Hide the Read column by right-clicking any column button and unchecking the unwanted columns.

The read option was already unchecked in the column. Tried checking and then unchecking it but that did not work.

In the column selector dialog, select 'Restore column order' and see if you can then deselect the Read column. Or, open a different folder that doesn't have the Read column, then in the selector dialog, 'Applyy columns to' and select the original folder.

Finally, if none of that works, right-click the folder, Properties, Repair Folder.