The expression “It’s all a matter of taste” is true — most of the time. Sure, we all have different ways of dressing, doing our hair, and decorating our homes. But now and then, you run across something you know defies the saying. Some things are so tacky, ugly, and horrible, you can say definitively — it’s NOT a matter of taste. It’s just plain tasteless.
There are entire Reddit sub-threads dedicated to memorializing these tasteless treasures. Some of them are just plain horrible. Others are DIY disasters from people who think they’re artists but have no talent. Then some make you say “I can’t believe anyone would actually pay money for this.”
But the concept of some things is so bad, you automatically hate them. At the same time, the creations are done so well you can’t help but be impressed. In other words, they’re examples of awful taste but great execution. You can’t decide whether you love them or loathe them.
The subreddit known as r/ATBGE is dedicated to such treasures as these. It’s full of things that make you think, “Ugh, that’s horrible…but done well.”
1. This Van Gogh ear necklace
Legend has it that Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear and mailed it to the woman he was in love with. Although the legend isn’t true, it’s still immortalized in this unique necklace.
Do you want to make sure you’re always stopped for an extra pat-down by airport security? Just carry this bag. You’ll also make everyone around you feel extremely nervous.
The internet got just a little bit too much mileage with minions, you know, the strange yellow creatures from the Despicable Me movie franchise. But maybe this is okay if you imagine it’s being tortured.
No one likes to stare at organs — or replicas of them — which is why this hat is so unsettling. Can we all please keep those cerebella inside our skulls?
If you want everyone on the road to have a panic attack when you drive by, you should buy this car. There’s nothing like convincing other drivers that you’ve flipped over on the interstate.
Have you ever seen a product that’s a little TOO customized? Just take these slippers, which are made to look exactly like your dogs. It’s a little too uncanny for comfort.
Sure, the technique is impressive, and I’m sure it took a long time to complete. But the result is kind of bizarre. Why are my eyes crossing when I look at it?
Of all the things to model a purse on, a packet of silica gel is a strange choice. To be fair, you shouldn’t eat silica gel or purses, so I guess they have that in common.
This is what someone chose as the tile pattern for the staff’s office in a commercial building. Who doesn’t want to feel like they’re taking the scenic route when they go to get a cup of coffee?
Some people are very invested in the color of their car, for whatever reason. It seems as though one driver was invested enough to color the whole thing in highlighter. Is it a good job? Yes, but it’s also insanely tacky.
Someone came up with this bright idea for a car, then designed it and made it happen. They were that dedicated to creating a car that was also a hippo with sexy lips.
These two grasshopper-shaped locomotives in Korea were stacked on top of one another to form a diner. Unfortunately, they look like they might necessitate a conversation about where baby grasshoppers come from.
To be fair, this chair is pretty awesome…if you want to feel like an evil villain every time you sit in it. But it’s also undeniably tacky. No one will be fighting over it for their inheritance.
Gages are a shocking fashion statement, so it makes sense they’re not for everyone. But here’s a pro tip: if you do get them, don’t have a hamster wheel tattooed on your neck.
Introducing the newest in “painting” your car: not painting at all…just wrapping that sucker in duct tape. On the bright side, you’ll never have a problem finding it in a parking lot.
Every couple getting married has different tastes — some prefer to keep things classy while others prefer something more laid-back. But His and Hers cakes with mud on them? Come on, that’s disgusting.
What’s even more unnerving than a hippo car? A catfish car of course, complete with headlights as eyes. Everyone wants their car to look like the ugliest fish in the lake.
For anyone who was once a child (so…all of us), it’s easy to recognize the pattern on this shirt. Nothing like turning the rug we used to play on into an article of clothing. Is this cute or is it weird?
A talented latte artist can make some unbelievable concoctions. But please, baristas everywhere, stick to flowers and designs and leave the bugs out of our morning joe.
Nothing says “creepy” quite like a bedsheet that depicts hundreds of sperm swimming towards an egg. This would be the worst thing to put on the bed in your guest room.
Funerals are intended to honor our loved ones and make sure their lives are remembered as they’re laid to rest. And what better way to do that than with a flame-covered hot rod casket?
Chrome is a questionable choice at the best of times, much like pleather or Crocs. Now imagine a whole outfit made entirely out of Croc material. That’s this car.
