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.

Recorded Paul McKenna said elsewhere, not written here
“Oh, he’s all about money.” I’ve never charged anyone in all the years I’ve been doing one-to-one work. That’s my gift to the world.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 January 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 124 →
“Your lyrics are rubbish.” It was someone I was working with when I was in my early 20s. It turned out well because I then spent a long time studying and learning how to write good lyrics.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 November 2023 source ↗
This was said about me in a Radio 1 focus group: “I don’t pay my licence fee to hear scummy northerners.”
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 August 2025 source ↗
One time an engineer said, “I always forget your frequency is at the same level as a crying baby.” I think he was on to something, because I have been told to shush many times over the years.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗

More from Paul McKenna

View profile →

More on failure & regret

Also answered this

Johannes Radebe, Naga Munchetty, Tamsin Greig, Rosie Jones, Penny Lancaster, Graham Norton

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer