The Worst People in Reality TV History

Reality television is entertaining because of the terrible people it features, but there's a thin line between amusing terrible and just plain want-to-gauge-your-eyes-out-with-a-rusty-spoon terrible. Unfortunately for our eyes, the following is a list compiled of the latter: The worst of the worst reality stars to ever grace the small screen. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it—and we did it all for you. Ranked 1 to 25, these the the worst people in reality TV history.

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Written by Tanya Ghahremani (@tanyaghahremani)

25. Kevin Jonas

As seen on: Married to Jonas (2012-2013)

Kevin Jonas had one job when he agreed to this reality show with his wife, Danielle: Keep the audience entertained. He failed. Watching an episode of Married to Jonas is preferable to few things in life, like breaking your toe, and it’s all because of young K.J., because he just can’t stop being insecure and whiny in every episode.

Are we supposed to be endeared to him when there’s a scene featuring him following his wife throughout their entire house asking her why she can’t listen to his problems after she’s told him repeatedly that she could barely focus on anything because she was so tired. No one likes a whiny brat, especially when that brat is a moderately famous singer with more money in the bank than any of us will ever in our lifetimes. Get a therapist, like the rest of us.

24. Benjamin "Coach" Wade

As seen on: Survivor: Tocantins (2009); Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (2010); Survivor: South Pacific (2011)

Coach has appeared in a total of three Survivor spinoffs in his time, and on both he managed to stand out as a pathological liar and one of the most ridiculous people we’ve ever seen on reality television. It’s not clear why he felt the need to tell everyone that he was the “dragon slayer,” in Survivor: Tocatins, amongst other lies that included insane tales from his “experiences” as a professional kayaker—just that he did, and he really seemed to believe it, too.

To his credit, Coach did eventually realize how ridiculous calling himself the “dragon slayer” sounded, and in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, he decided he didn’t want anyone to call him that anymore. This breakthrough was short-lived, though: When he returned for Survivor: South Pacific, he was the “zen slayer,” whatever that means. Desperate for attention, much? At this rate, next he’ll be returning as the “vampire slayer.”

23. Danielle Staub

As seen on: Real Housewives of New Jersey (2009-2010); Famous Food (2011)

Insufferable cast members aside, Real Housewives of New Jersey offers much in the way of entertainment. One of the most memorable (apart from the time Teresa flipped a table over): When cast member Jacqueline Laurita’s daughter, Ashlee, took it upon herself to yank a chunk of Danielle Staub’s weave right off her scalp, because she believed that Staub had assaulted her mother.

If you’ve never seen the show, the snap reaction would be to feel sorry for Staub, but hold that thought. Staub had been a crappy mother, regularly putting her own well-being over that of her two teen daughters’, and she was constantly taking up the entire show with her drama. Luckily, she’s faded into obscurity since leaving the show in 2010, but the scars left from her stint—and the recent sex tape floating around the Internet—have yet to fade away.

22. Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino

As seen on: Jersey Shore (2009-2012); Dancing With the Stars (2010)

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was a mere annoyance in the first couple of seasons of Jersey Shore, but as time passed and salaries increased, he became the miserable reality star we know him as today. His habit of baring his abs any time a woman so much as looks at him alone would be enough to secure him a spot here, but Sitch managed to go above and beyond in recent years by spending a good chunk of Jersey Shore obsessed with making Snooki’s life a living hell.

In the fifth season, Sitch became obsessed with ruining the happiness Snooki had found with her new, serious boyfriend Jionni, and kept threatening that he would tell Jionni about some alleged tryst they’d had at a party around the time that the two had begun dating. Snooki denied that any hookup had ever happened, but The Situation wouldn't let up about the situation. Every episode brought another threat to expose her lies that he never followed through on—it became as monotonous as the fighting between Ron and Sam.

To make matters worse, Sitch spent all the time he wasn’t using to plan revenge against Snooki to complain about how no one in the house liked him, and how he was all alone because he had chosen the be the villain. He later alleged that this was because he had issues with alcohol and prescription pills, but the fact that he was sober and still an asshole in the last season leads us to believe that there's something innate in his character.

