Most Disliked Celebrity of 2025! You’ll Never Guess Who Won!

A survey of more than a million people cast their votes in the annual Ranker poll of “Most Disliked Celebrities of 2025”. The results are as telling as they are surprising. What drives massive public disdain toward certain celebrities? And how did the top spot wind up where it did? This article unpacks the full story: the methodology, the ranking, the social dynamics, and the broader implications.

The Poll and Its Significance

Every year, Ranker invites its users to vote on a variety of lists. One of the most popular is the “Most Disliked Celebrities” list, where fans and critics alike rate public figures they believe merit the title of most unpopular. In the 2025 cycle, over 78,000 votes have been tallied so far.

While such polls are obviously informal and should not be mistaken for rigorous sociological studies, they do reveal patterns of public opinion—especially when a large number of votes accumulate. The key isn’t just who lands at number one, but why they did, and what that says about celebrity culture, public expectations, and backlash in the digital age.

Key Findings from the 2025 List

According to Ranker’s list:

At #1 is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (Meghan Markle). Ranker+1

At #2 is Sean “Diddy” Combs. Ranker+1

At #3 is Jada Pinkett Smith. Ranker

These rankings are based on the number of votes (up‐votes) collected by each celebrity, though because the list remains dynamic, down‐votes and changing public sentiment can also shift the order over time.

Why Meghan Markle Topped the List

Meghan Markle’s position at the top is notable and instructive. Several factors appear to contribute to her leading vote total:

Visibility and public narrative
As a former actress turned royal, and now a prominent public figure with philanthropic and business ventures, Meghan has remained hypervisible. Visibility often correlates with scrutiny: the more people see you, the more reasons there are for both admiration and dislike.

Polarizing coverage and cultural shifts
Her marriage to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and their departure from senior royal duties have been intensely covered and debated. For some, she represents modernizing forces in aristocracy; for others, she symbolizes media manipulation or perceived entitlement. That polarization likely fuels high disdain scores.

Online mobilization
Ranker lists thrive on the participation of strongly motivated voters. Individuals who feel strongly opposed to a celebrity are more likely to vote repeatedly and rally others. Some Reddit threads show fans urging others to support Meghan’s top spot.

The “hate‐vote” paradox
Interestingly, being disliked does not always mean being ignored. Some celebrities become targets of active disdain because they remain relevant, accessible, and provoke strong emotion—positive or negative. The list reflects engagement as much as negativity.

The Broader Field: Who Else Made the Cut?

Beyond the top three, the list includes a wide spectrum of celebrities: from entertainers, reality TV stars, athletes, to business figures. For instance:

Prince Harry appears at a high ranking (#4) with tens of thousands of votes. Ranker

Elon Musk—though primarily a tech/business figure—shows up in lists of most disliked, demonstrating how the category spans beyond strictly entertainment. Ranker

The reasons these names appear are varied: perceived arrogance, negative public incidents, social media behavior, political views, or simply overexposure. Importantly, the ranking is not solely about one scandal; cumulative behaviors and public perception matter.

Interpreting the Rankings: What It Shows

There are several broader insights that this list provides into celebrity culture and public sentiment in 2025:

1. Dislike = attention
Celebrities often benefit from high visibility. Being hated may feel like a negative, but for many it also means they remain part of the conversation. In some cases, the outrage becomes part of their brand. For public‐figure watchers, the “most disliked” status is ironically still a form of relevance.

2. Polarization matters more than consensus
To top a list like this, it doesn’t require that everyone dislikes you; it only takes a large enough group that strongly dislikes you and acts on it. Polarization (strong love or strong hate) is more “productive” in voting than mild indifference or broad liking.

3. Platform effect
Online voting platforms skew toward those who engage. If a celebrity provokes discussion, the votes will reflect that. Even if a celebrity is broadly disliked only among certain online communities, those communities can drive numbers.

4. Cultural moment and change
The 2025 list reflects changing cultural dynamics. For example, Meghan’s appearance at #1 might suggest growing scrutiny of public figures involved in aristocracy, media branding, and social activism. Meanwhile, business figures and tech CEOs (like Musk) showing up indicate expansion of “celebrity” definition and public scrutiny beyond film/music.

Questioning the Validity & Limitations

While the list is fascinating, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations:

Not scientific: The Ranker list is crowd‐sourced and self‐selecting; it does not sample the population randomly.

Changeable: Because voting continues, positions can shift.

Motivation skew: People who strongly dislike a celebrity are more likely to vote multiple times; those who like or are indifferent may not bother.

Context‐blind: A celebrity may land high due to one incident from years ago, or simply due to being very visible; the list does not always account for nuance or redemption arcs.

Why This Matters for Public Figures

For celebrities, ranking high on a “most disliked” list may carry reputational consequences. Some possible impacts:

Branding/endorsement risk: Corporations may weigh public sentiment in choosing brand ambassadors.

Media narratives: Being regularly discussed as “most disliked” becomes its own story, stacking on further scrutiny.

Self‐fulfilling cycles: Negative perception may become entrenched, making it harder for a celebrity to shift public view, even if behavior changes.

What’s Next? Trends to Watch

As we move beyond 2025, some trends become apparent:

Cross‐industry scrutiny: Not just actors or musicians are being ranked—tech CEOs, social media stars, athletes, and businesspeople all appear.

Global context: Public sentiment is increasingly global; international audiences (via social media) affect rankings.

Redemption arcs: Some celebrities attempt reputation repair campaigns. Future lists may reflect who has recovered public favor and who hasn’t.

Media literacy: As audiences become more aware of how ranking lists operate, we may see backlash not just at celebrities but at the concept of “most disliked” itself.

Final Thoughts

The “Most Disliked Celebrity of 2025” list may seem like a trivial internet game, but it gives a revealing snapshot of collective sentiment, celebrity risk, and digital culture in motion. That Meghan Markle appears at #1 shows that fame, activism, and public scrutiny can converge into a potent mix of admiration and disdain.

Ultimately, the true “winner” of the list is less important than what the list tells us: in 2025’s celebrity ecosystem, people who provoke conversation (for better or worse) stay relevant, and relevance—whether liked or disliked—remains the currency of fame.