The Young and the Restless' four most polarizing characters

When it comes to polarizing characters on The Young and the Restless, we either love them or hate them. They are characters who don't evoke a middle-of-the-road reaction. We have strong feelings about them, whether positive or negative. Here are the four most polarizing characters on the top CBS soap.

Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless

Jason Thompson on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Billy (Daytime Emmy-winner Jason Thompson) turns off many fans because he rarely ever shows growth. He's been obsessed with running Chancellor Industries for years and couldn't accept the fact that his mother, Jill (Jess Walton), sold it to Victor (Eric Braeden) -- his archenemy. He made the mistake of trusting Cane (Billy Flynn) when Cane offered Chancellor to him twice. The first time, Cane changed his mind. The second time, he stole Chancellor from Victor. Billy didn't care that it was stolen. His desperation to reclaim the company clouded his better judgment.

Billy's gambling-addict mentality kicks into high gear whenever he pursues Chancellor, causing him to behave recklessly. He becomes overconfident and cocky, gloating over how he finally got Chancellor back, only to lose it again. His older brother, Jack (Peter Bergman), grows weary of trying to bail Billy out of the messy situations he gets himself into. Hopefully, Billy has finally put his obsession behind him, now that he has traveled to London to make amends with Jill.

The Y&R fans who love Billy root for him because he is an underdog who never seems to catch a break. Unlike Victor and the other Newmans, he never comes out on top. Some fans empathize, and they want better for him. They admire his unwavering drive and passion, and they want to see him succeed -- for once.

Audra Charles

Zuleyka Silver on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Audra (Zuleyka Silver) is somewhat of an outcast on The Young and the Restless because she constantly relies on her sexual prowess to achieve success. For example, she struck a deal with Victor, agreeing that she would break up Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Claire (Hayley Erin) if Victor agreed to fund her new company, Vibrante. Other Y&R characters have described Audra as a trouble-maker and a loose cannon.

She comes from a poor family and was treated miserably by the privileged girls in school, which is why she can't stand the Claire Newmans of the world. Now, the adult Audra is filled with ambition and will not let anything hold her back from achieving success. Her sexual dalliances and ruthless actions make some Y&R fans wish she would leave Genoa City for good.

But other fans love her feistiness and the way she lights up the screen when she enters the room and starts arguing with Holden (Nathan Owens), Claire, or Kyle. They find her fun to watch because she livens up the show. Audra is one of the most fiery characters on Y&R, and many fans find her entertaining for that reason.

Phyllis Summers

Michelle Stafford on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) is another outcast on The Young and the Restless, and all she wants is for everyone in GC to recognize her skills and talents. She hates being ignored or brushed aside by the Newmans and the other business titans in town. She wants success and power, and she will do almost anything to get it. Her brash, bold, and outspoken personality turns off many fans of Y&R, not to mention some of the crazy and violent things she's done.

Longtime fans will never forget when Phyllis tried to run down her enemy, Christine (Lauralee Bell), decades ago. She faked her death in 2023, and recently, she chloroformed Cane (Billy Flynn) to prevent him from giving Newman Enterprises back to Victor. Phyllis' dramatic antics and her constant desire for attention drive many Y&R fans up the wall.

Other fans love Phyllis because she speaks her mind and fearlessly takes risks to get what she wants, even though she sometimes uses dirty tactics. She is similar to Billy because she is also an underdog in many ways. Phyllis fans want everyone to take her seriously and to view her as a force to be reckoned with.

Victor Newman

Eric Braeden on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Victor is arguably the most polarizing character on The Young and the Restless, considering that he's been the star of the show since 1980. Some fans love him because of his devotion to his family, his determination to keep them safe at all costs, and his power to make important things happen (which has earned him the nickname "The Great Victor Newman").

Other fans hate him because he is arrogant, domineering, and ruthless. Victor tries to control his children's and grandchildren's love lives, and he will resort to any means necessary to conquer his enemies. He's been known to take extreme measures, as when he held Jordan (Colleen Zenk) captive in a makeshift prison in his home. His most recent crime was when he kidnapped Jack and stranded him on a yacht with psychopath Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) in the middle of Lake Michigan. Did he spike their whiskey with drugs? We have yet to find out!

Whether we love these four characters or hate them, their actions always give us something to talk about, and they always keep us entertained as we constantly wonder what they will do next!

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