Russell Mael: When were you most embarrassed?

The question

Originally asked

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

A verbatim recurring question in The Guardian's Q&A series.

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

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Signing away the rights to my life story to a major motion-picture company for a sum that I have since been told was way below the market rate.

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

Others on this question

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Imogen Poots

I once asked a young woman if she had ever heard of the musician Laura Marling, insinuating I knew Laura Marling, to which she replied: “I am Laura Marling.”

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 March 2024 source ↗

Shaznay Lewis English singer

A gazillion years ago I was in Gucci with Melanie Blatt, and I attempted to sit down on a chair that wasn’t there. I did a full-on stuntwoman backward roll, landed in a ball of the floor and laughed so hard I wet myself. Everybody in the shop moved to a different section.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 June 2024 source ↗

Gregory Porter

Dancing on stage with an open fly.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗

Julian Lloyd Webber British cellist and conductor

I’m president of my neighbourhood association. At my first meeting there was a discussion about developments the association should oppose. I said: “Nothing could be as bad as that horrible new house next to the church.” “I designed that,” the chairman replied. I shut up.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 July 2023 source ↗