Controversial Characters: One Piece's Most Divisive Personalities

Throughout the years, One Piece has introduced countless beloved characters to fans, each with a distinct character design and a unique trait, gag, or laugh that sets them apart from the rest. However, given the vastness of the series and the abundance of characters, it is inevitable that there will be some individuals who are simply not as likeable.

While it is certainly possible to appreciate a character for their role as an excellent antagonist, such as Katakuri, who despite being a major adversary, is widely admired and respected for seeking a fair battle with Luffy, the majority of the least likeable characters in One Piece are too repulsive to overlook, regardless of their importance to the storyline.

10 Flampe

Charlotte Flampe, Big Mom's 77th daughter, made her debut during Luffy's intense clash with Katakuri in the ethereal mirror realm within the captivating Whole Cake Island Arc. Flampe is primarily known for her overwhelming infatuation with Katakuri, bordering on obsession, which drives her to interject in the battle with the sole purpose of securing victory for her beloved brother. Though supporting a sibling is commendable, Flampe's disdainful personality, filled with conceit, makes her deeply disliked. The situation worsens when her infatuation swiftly transforms into repugnance upon discovering Katakuri's unconventional mouth. Confronted with the realization that Katakuri is not the flawless individual she once believed him to be, Flampe abruptly rejects him, disowns him, and brazenly threatens to spread malicious gossip about him throughout the family.

Undoubtedly, Flampe's likability might have increased had it not been for her deceitful, vindictive treatment of her own brother, whom she once idolized. Moreover, her intrusive and bratty demeanor only further diminishes her standing in the eyes of others.

9 Stelly

Stelly, Sabo's adoptive brother, ascended to become the king of the Goa Kingdom. In line with the other nobles, Stelly possesses an haughty outlook, viewing others as beneath him. His derogatory and discriminatory views extend towards the Merfolk and Fishmen. Alongside his arrogance, Stelly exhibits snobbishness and excessive entitlement, leading him to belittle and insult his half-brother Sabo since their youth. Even in adulthood, Stelly maintains a highly contemptuous attitude towards Sabo, albeit displaying shock upon discovering Sabo's survival and involvement with the revolutionaries.

Moreover, Stelly harbors a hunger for power, evident in his eagerness upon encountering the vacant throne at Mariejois. Though his actions may not be excessively abhorrent, Stelly ranks among the least favored characters in the series.

8 Absalom

Absalom, a member of the Thriller Bark Pirates, possessed the Clear-Clear Fruit and was known for being a misogynistic pervert. He earned the nickname 'Erosalam' from the zombies on Thriller Bark due to his habit of using his fruit to spy on Nami while she bathed. In addition to this, he also kidnapped her and coerced her into marrying him during the brief period that the Straw Hats were on the island. It is worth noting that Absalom expressed a preference for submissive women like Nami, indicating his lack of respect for women. While Absalom's actions may bear some resemblance to Sanji, who also used his Germa powers to peep on women at a bathhouse, the difference lies in their attitude towards women. Unlike Sanji, Absalom does not hold any respect for women and his desire for a bride stems more from a desire for a possession rather than a genuine partner. This is likely why he is not well-liked among fans.

7 Wapol

Now the owner of a massive conglomerate, Wapol embodies the epitome of the word inexorable. During his reign over Drum Island, Wapol proved to be a despicable ruler with a heart that lacked compassion. Apart from his extreme selfishness, he displayed cowardice by abandoning his people to face the pirates' attack alone. Furthermore, Wapol tarnished the island's esteemed tradition of doctors by selecting only twenty of the best ones for himself and relentlessly pursuing the rest. His self-centered nature fueled his pettiness and arrogance, evident in his unhesitant act of striking a young Vivi simply because her father, Cobra, had scolded him.

Overall, Wapol appears to be beyond redemption. Despite losing everything he possessed when defeated by Luffy, Wapol swiftly reverted to his former self, basking in arrogance and entitlement upon regaining wealth and power.