21. Omarosa Manigault

As seen on: The Apprentice (2004, 2013); The Surreal Life (2004); Girls Behaving Badly (2004); Fear Factor (2005) Celebrity Apprentice (2008)

Omarosa Manigault was a political consultant for Al Gore while he served as Vice President during the Clinton administration, but it wasn’t until she joined the then-brand new reality show The Apprentice in 2004 that she made a name for herself in the entertainment sector. Unfortunately, that name wasn’t a good one—Manigault managed to spend more time fighting than she did working on her business projects. She later claimed that the footage had been edited to make her look like a villain, saying, “historically, blacks have been portrayed negatively on reality television…we don't come across well.”

We would buy that completely, if it wasn’t for the fact that she went on to star in a few more reality shows including The Surreal Life and Girls Behaving Badly, before she ultimately returned to The Apprentice earlier this year—and she's still playing the villain.

20. Samantha "Sammi Sweetheart" Giancola

As seen on: Jersey Shore (2009-2012)

No matter how entertainting Jersey Shore was, it's been no easy feat getting past episode after episode of Ron and Sammi’s drama during the later seasons. Yes, Ron did Sammi wrong in Miami by hooking up with other girls and then coming home to her, and yes, she had every right to be angry at him. But when that anger started stretching for season after season after season, it became less understandable, something closer to "So forgiveness is a foreign concept to you?"

After a point, the show became the “Ron and Sam show” instead of what it was supposed to be—a reality series about eight overly tanned twenty-somethings partying on in Seaside Heights. No one watched the show for Sam yelling, “I’m done!” ten times in a row because Ron, like, inhaled.

19. Kris Jenner

As seen on: Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007-present); Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami (2009-present), Khloé & Lamar (2011-present), Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011-2012)

Kim is the standout star of the Kardashian clan, but matriarch Kris Jenner has the honor of being named one of the worst reality show stars of all time. She’s a "momager" who chooses clear favorites amongst her children—cough, Kim, cough—and her scenes on Keeping Up With the Kardashians are so contrived, it’s painful to watch.

For instance, a plot last season featured “marital troubles” in Bruce and Kris’ relationship: Bruce began golfing with his old friend Angie Everhart; Kris and Kim plus the whole E! crew “discreetly” spied on him; then Kris decided she totally needed to meet up with an ex-boyfriend for “closure” even though it had been 20+ years since they’d been together. Eventually, she found out that the ex was a gigantic asshole, and decided she loved Bruce after all. Problem solved!

We had more faith in Kim’s 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries than this.

18. Russell Hantz

As seen on: Survivor: Samoa (2009); Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (2010); Survivor: Redemption Island (2011)

Here's the Reader’s Digest version of Russell Hantz's scumbag escapades on the CBS reality series Survivor: He lied about being a Hurricane Katrina victim and losing his (fake) dog during the flooding; he burned another contestant’s socks; he dumped out his own team’s water supply; and he tried to buy the title of winner off of the winning contestant when he lost because he was a gigantic d-bag.

Oh, and as the owner of an oil rigging company, Hantz is a millionaire IRL, proving once and for all that life really isn’t fair.

17. Bentley Williams

As seen on: The Bachelorette (2011)

Admitting that you watch Bachelorette isn’t an easy thing to do, but we’re secure enough with ourselves to do just that. That out of the way, Bentley Williams was a proper jackass during the seventh season of the series. Two years after the fact, he remains one of the most hated contestants on the series, largely because he just lied and lied to bachelorette Ashley’s face during his time on the show.

When he was telling Ashley that he really cared for her, he was also telling the cameras that he just cared about winning the competition, and that Ashley was just physically attractive to him—nothing else.

“West is really hoping to get the rose, but I am very competitive and I will be pissed if I don't get the rose,” Bentley memorably said in one episode. “She's obviously a beautiful girl, she has an amazing butt, and rocking legs, and having her tickle my ****, I'm in. That would be amazing. The competition makes it exciting and competing for her, that's the extent in terms of my interest. She's just not my type.” And you’re just an asshole.

16. Farrah Abraham

As seen on: Teen Mom (2009-2012)

Farrah Abraham didn't become SMH material until after her time on MTV's Teen Mom, when she tried to cash in on her fame by making a porn video alongside adult film star James Deen. They called it Backdoor Teen Mom.

