'Sweet Magnolias': Bill gets slammed for cheating on wife Maddie, fans say he can 'f**k the hell off'

Bill basically destroys his marriage and family after sleeping with his much younger assistant and getting her pregnant. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he isn't a fan favorite
PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2020
'Sweet Magnolias' (Netflix)
'Sweet Magnolias' (Netflix)

Chris Klein portrays Bill Townsend, Maddie's (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) ex-husband in Netflix's 'Sweet Magnolia' and safe to say, he hasn't won anyone's favor. Bill is quite the character, and as the events in the series transpire, one might even stop to wonder, "What the heck did Maddie even see in him?" He basically destroys his marriage and family after sleeping with his much younger assistant and getting her pregnant. On a whim, he decides he wants to do right by her and leaves his wife and children for his mistress. 

Bill is as daft as they come and makes the worst decisions without even thinking them through. But he justifies his actions by constantly chanting the mantra, "I want to do the right thing" like a broken record. First, he cheated on Maddie, and then he has the audacity to act all hypocritical and victimized after sabotaging his own marriage. He loves his children and that part is evident, but he has a terrible way of showing it. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that no one, literally, no one sympathizes with him in Serenity, neither is he a fan favorite among viewers.

'Sweet Magnolias' (Netflix)

"Maddie's husband is a TRIP! #SweetMagnolias", says one fan, and the description might just be spot on with Bill proving to be a bit of a headache every time he's around. Another said, "Sweet magnolias already got me vex I can’t deal with the entitlement of this man." A third fan lashed out at Bill for being Bill, saying, "Doing the right thing doesn’t mean leaving your wife and three kids for the nurse half your age because you got her pregnant. You should have kept it in your pants!!!! #SweetMagnolias"

This one comment just voiced the opinion of probably everyone in Serenity: "I'm less than a minute in and Bill can f**k the hell off." Some are reveling in the fact that the oldest Townsend kid loathes his father for his transgressions, like this person: "Tyler stay coming for Bill, that’s right child keep your foot on his neck!!!!! But a teenage rebellion storyline makes good tv. #SweetMagnolias"

'Sweet Magnolias' (Netflix)

However, while most don't exactly sympathize with Bill, they do feel for Noreen (Jamie Lynn Spears). "Like don’t f**k a married dude but I do feel bad for Noreen. Bill is putting her in a bad spot. #SweetMagnolias," one viewer commented, while another basically pacified her for being the "other woman." "Awwww, Noreen. You thought a married man, recently divorced with THREE kids was going to drop everything that his kids have to do as well?! #SweetMagnolias", they added. Finally, this tweet accurately sums up Bill's character to the T: "#SweetMagnolias Bill is such a loser."

RELATED TOPICS NETFLIX NEWS

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The series is based on Alice Feeney’s 2020 novel of the same name and ended on a gripping note
1 hour ago
The star of the hit Apple TV show dropped a major update on the comedy series' new season
2 hours ago
Despite the snub, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie represented 'Heated Rivalry' at the 2026 Golden Globes, just not in the way fans hoped
4 hours ago
A chilling revelation in Episode 3 changes everything for Jonathan Pine (and the fans) in ‘The Night Manager’ Season 2
4 hours ago
One shocking decision upends Tommy’s future as a violent confrontation leaves lives, and loyalties, hanging in the balance.
5 hours ago
The six-part thriller is developed by William Oldroyd and was released on Thursday, January 8, but the fans are questioning its origin
5 hours ago
Stephen Graham's Golden Globe moment has left the fans wondering whether 'Adolescence' has more story left to tell.
6 hours ago
'Hamnet' star Jessie Buckley also won the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama
6 hours ago
No bonus episode ever dropped, but Netflix has one final surprise for ‘Stranger Things’ fans: A final behind-the-scenes adventure
7 hours ago
Golden Globes 2026 Drama Awards Best Actor is awarded to Wagner Moura, while Best Actress to Jessie Buckley
8 hours ago