“Sorry, I don’t mean to insult you, but did you know you look a bit like that actress Siobhán McSweeney?”
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 December 2023 source ↗
failure
What is the worst 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.
One of 24 questions in The Q&A here.
On the record
Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
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In their thirties 11
In their forties 12
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Seventy and beyond 14
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.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 October 2024 source ↗
“I would love to go on a date with you, but I’d be too embarrassed.”
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2025 source ↗
In a rehearsal just after graduating from drama college, I say my lines to an older actor. He pauses, turns to the director and says: “I’m sorry, but is she going to do it like that?”
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 May 2025 source ↗
“You’re not in Busted any more.” I successfully auditioned to be in Busted and then a couple of days later I got a phone call to say that I was no longer needed as they were going to keep it as the three of them. But it ended up being OK.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 November 2025 source ↗
I was thrown out of a club by bouncers when I walked into somebody and told them that I was registered blind. They said: “Don’t give a fuck – you don’t belong in here.” As a straight white man, it gives you a taste of what other people have to contend with.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 November 2025 source ↗
I love you but I hate your lifestyle.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 November 2025 source ↗
“What is Seann Walsh and how do we make it die?” It was online, thankfully. It wasn’t in Sainsbury’s.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 January 2026 source ↗
People have said, “I wish you would die.” That’s the stark truth of being in the public eye – people dehumanise you and say ghastly things.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 March 2026 source ↗
I’m not interested.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 May 2026 source ↗
Someone once saw me in a play and said that I was disgusting.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 June 2026 source ↗
0 answers from members
Nobody has answered this one yet.