Here's what makes this lame: Abraham denies the whole thing was orchestrated. But James Deen tells a very different story: He claims he was hired for the video, and it was supposed to be released as a “home sex tape,” even though it was a planned production from the jump. Since the tape’s release, Abraham has been trying to model herself after former sex-tape queen Kim Kardashian, and is doing whatever she can to stay in the tabloids—whether it be getting bigger breast implants, or pretending to be the good, naive girl who just so happened to become embroiled in a scandal. Except, no.

And remember—all of this is coming from a young woman who became a mother as a teen. Her daughter will grow up and these kind of duplicitous stunts and shenanigans will be her mother's legacy.

15. Jon "Jonny Fairplay" Dalton

As seen on: Survivor: Pearl Islands (2003); Survivor: Micronesia (2008)

If that picture up there isn’t enough to convince you that Jonny Fairplay is a gigantic douche, get your eyes checked. This guy is a caricature given life. For instance, he thought it would be a good move to lie about his grandmother dying so his team would have some sympathy for him. In reality, though, his grandmother was alive, and Jonny had planned out the lie well in advance with the help of a friend. His grandmother reportedly found it amusing, but we’re skeptical about this—he basically told the world that she was dead just to get more airtime. That’s not hilarious, that’s shameless and terrible. Who does that?

Also, he’s the kind of guy who calls himself Jonny Fairplay, when his real name is actually Jon Dalton. Please, stop.

14. Jenelle Evans

As seen on: Teen Mom 2 (2011-2013)

Jenelle Evans has made a lot of questionable decisions during her time as a reality television star, most of them related to drug use and her ability to be a fit parent for her child. But it's one particular episode of Teen Mom 2 that earned her a spot in the hall of infamy for reality stars. In this 2012 episode, Jenelle is facing a tough decision. She has to choose between a 16-day stint in jail for drug charges or a year-long probation with frequent drug tests. Her lawyer proposes both options to her, and she’s ready to go with the former.

That is, until she realizes that the court dates conflict with a Ke$ha concert that she has tickets to, and she can’t miss that because she’s already spent money on clothes, hotels, and feather extensions for her hair in preparation. Also, Ke$ha is her “idol” who she watches on YouTube “30 times a day,” instead of, you know, taking care of her child. Youth really is wasted on the young.

13. Jon Gosselin

As seen on: Jon & Kate Plus 8 (2006-2009)

We're all for "don't judge a book by its cover," except when that book is a recently divorced male and the cover he's been sewn into is an Ed Hardy T-shirt. No disrespect to Christian Audigier—the clothing line just attracts jerks. Case-in-point: Jon Gosselin, who, after splitting with the mother of his eight children, proceeded to socialize on yachts dressed head to toe in the then-trendy brand.

There are a number of quality reasons for branding Gosselin a lousy approximation of a human being—ditching his family in favor of bleached blonde floozys and yacht cavorting is the biggest—but there's something about a desperate man in his 30s flexing in Ed Hardy that's especially unforgivable.

12. Courtney Stodden

As seen on: Couples Therapy (2012)

Can Courtney Stodden just go away now? Overexposure isn’t even the problem with this person—it’s exposure, period. She gained notoriety at the age of 16 by marrying a 51-year-old man who was best known for playing a creepy mutant serial killer on The X-Files (Doug Hutchison), and the media has rewarded her with attention and a stint on VH1’s Couples Therapy? Just when you think America can’t get any more shameless…

Stodden’s appearance on Couples Therapy wasn’t even that interesting to watch—it was more cringeworthy, because she was just a teenager wearing enough clothing to cover her nipples and crotch, and for some reason thought this made her a modern-day Erin Brokovich. She also admitted to accidentally calling her husband “daddy” sometimes, and Doug joked that sometimes he felt like he was “raising his wife.” This is maybe worthy of an episode of Strange Sex, nothing more.

11. Amber Portwood

As seen on: Teen Mom (2009-2012)

The fact that Amber Portwood is the only reality star on this list currently serving a prison sentence should tell you something.

During her time on Teen Mom, she was involved with Gary, and their relationship was without a doubt one of the most destructive, abusive relationships to ever be seen on television—and the most violent fights, both verbal and physical, were often in the presence of their young daughter, Leah. Watching real-life trauama is what shows like Teen Mom specialize in, but when that manifests itself as physical violence, especially in front of a young child, it’s time to turn the cameras off.

