Lucy Beaumont: What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you?

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.

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Some man in the street stopped me and said: “If you were a few inches taller you’d be dangerous.” I’ve no idea what he meant.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 October 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 122 →

Russell Mael

Is that the final mix?

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 May 2025 source ↗

Ben Okri

“You don’t stand a chance of succeeding as a writer in this country. The demographics are against you.” They were wrong. The only demographic that counts is the human heart.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 July 2026 source ↗

Charles Collingwood

In an audition at the Royal Court, this man called out, “Were you trained?”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗

Belinda Carlisle American singer

“You sing like a goat.” When I did my French album [Voila], this French woman – a supposed friend – said to my face: “It’s fantastic but, how come you sound like a chèvre?” It was like someone had hit me in the stomach.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 March 2023 source ↗