Top 10 Shadiest Reality TV Villains
#10: Spencer Pratt
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“The Hills” (2006-10) Ever since his introduction to pop culture back in “The Hills” as Heidi’s new boyfriend, Spencer Pratt has been an absolute nightmare. From being the key factor in ruining Heidi and Lauren’s friendship, to his general all-around jerk attitude, Spencer has earned his terrible reputation. With MTV preparing to reboot “The Hills,” it looks like Pratt and Montag will both become a regular presence on television once again, but really, is this necessary? Pratt is basically a walking, talking cliché of L.A. reality TV culture. At what point does putting him on another show count as enabling his terrible behavior?
#9: Jonathan Baker
“The Amazing Race” (2001-) With some of these people, we have to wonder, did they not realize they were being filmed and that this was going to be broadcast? On “The Amazing Race 6,” contestant Jonathan Baker shows off how likable he is by bossing around and yelling at his wife, even shoving her at one point. Not cool. After their time on “Amazing Race,” the couple made a similarly controversial appearance on “Fear Factor.” Since then, things have been quiet on the reality television end, though the couple reportedly divorced back in 2010.
#8: Jax Taylor
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“Vanderpump Rules” (2013-) “Vanderpump Rules” is a spin-off of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” and the series lives up to its drama-filled beginnings, especially when it comes to Jax Taylor. He is a womanizing, whining, privileged man-child who gets paid to have meltdowns on television. In “Vanderpump,” when it’s revealed that Jax not only cheated on his girlfriend Stassi, but also got in the middle of another relationship between Kristen and Tom, he instantly becomes a villain in the audience’s eyes. With “Vanderpump Rules” still running strong, and Jax receiving his own spin-off with fiancé Brittany Cartwright, it doesn’t look like he’s leaving TV anytime soon.
#7: Omarosa Manigault Newman
“The Apprentice” (2004-17) In the mid-aughts, Omarosa was the queen of reality TV villains. With her sharp attitude and willingness to say anything, she became a star on “The Apprentice” by being the contestant most fans loved to hate. Omarosa savagely takes down several players before her words and attitude finally catch up with her, earning a “You’re Fired” from Trump. Omarosa parlayed her “Apprentice” appearance into a career ranging from a number of other reality TV appearances to a gig in Donald Trump’s White House, earning a vast number of enemies along the way.
#6: David "Puck" Rainey
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“Real World” (1992-) Back in the early days of popular reality television, “The Real World” was king. Part of the show’s rise can be attributed to one notorious house tenant: namely, David “Puck” Rainey. It’s clear that, like far too many reality villains after him, Rainey was starved for attention, and would do whatever it took to get it. In the case of his time on “The Real World,” that means not cleaning up after himself, maintaining poor hygiene, wearing offensive shirts, and, most notably, his racist, homophobic, toxic attitude towards fellow housemate Pedro Zamora, who was living with AIDS. Thankfully, Rainey’s behavior gets him kicked off the show.
#5: Courtney Robertson
“The Bachelor” (2002-) Most people don’t come on reality TV to make friends, including “Bachelor” contestant Courtney Robertson. (She did, after all, literally write the book on it.) xref During her time on the show, Robertson constantly fights with and insults her fellow contestants, and underhandedly takes bachelor Ben Flajnik skinny-dipping. Surprisingly, her season-long antics pay off when Ben chooses her to be that season’s winner, proposing in a shocking final rose ceremony. In the least-surprising development we could’ve imagined, their relationship dissolved just a few months later before the wedding took place. How will we ever believe in true love again?
#4: Jaremi Carey, AKA 'Phi Phi O'Hara'
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (2009-) Throughout Season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Phi Phi O’Hara steals the spotlight with her larger-than-life personality and stage persona; but that also comes with a never-ending string of insulting comments and an extremely negative attitude. Listen, we love reality TV drama as much as the next person, but somewhere along the line, O’Hara forgets that drag is supposed to be fun! Her negative attitude results in the show feeling dragged down. After placing as a runner-up in her first season, Phi Phi returned to compete in the show’s second “All Star” season in 2016, where she was eliminated about halfway through.
#3: Danielle Staub
“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (2009-) The ladies on “Real Housewives of New Jersey” aren’t exactly known for their restraint, but early-season star Danielle Staub takes things to an entirely different level. It seems there is no limit to Danielle’s capabilities for drama. Following outburst after outburst and numerous altercations, Danielle left the show following two seasons, returning a few years later in a more limited role. Upon her return, in what has to be an all-time great moment of pettiness, Danielle asks fellow housewife Teresa Giudice to apologize to her daughters for calling her a name almost eight years prior. Honestly, you have to give it up for her.
#2: Russell Hantz
“Survivor” (2000-) Throughout the history of “Survivor,” there have been quite a few memorable villains (*ahem* Jonny Fairplay), but when it comes down to it, no one can compare with Russell Hantz. Russell has proven himself to be the opposite of honorable, considering he lies about being a firefighter and victim of Hurricane Katrina; not to mention he’s already part-owner of an oil company, and doesn’t need the show’s prize money in the least! Hantz has appeared on three seasons of American “Survivor” and even had a short stint on the Australian iteration before being voted off. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Jenelle Evans “Teen Mom 2” (2011-) Wendy Pepper “Project Runway” (2004-) Marcel Vigneron “Top Chef” (2006-)
#1: Evel Dick Donato
“Big Brother” (2000-) Evel Dick, or Dick Donato, appears in “Big Brother 8” alongside his daughter and wins, which is incredible considering how much of a jerk he is the entire season. It’s unlikely you could find a more obnoxious personality in all of reality TV. From constantly berating his housemates to waking everyone up by yelling and banging pots and pans, this guy is seriously the worst. The fact that Donato is able to win this season of “Big Brother” just goes to show how far the villain strategy can get you on competitive reality shows, when done right. Or, rather, wrong.
