now, continuing the list, here is a list of the top 100 hated TV characters.

Rank	Character	Show
21	Marnie Michaels	Girls
22	Ross Geller	Friends
23	Ezra Fitz	Pretty Little Liars
24	Hannah Horvath	Girls
25	Nellie Bertram	The Office (US)
26	Chuck Bass	Gossip Girl
27	Oliver Queen (later seasons)	Arrow
28	Randy Pearson	That ’70s Show
29	Andrea Harrison	The Walking Dead
30	Warren Mears	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
31	Frank Gallagher	Shameless (US)
32	Dr. Robert Romano	ER
33	Kimmy Gibbler	Full House / Fuller House
34	Jar Jar Binks	Star Wars: The Clone Wars
35	Cousin Oliver	The Brady Bunch
36	Felicity Smoak (later seasons)	Arrow
37	April Kepner	Grey’s Anatomy
38	Ed Peletier	The Walking Dead
39	Jack Gleeson (as Joffrey)*	Game of Thrones
40	George Mason	24
41	Lori Grimes	The Walking Dead
42	Wesley Crusher	Star Trek: The Next Generation
43	Janice Litman-Goralnik	Friends
44	Olly	Game of Thrones
45	Nikki Fernandez	Lost
46	Paulo	Lost
47	Dana Brody	Homeland
48	Marie Schrader	Breaking Bad
49	A.J. Soprano	The Sopranos
50	Terri Schuester	Glee
51	Peggy Hill	King of the Hill
52	Angelica Pickles	Rugrats
53	Chuck McGill	Better Call Saul
54	Euron Greyjoy	Game of Thrones
55	Izzie Stevens	Grey’s Anatomy
56	Kate Austen	Lost
57	Owen Hunt	Grey’s Anatomy
58	Connor	Angel
59	Kennedy	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
60	Spencer Monroe	The Walking Dead
61	The Great Gazoo	The Flintstones
62	Emily Waltham	Friends
63	Robert California	The Office (US)
64	Newman	Seinfeld
65	Susan Ross	Seinfeld
66	Julie Taylor	Friday Night Lights
67	Marlo Stanfield	The Wire
68	Christopher Moltisanti	The Sopranos
69	High Sparrow	Game of Thrones
70	Nicholas	The Walking Dead
71	Charles Miner	The Office (US)
72	D.W. Read	Arthur
73	Dawson Leery	Dawson’s Creek
74	Will Truman	Will & Grace
75	Tori Vega	Victorious
76	Shane Walsh	The Walking Dead
77	Dr. Temperance Brennan	Bones
78	Claire Underwood	House of Cards
79	Ellaria Sand	Game of Thrones
80	Michael Dawson	Lost
81	Vanessa Abrams	Gossip Girl
82	Jenny Humphrey	Gossip Girl
83	Tom Haverford	Parks and Recreation
84	Gary Walsh	Veep
85	Laurel Castillo	How to Get Away with Murder
86	Gemma Teller Morrow	Sons of Anarchy
87	Zach Goodweather	The Strain
88	Carl Grimes	The Walking Dead
89	Xander Harris	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
90	Howard Wolowitz	The Big Bang Theory
91	Mandy Hampton	The West Wing
92	Sebastian Smythe	Glee
93	Billy Walsh	Entourage
94	Janice Dickinson	America’s Next Top Model
95	Spencer Pratt	The Hills
96	Jax Taylor	Vanderpump Rules
97	Pepe Le Pew	Looney Tunes
98	Eric Cartman	South Park
99	Flowers	Flowers
100	Ted Buckland	Scrubs

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Conclusion: Joffrey, Ramsay, And Skyler Are The Most Hated Characters

Joffrey Baratheon is unforgettable for his mean, sadistic cruelty, showing the terrifying power held by a spoiled, vicious child whose every action provoked viewer outrage. Then there’s Ramsay Bolton, remembered for his extreme, deliberate sadism, and Skyler White, whose difficult choices against Walt frustrated many viewers, proving dislike comes in many forms. 

Characters like these, villains or not, capture our attention and make television much more interesting. In the end, the characters viewers strongly dislike are just as important to TV shows as the heroes we love.

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