We get it, you’re into steampunk — you don’t have to go overboard. Frankly, the cogs of these wheels look deadly. I’m a little bit afraid they’re going to hurt someone.
I don’t know what’s going on with this sweater, but regardless, all the options are horrifying. Are Santa’s performing sex acts on one another? Is it one long human centipede? I can’t decide what’s worse.
You can look at this car for a while, but unfortunately, you’re not going to get any answers. The only conclusion is it’s modeled after a child’s drawing of a car.
This is one of those statement pieces with a bit too much statement. Sure, wood stoves are wonderful, but is it really necessary for it to be sitting on a giant piece of construction equipment?
Remember Crocs, the hideous shoes of the mid-2000s? Someone managed to make them even more horrible with the addition of a chain and some spikes. On the bright side, he’s got our attention.
Forget having a normal hairstyle. Why not shave your hair into the shape of a terrifying insect that scares most people out of their wits? It’s a perfect way to make friends. Bonus points if you include a scrawny braid.
If a scorpion won’t do, how about a lizard sitting right on top of your head? It’s the best way to ensure no one makes eye contact with you ever again.
With the rise of the DIY movement, you’ll see furniture made out of all kinds of different things. But dozens of identical stuffed seals are taking it to another, much weirder, level.
A talented makeup artist can do amazing things, but there are some places they shouldn’t go. For example, this Peppa Pig makeup job. It’s flawless in execution but the results are terrifying.
There’s loving Christmas and then there’s loving Christmas so much that you render your living room unusable for the month of December. I’m guessing these people don’t have pets or small kids.
They say you can find almost anything on the internet these days, but that’s not always a good thing. A prime example is these creepy cat iPhone cases. Just, why?
Sure, it might look pretty cool, but no one wants to sit in this chair. It would feel a little bit too much like sitting in someone’s lap. A very, very bony lap.
Yes, believe it or not, these are considered luxury shoes. It’s pretty ironic, considering they depict food for poor college students on a .25 budget. They’re also horrifically ugly.
If you can believe it, this is a cake was ordered for the staff at a hospital. The work they did is amazing work, but there’s something unnerving about eating a cake that has skin, organs, and nipples.
Her makeup looks enchanting until you look a little closer. Those aren’t vines or random designs; they’re tiny, seductively-posing Shrek figures. Why, why would you do that?
What better way to advertise your fried chicken restaurant during the holidays than with a Christmas tree made out of drumsticks? Or rather, what better way to waste an enormous amount of food?
This rigged-up wood stove is so dangerous that I can’t believe the car hasn’t exploded yet. At the same time, I’m also pretty impressed how they managed to install it and get it to work.
The inside of this car needs no explanation, which is good because I don’t think I could come up with one. It’s quite possibly the most horrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
Ah, the 70s, when you could buy a bed that looked exactly like a hamburger. With pickles for pillows and veggies as blankets, it’s pretty amazing. But you do have to wonder, why?
Some people love to cosplay, and then there are others who belong to so many fandoms they can’t choose a cosplay. And that’s how we end up with new characters, like Darth Kitty.
Facial hair is back in a big way, and men are taking the opportunity to dress theirs up for the holidays. It’s amazingly well done, but we can’t decide if we love it or hate it.
There’s a fine line between kitsch and creepy, and unfortunately, this toilet paper holder crosses that line. None of us want some Dr. Seuss hands giving us toilet paper, but thank you anyway.
These days, rustic styles are popular in everything from clothing to home decor to furniture. But this one is just a little too “yeehaw” to be considered good taste.
You might have a lot of questions when you look at these porcelain drumsticks. But the foremost one on your mind should probably be: “Why?” I can’t think of any reason these need to exist.
What’s worse than a pair of hands emerging from the wall to hand you toilet paper? How about a butler figure not wearing pants with a toilet plunger on his head?
Motorcycles are widely seen as cool, but this one might just break the stereotype. I know they’re going for a hardcore vibe, but you can’t tell me they don’t pet that lion while they’re on the road.
Talented bakers can make cakes look like almost anything. But there are some ideas they should pass on when making a replica in the frosting. A dirty ashtray full of stale cigarettes is one of those.
Let’s be honest: is it ever necessary to have a design on your toilet seat? Anything you can think of will automatically become creepy just because it’s on the toilet.
