The question

What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Others on this question

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I’ll never amount to anything. Who? He was my rival at dance school. It hurt and is something that I’ve always had in the back of my head to defy.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 March 2026 source ↗
Chiwetel Ejiofor English actor
“You’ll never do well as an actor unless you change your name.” I’m not going to say who.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2024 source ↗
Felicity Jones British actress
“You’re a reasonably intelligent girl,” by a teacher, and it drove me crazy and made me want to get into Oxford.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 May 2023 source ↗

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