As we previously mentioned, Portwood is no longer living the life of a reality television star, as she’s currently serving a five-year prison sentence for drug charges from 2011.

10. Heidi Montag

As seen on: Laguna Beach (2005); The Hills (2006-2010); I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! (2009); Famous Food (2011); Celebrity Big Brother (2013)

Once upon a time ago, Heidi Montag was a sweet girl from Colorado who just so happened to befriend an MTV reality star during orientation at a San Francisco art school. Then, like so many before her, she moved to (West) Hollywood, was blinded by the lights of the reality show cameras that followed her every move, and become fixated on fame, beauty, and perfection. She got involved with Spencer Pratt, and, together, the two attempted to monopolize The Hills with their fake relationship and friendship drama. Montag, along with Pratt, even spread a rumor about her now-former BFF Lauren Conrad, claiming that there was a sex tape floating around featuring Lauren and Laguna Beach/The Hills star Jason Wahler.

There’s a saying that all press is good press, but that doesn’t apply in the case of Montag, whose face has, by now, appeared on the cover of virtually every tabloid out. That's what happens when you do things like have ten plastic surgery procedures done in one day. We wish her the best living with Pratt at his parents’ home in Santa Barbara.

9. Aaryn Gries

As seen on: Big Brother 15 (2013)

You've met Spencer and GinaMarie—let’s talk a little about their horrible roommate Aaryn Gries: This bleached blonde student/model claims she’s not a racist, but she still felt it right to say of her black roommate Candice: “Be careful what you say in the dark; you might not be able to see that bitch.” Add some homophobia to the mix—she predicted housemate Andy would win BB15 because “people love the queers”—and you’ve got one grade-A terrible person on your hands.

8. Chad Johnson

As seen on: Dancing With the Stars (2010); Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch (2010); Basketball Wives (2010-2012)

NFL star Chad Johnson/Ochocinco was a likeable enough guy during his appearances on Basketball Wives while he was dating star Evelyn Lozada, but it’s what happened off camera shortly after their wedding that earned him a spot on this list.

About a month after their July 2012 wedding, Johnson was arrested for allegedly headbutting Lozada during an argument, one that was reportedly sparked by a receipt she found for a box of condoms. He was arrested, and she promptly filed for divorce a few days later, saying that their union had been “irretrievably broken.” For a good month, he pleaded for forgiveness, and even got Lozada’s face tattooed on him in an attempt to win her back, but the damage had been done, physically and emotionally. The divorce was officially finalized in September.

On a positive note, Johnson has apologized and expressed regret. But we're still talking about a professional athlete who knows exactly what his body can do.

7. Spencer Clawson

As seen on: Big Brother 15 (2013)

What is it about reality TV stars named Spencer? This particular Spencer is a newbie in the reality television world, a player on the current season of Big Brother. Still, he's bad enough to make this list. Why? Uh, child pornography. Here's an exceprt from the Huffington Post:

His comments, which seemingly were in jest, were captured on the “Big Brother” live feed on Monday, August 5. While fellow housegust McCrae Olson was in the shower, it looked like Spencer took his microphone and said the following directly into it.

"I like to b*** off to child porn. Did I ever tell y’all about that?" he asked Andy Herren and Amanda Zuckerman. "Oh, I love it. B***ing off to child porn is my favorite thing there is. I love it when they’re around 3 or 4 years old. My favorite ones are when you can tell they’re filming in a basement somewhere in Minnesota."

Spencer was joking, but it’s no matter—making jokes about child pornography is like making jokes about rape, it shouldn’t happen.

This incident was only the latest in a string of insensitive comments he's been making in his campaign for worst human being on a reality TV show ever: He’s made homophobic comments towards his openly gay housemate Andy, calling him “Kermit the Fag” and “Faggoty Ann," and has praised Hitler’s “speaking abilities.”

6. GinaMarie Zimmerman

As seen on: Big Brother 15 (2013)

Man, Big Brother really knows how to pick ‘em. If you thought you’d seen the worst with Spencer and his jokes about child pornography, meet GinaMarie Zimmerman: She’s a bleached blonde former beauty queen who likes to refer to the country’s welfare program as “n***er insurance,” and said of her Asian roommate: “[she] should be kissing our ass and serving us some fucking rice.”