Nail art can be amazing, and it takes real talent to make the design look realistic. Note that we said “realistic,” not “good.” This is some straight-up horror movie stuff.
This silver spray-painted Christmas tree made out of pasta noodles is something you would expect to see at your grandma’s house. What is it about grandmas that gives them such eclectic taste in Christmas decor?
I know they call it the porcelain throne, but this is taking it just a step too far. What’s next, a crown designed to wear while you do your business? A royal manservant to help with the toilet paper?
Gingerbread houses are those beautiful, intricate, and delicious creations used to decorate the table during the holidays. Then there’s this monstrosity, which is made out of meat. While the concept is disgusting, you have to admit the execution is good.
Themed weddings always get a little weird, even if the couple tries to keep them classy. If you’re going to have a Viking-themed wedding, you might want to steer clear of a charcuterie table with meat “sails.”
If you want people to take you seriously on the road — or at all, for that matter — you don’t want to buy a car shaped like a rabbit. People will start to wonder about you.
Funny, I remember the part of driver’s ed where they talk about defensive driving and staying safe on the road. I don’t remember the part where they told us to paint our cars to look like they were involved in manslaughter.
I don’t think many people suffer from a tea addiction. But if you know someone who does, this is the perfect tea set to break them of it. They probably won’t ever think about tea again.
Talk about being a statement piece. This chicken purse might not be in the best of taste, but you can’t deny it’ll draw attention wherever you go. Why do I have the urge to squeeze it like a dog toy?
When looking for knick-knacks to place around your house, you might want to avoid anything with the KFC logo on it. Unless, of course, you love KFC that much.
This urinal is supposed to be in the shape of a certain flower known for bearing a resemblance to the female anatomy. Can we all agree to just keep urinals in the shape of urinals?
“How do I show the world I’m a hunter who loves to kill things but also gets festive for the holidays? Wait, I have an amazing idea. That’ll make the neighbors love us.”
Calm down there, Buddy the elf. There’s loving Christmas and getting in the spirit of the holidays, and then there’s making your house look like Santa’s workshop exploded across the front of it.
I have a lot of questions about this tattoo even though there’s something adorable about it. Maybe the presence of a cat is distracting me from the overwhelming weirdness of it.
I don’t even know what you would use these candles for. Either you give them to your romantic partner as a way of expressing your feelings for them or you buy them just because they’re that tacky.
How much do you love McDonald’s? Is it enough to buy and wear these shoes? Just don’t wear them out of the country or you’ll prove every stereotype about Americans.
What kind of materials should you use to upholster a chair? Forget all those comfortable materials — why not use something known for durability instead of comfort?
Teddy bears are the cute and cuddly parts of our childhood that we all loved. But as this couch shows, it’s possible to turn them from adorable pieces of childhood nostalgia to horrifying furniture monsters.
We’ve all seen those cakes with a Barbie in the middle wearing what appears as a beautiful gown. But don’t worry, this person found a way to ruin them by replacing the design with meat.
It’s almost as though the baker asked themselves “What’s the worst possible thing to think about eating?” and ran with that as a theme. On a positive note, you’ll have no problem sticking to your diet.
How do you turn cats from adorable pets to terrifying monsters? Acquire this chair. The dead-eyed stare along with the long “fur” and protruding tongue will haunt your nightmares.
75 times people’s taste was questionable, but their execution was flawless
Cedric Jackson
12.23.19
The expression “It’s all a matter of taste” is true — most of the time. Sure, we all have different ways of dressing, doing our hair, and decorating our homes. But now and then, you run across something you know defies the saying. Some things are so tacky, ugly, and horrible, you can say definitively — it’s NOT a matter of taste. It’s just plain tasteless.
There are entire Reddit sub-threads dedicated to memorializing these tasteless treasures. Some of them are just plain horrible. Others are DIY disasters from people who think they’re artists but have no talent. Then some make you say “I can’t believe anyone would actually pay money for this.”
But the concept of some things is so bad, you automatically hate them. At the same time, the creations are done so well you can’t help but be impressed. In other words, they’re examples of awful taste but great execution. You can’t decide whether you love them or loathe them.
The subreddit known as r/ATBGE is dedicated to such treasures as these. It’s full of things that make you think, “Ugh, that’s horrible…but done well.”