6 Spandam

Spandam, the chief of CP9 and the man responsible for capturing Nico Robin, was known for his ruthless and cowardly behavior. He gained much of his notoriety for his sadistic treatment of Nico Robin during her time at Enies Lobby. Despite promising not to harm her, he not only broke his word but also physically assaulted her by pushing her down the stairs. Spandam showed his ruthlessness by being willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his goals, except for himself. When the Straw Hats attacked Enies Lobby, he cowardly sent his subordinates and CP9 agents to deal with them instead, revealing his true nature. Interestingly, Spandam serves as an early example of the World Government's absolute justice, exposing the flaws and moral ambiguity within the government. Coupled with his terrible personality and hypocritical tendencies, it is no wonder why Spandam is easily disliked.

5 Arlong

A quick glance at Coco Village and the atrocities committed by the Arlong Pirates is enough to understand why Arlong is not a popular character. While his animosity towards humans can be understood due to the tragic history of the Fishmen, it does not excuse his actions towards the innocent residents of Coco Village and the numerous other places he plundered. Arlong not only confiscated their money but also murdered Bellemere and coerced a young Nami into servitude. Additionally, he held the entire village hostage to ensure Nami's loyalty.

Arlong, one of the most heartless and reprehensible antagonists of the East Blue Saga, had no qualms about even killing innocent children. Considering that the Fishmen's past and their complicated relationship with humans were not fully explored until much later in the series, it is understandable why Arlong is considered one of the few disliked characters in the series.

4 Saint Charlos

While nobles are notoriously snobby, as exemplified by Stelly, the Celestial Dragons are an entirely different kind. Among them, Saint Charlos is particularly noteworthy for his arrogance, pretentiousness, and condescending attitude towards everyone around him. However, what truly appalls viewers is his complete disregard for the value of life and his abhorrent treatment of his slaves, whom he derives pleasure from abusing and tormenting. Saint Charlos embodies the worst aspects of the Celestial Dragons, their perceived superiority over all other beings on the planet, and serves as a representation of everything that is flawed with both the World Government and the world of One Piece as a whole.

3 Akainu

Akainu's unpopularity can be attributed to his distorted concept of justice. His steadfast belief in absolute justice often leads him to disregard the lives of both fellow marines and innocent civilians. For Akainu, any means necessary are justified if they help him achieve his ultimate objective of eradicating what he and the World Government consider to be 'evil'. Particularly, Akainu's ruthlessness is glaringly apparent in the tragic Ohara Incident, during which he callously destroyed an entire vessel, potentially killing numerous civilians, in the hopes of eliminating a single researcher. This demonstrates the clear bias in Akainu's notion of justice, which ultimately favors the Celestial Dragons he faithfully serves.

2 Trebol

Trebol stands out as one of the most unlikable characters in One Piece, not only due to his actions and beliefs but also because of his overwhelming obnoxiousness. While his constant interruptions during Luffy's battle against Doflamingo were somewhat overlooked in the manga, they become incredibly infuriating in the anime adaptation. However, beneath his irritating laugh and laid-back demeanor, Trebol conceals a sinister nature. He took advantage of a young and embittered Doflamingo, manipulating him into a life of crime and deception.

Regardless of Trebol's involvement in Doflamingo's upbringing, it cannot be denied that he is detestable due to his irritating nature, interfering tendencies, and perhaps being the most repugnant character in the entire series.

1 Orochi

Orochi is undoubtedly the most detestable character in the world of One Piece. If there were a competition for being a despicable ruler, Orochi might even surpass Doflamingo. He not only cunningly seized the position of shogun, but also betrayed his own people by selling them into slavery to a ruthless pirate. Meanwhile, he kept all the resources for himself, resulting in the starvation of his subjects. Moreover, Orochi turned against the only person who showed him kindness, driven by resentment and a thirst for revenge. Despite his rage, Orochi lacked the courage to confront the Akazaya Nine and Oden, opting instead to hide behind the intimidating figure of Kaido, displaying his cowardice.

The tragedy that unfolds in Wano is heart-wrenching, and it is truly astonishing how someone as pitiful as Orochi almost succeeded in annihilating an entire nation. Consequently, witnessing Orochi ultimately face the consequences of his actions brings immense satisfaction.

Ultimately, only time will determine if any of these characters will have the opportunity to redeem themselves. Given Oda's knack for completely transforming characters and the past instances of unexpected additions like Franky joining the Straw Hats, it is fair to say that nothing is entirely out of the realm of possibility. Although it may appear improbable, there might even be a small glimmer of hope for One Piece characters such as Wapol and Akainu.