Worst human of 2013 award? We can’t even decide which Big Brother contestant deserves that honor.

5. David "Puck" Rainey

As seen on: The Real World: San Francisco (1993); Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Sexes (2002-2003)

The thing known as Puck was such an asshole during his time on The Real World: San Francisco back in 1993 that he became the asshole that other reality television assholes aspire to be like. Here's the briefest of summaries: Puck had issues keeping clean and hygienic, was disrespectful toward his other roommates, and often made gay jokes in the presence of his homosexual roommate, Pedro.

His most disgusting act though, both literally and figuratively, was eating Pedro’s peanut butter and sticking his boogers into the jar knowing very well that Pedro had to watch his immune system because he was HIV positive. Puck was in his mid-20s when he did this—way past the age of knowing better.

4. Colton Cumbie

As seen on: Survivor: One World (2012)

The 22-year-old Alabama native made a strong entrance on Survivor, cementing his status as the worst of its cast members. From the get-go, he made it clear that he was a raging Republican and a raging racist, which is made even more fucked up when you find out that he’s gay. You'd think he'd be able to empathize with minorities for the struggles they face when it comes to acceptance and equality.

Instead, he votes out one of his fellow contestants because he’s black. Cumbie describes the man as “ghetto trash," before adding that he doesn’t like the guy because “He’s obnoxious, he’s loud. He’s a struggling stand-up comic. Like, get a real job.” Loaded words, jerk-off. We should also point out that Cumbie himself was unemployed at the time, and bragging about it on the show.

When accused of being racist, he replied that he has lots of African-American people in his life, like “my housekeeper—she’s like a member of our family."

3. Stephen Williams

As seen on: The Real World: Seattle (1998)

One scene fated Stephen Williams to forever be remembered as one of the worst reality stars of all time: In an episode of 1998’s The Real World: Seattle, Irene announces that she had Lyme disease, and that she was making the decision to leave the series because the “toxic environment” wasn’t good for her health. As she was preparting to leave in a cab, she got into an intense fight with Stephen in front of the entire cast. She said that a marriage between the two would never work because, “you’re a homosexual, Stephen.”

Stephen went crazy, proceeding to tell her she was wrong, calling her a bitch, throwing her favorite teddy bear into the river, then—in the most shocking moment—hitting her right in the face. Right. In. The. Face. That's how you live a life of infamy.

Fun fact: Stephen came out in 2008.

2. Donald Trump

As seen on: The Apprentice (2004-present); Celebrity Apprentice (2008-present)

If that awful comb over isn’t enough to make you want to gag when Donald Trump pops up on screen in The Apprentice, how about everyt time he spits out his tired catchphrase, “You’re fired”? No?

How about his Twitter feed, where he’s constantly writing the dumbest shit known to man, like “China’s Communist Party has now publicly praised Obama’s reelection. They have never had it so good. Will own America soon,” and “It’s freezing and snowing in New York—we need global warming!” Yup, that should do it. Get this man off the TV. We don't deserve this.

1. Spencer Pratt

As seen on: The Princes of Malibu (2005); The Hills (2006-2010); I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! (2009); Celebrity Big Brother (2013)

Before Sammi and Ron were taking over Jersey Shore with their ridiculous relationship problems, there was Spencer and Heidi on The Hills, faking breakups, make-ups, and addictions to buying expensive, mystical rocks. OK, that last one was just Pratt, and it was hilarious, but our point stands: This guy ruined the show. When he first joined the cast alongside reality television vet Brody Jenner, he wasn’t so bad—and his love of stepping out on Heidi with Playboy bunnies was entertaining for a show like The Hills, which feeds off drama to survive.

It soon became clear, however, that Pratt had been watching one too many episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and was obsessed with becoming famous for doing nothing. He, along with Montag, alienated the rest of the cast, and began faking fights and posing for the paparazzi like it was their day job. Actually, it was—their main source of income was tabloids, which is why he and his bride are now broke, and living with his parents in Santa Barbara. Glam life!

We really can’t hate on his faux-obsession with magical rocks, though. That was golden television.